DECORATE CHEAPSKATE: FALL DECORATING

As the leaves begin to turn and a crispness fills the air, it's time to bring that cozy autumn charm indoors. Transforming your home for fall doesn't have to be a huge task. With a few thoughtful touches and some budget-friendly creativity, you can easily infuse your space with the warmth and beauty of the season. Let's explore some fantastic fall decorating ideas, room by room!

LIVING ROOM: THE HEART OF FALL COMFORT

Your living room is often the central gathering spot, making it the perfect place to start your fall refresh.

Warm Textiles: Swap out lightweight throws for chunky knit blankets, faux fur, or plaid patterns in rich a fall hues like deep oranges, burgundy, forest green, and mustard yellow. Layering textures instantly adds warmth.
Pillows with Personality: Introduce decorative pillows with fall-themed motifs such as pumpkins, acorns, plaid, or even simple textured fabrics in fall colors.
Natural Elements: Bring the outdoors in with strategically placed fall foliage branches, dried hydrangeas, or even a simple bowl of decorative gourds and mini pumpkins on your coffee table.
Candlelit Ambiance: Scented candles with notes of pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon, or warm vanilla create an inviting aroma and a soft glow. Opt for amber or rust-colored candles for an extra touch of fall.

DIY Idea: Create a DIY leaf garland! Gather colorful fallen leaves (make sure they're dry and relatively flat), then attach them to a piece of twine using hot glue or small clothespins. Drape it across your mantel or doorway.

DINING ROOM: SETTING THE SCENE FOR FALL FEASTS

Make your dining area ready for festive fall meals and gatherings.

Table Runner Transformation: Replace your everyday table runner with one featuring fall colors, plaids, or even burlap for a rustic touch.
Centerpiece Charm: A centerpiece of varying-sized pumpkins, gourds, candles, and perhaps some fall berries or small branches creates an inviting focal point.
Natural Place Settings: Use natural elements like small pinecones, acorns, or a single colorful leaf at each place setting for a simple yet impactful detail.
Cozy Lighting: Consider lower lighting or adding a few battery-operated pillar candles to the table for a warm glow during meals.

DIY Idea: Design DIY mini pumpkin place cards. Get small craft pumpkins (real or faux) and use a permanent marker to write each guest's name on them. You can tie a small piece of twine around the stem for added charm.

BONUS: I have a post on centerpiece HERE

ENTRYWAY: A WARM WELCOME TO FALL

Make a great first impression with a fall-inspired entryway.

Seasonal Wreath: A beautiful fall wreath on your front door or an interior wall instantly signals the season. Think wreaths made of fall leaves, berries, small pumpkins, or even cotton bolls.
Pumpkin Patch: Arrange a cluster of pumpkins and gourds of varying sizes and colors near your door.
Cozy Mat: Swap your doormat for one with a fall design or a simple, warm-toned coir mat. Add a rustic lantern or a bale of hay for extra farmhouse charm.
Fall Foliage: A vase filled with vibrant fall branches on a console table adds height and color.

DIY Idea: Craft a DIY fall-themed doormat! Purchase a plain coir doormat and some outdoor stencil paint. Use stencils to add fall words like "Welcome Fall" or a pumpkin silhouette.

KITCHEN: A TASTE OF THE SEASON

Even small touches can bring fall into the heart of your home – the kitchen!

Seasonal Produce Display: Arrange apples, pears, and miniature pumpkins in a decorative bowl on your counter or island. It's both decorative and functional!
Fall Linens: Introduce dish towels, oven mitts, and pot holders with fall patterns or colors.
Scent of the Season: Simmering a pot of water with cinnamon sticks, orange slices, and cloves creates a wonderful, natural fall aroma throughout your home.
Warm Drink Station: Set up a small area with mugs, teas, and coffee, perhaps with some fall-themed syrups, ready for cozy beverages.

DIY Idea: Create DIY cinnamon stick bundles. Gather a few cinnamon sticks and tie them together with twine or a pretty fall ribbon. You can place these in a decorative bowl or tuck them into a small vase. They look and smell wonderful!

BEDROOM: AUTUMNAL SANCTUARY

Extend the cozy fall vibes into your personal sanctuary.

Layered Bedding: Add an extra throw blanket at the foot of your bed in a rich fall color or a soft, textured material.
Pillow Power: Introduce a couple of decorative throw pillows in autumnal hues or subtle fall patterns.
Subtle Scents: A diffuser with fall essential oils (like cinnamon, clove, or wild orange) can create a relaxing atmosphere.
Warm Lighting: Use lamps with warmer-toned bulbs or add a small string of fairy lights for a soft, inviting glow.

DIY Idea: Make DIY potpourri sachets. Fill small organza bags with dried apple slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and a few drops of fall-scented essential oil. Place them in drawers or on your nightstand.

THE THRIFTY ROUTE TO FALL PERFECTION

You don't need to break the bank to decorate for fall!

Nature's Bounty: The best decor is often free! Gather leaves, pinecones, acorns, and small branches from your yard or local park.
Thrift Store Finds: Look for amber glass bottles, rustic baskets, unique vases, or even old sweaters you can repurpose into pillow covers.
Repurpose What You Have: Use existing blankets or throws in fall colors, or group candles you already own onto a fall-themed tray.

Embracing the fall season in your home is all about bringing in warmth, comfort, and the beauty of nature. With these fall decorating ideas for the home, you'll have your space a place to fall in love with.

Even though styles change from one year to the next year. I don't recommend buying seasonal decor. The only time I do think you should buy seasonal items is at clearance, at a good discount from the original price or at my favorite place to get seasonal items, the dollar store. Often times just leaving something or moving the decor around can make a huge difference. Well-placed decorations beat trends any day.

DIY

Many seasonal decorations have DIY's connected to them. Often times these projects can be fun and fulfilling. I do recommend you do at least one DIY for your seasonal decorations.

PUMPKINS

Pumpkins were originally Halloween decorations, and even now the carved pumpkin is still a symbol of Halloween. Now, you're if going to decorate for fall, a safe bet is to have a pumpkin. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and materials. DIY a big one and buy several small ones for a vase. Your home will begin to look like a fall.

CENTERPIECES

A Beautiful way to decorate for fall is a centerpiece. I have seen them in the entryway, above the fireplace, and on the coffee table. I think this can also be a DIY project to decorate for fall. I would not buy this at a dollar store and only buy at a huge discount. The dollar often doesn't have the quality you need.

BRANCH

Bring the outdoors inside. I think there is no better way to decorate for fall.

COPPER SPRAY

Let's face it, somethings are perfect for fall but aren't really made for the season. No worries, you have your handy spray can. Decorating for fall just became easier.

WREATH

This simple decoration is a great way to introduce fall. There are so many DIY projects to create this fall decoration. If you are going for DIY projects this may be the fall decoration you choose.

PIX

There is a lot of nice pix to decorate for fall. These bring natural fall colors into your home, and are a great way to introduce classic aspects of the fall into your spaces!

FALL ART

You can bring the outdoors, inside again. Framing leaves are a way to make easy art. Getting a fall picture from a book or free photo place frame is great also.

BLANKETS

Having Blankets are a wonderful way to introduce fall into your home. Put all cozy blankets around your house for maximum coziness.

Tip: Don't buy seasonal items before the season. (except dollar store).