It’s fall, and you love to decorate, but you don’t want to break the bank. No worries – fall decor doesn’t have to be expensive. You can have a Pinterest-worthy, fall fabulous home with a few simple pieces that give you a lot of bang for your buck. Whether you’re a DIY lover, a thrift store treasure hunter, or just someone who wants to sprinkle a little autumn magic around the house, this list is packed with chic and budget-friendly ideas.
Let’s fall into fabulous! Grab your favorite pumpkin-spiced drink and your coziest fall blanket as you enjoy this list of stylish and totally doable fall decor ideas.
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1. Pinecones in Bowls or Vases
Pinecones are nature’s free decor (you can literally find them outside, depending on where you live). Toss them in a pretty bowl or glass vase, and boom — instant fall decor. Bonus idea: Lightly dust them with cinnamon essential oil for a subtle seasonal scent.
2. Candle Clusters
Group candles of varying heights on a tray. Consider color: Mix in brass or gold holders for a warm glow and orange or deep red candles to amplify the fall feeling. Choose traditional seasonal scents like apple cider, pumpkin spice, or vanilla chai.
3. Cozy Textures Everywhere
Fall is all about being warm and cozy with cooler weather making its way through the season. Layer your space with chunky knit blankets, faux fur throws, and velvety pillows.
4. Acorn Accents
Fill small jars or bowls with acorns (real or faux). They’re small, easy to find, earthy, and perfect for adorning bookshelves, mantles, and coffee tables.
5. Statement Vases with Faux Flowers
Swap out summer blooms for faux or dried fall florals. Features floral colors in burnt orange, mustard yellow, and deep burgundy. Pampas grass and eucalyptus are also great neutral options.
6. DIY Fall Wreath
Grab some floral wire or a wreath frame and add twigs, feathers, faux leaves, and even cinnamon sticks to create a wreath that’s beautiful and uniquely yours. Hang it on your front door or above your mantel.
7. Rustic Centerpiece with Gourds
Create a fabulous fall dining table centerpiece with a mix of mini pumpkins, gourds, and candles. Add a burlap or velvet runner underneath for extra charm.
8. Apple-Inspired Decor
Fill a wooden crate or basket with red and green apples, thoughtfully place faux apples around your home, and use apple-scented essential oils. It’s simple and fresh.
9. Crafty with Cinnamon Sticks
The smell of cinnamon invites warmth and fall feels. Add a little throughout your home by tying cinnamon sticks together with twine and tuck them into your centerpiece or place settings. They smell amazing and look rustic-chic.
10. Pumpkin Spice Everything
Pumpkin spice screams fall. From drinks to scents, it’s everywhere. If you’re a fan, you can affordably add them to your home with candles, hand soaps, oils, and more.
11. Front Door Glow-Up
Add a fall-themed doormat, a wreath, and a few stacked pumpkins to make your entryway feel warm and welcoming.
12. Thrift Store Treasures
Add some character to your decor with vintage brass candlesticks, amber bottles, or old books with warm-toned covers. These cost next to nothing and instantly give your home decor a rustic feel.
13. Layered Textures
Texture doesn’t just stop at bedding, pillows, and cozy blankets. Mix burlap, wood, and metal pieces to create some country charm and make the space feel warm and inviting.
14. Neutral Fall Palette
If your home decor leans more neutral, skip the bright oranges and go for creamy whites, soft browns, and muted greens. It’s on theme and adds a chic touch.
15. Dollar Store DIYs
The local dollar store is a gold mine for DIY fall decor. Start by grabbing faux leaves, mini pumpkins, and glass jars, and get creative. Remember to have a plan before you go in, like choosing colors that match your fall decor theme. You’d be surprised how luxe everything can look with a little creativity.
16. Blanket Ladder Display
Drape your coziest throws over a wooden ladder for a functional and stylish display. Vary it up in texture and color based on your overall decor.
17. Found from Nature
Nature can be our biggest inspiration and gift us free decor. Take walk and gather twigs, leaves, and pine branches. Arrange them in a vase or use them in a DIY garland.
18. Gourd Garland
Gather together mini gourds or faux pumpkins to create a festive garland to hang across your mantel or staircase.
19. Scented Simmer Pot
Fill your home with autumn scents by simmering a pot of apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peels on the stove. You can do this once a week for a natural, cozy scent that pairs perfectly with your fall decor.
20. Decorative Tray Styling
Use a tray to feature candles, mini pumpkins, and a small vase of fall florals on your coffee table or kitchen island.
21. Budget-Friendly Throw Pillows
Here’s an easy and quick fall decor solution: swap out your pillow covers. With the right measurements, your pillow covers can easily become the perfect fall-inspired accent piece. Look for plaid, velvet, or faux leather and various colors like brown, orange, green, and red.
22. Seasonal Dishes
Display fall-themed mugs or plates on open shelves or in a hutch. It’s a subtle way to bring in the season without investing in too much decor.
23. Mantel Magic
A mantel is the perfect functional space to feature layers of garlands, candles, and seasonal items like mini pumpkins or vintage books. Turn your mantel into a cozy focal point, then sprinkle similar accents throughout your home to create a warm, inviting vibe.
24. Baskets Full of Fall
Fill woven baskets with various textured blankets, florals, and surround them with your favorite guards or pumpkins for a luxurious, lived-in look.
25. Branches and Twigs in Decor
Branches and twigs signify the changing seasons. Place them in a tall vase or use them as part of a centerpiece. Mix in faux sunflowers and eucalyptus in a vintage pitcher or amber bottle for a farmhouse feel.
27. Copper Accents
Copper mugs, trays, or candle holders add warmth and a touch of glam to your fall setup.
28. Feather Fun
Tuck a few feathers into your faux flower arrangements for texture and a touch of whimsy or simply add a few standalone feathers to your favorite vase.
29. Amber Glass
Use amber glass-shaped decor or bottles (which are great as vases or candle holders). They’re moody, chic, and perfect for fall.
30. Essential Oil Diffuser Blends
Fill your home with the scents of fall by adding oils like clove, orange, cinnamon, and cedarwood to your essential oil diffuser.
31. Lantern Love
Place lanterns around your home, surrounded by candles, mini pumpkins, or fairy lights, for a magical glow.
32. Pears as Decor
Keep it super simple by adding faux or real pears to bowls or centerpieces for a fresh, unexpected twist.
If you love fall, these ideas will help you add a few fabulous touches to the warm and cozy season. All you need are a few key pieces to refresh your space with cozy textures, warm colors, and charming details. And don’t worry about breaking the bank, there are so many budget-friendly ways to make your home feel like a luxurious autumn retreat.
So light a pumpkin spice candle, turn on your favorite fall jams, and start decorating!
Lubricating your garage door and cleaning windows are easy chores to tackle during downtime when you’re home for the holidays. (knowlesgallery, Getty Images/Manuel-F-O, Getty Images)
In this special Ask Danny podcast, Danny talks about some simple home maintenance tasks to do during the downtime of the holidays.
Lubricating your garage door is a great way to help it run smoothly and reduce noise. (knowlesgallery, Getty Images)
Lubricate Door Hinges
An easy chore to tackle while you’re home for the holidays is silencing squeaky doors.
With just a few simple steps, you can easily lubricate your door hinges and keep them running smoothly!
To lubricate door hinges, you’ll need some lubricant like WD-40. Use graphite lubricant on exterior hinges, like fence gates.
Start by opening the door and spraying the lubricant onto the hinges. Next, close the door and use a clean rag to wipe away any excess lubricant. Finally, open and close the door a couple of times to make sure the hinges are properly lubricated.
Don’t forget about your garage door! Lubricating a garage door with lithium grease is a great way to help it run smoothly and reduce noise.
To start, you’ll want to make sure the garage door is completely clean and free of dust and debris.
Once the garage door is clean, you can apply a thin layer of lithium grease to any metal-on-metal contact points on the door.
Make sure to avoid any plastic or rubber parts, as the lithium grease could damage them.
After you’ve applied the grease, you can test the door to make sure it’s working properly.
Gutter downspouts should carry water at least 10 feet away from the home. (ziggy1, Getty Images Pro)
Direct Drainage Away from Your Home
Proper home drainage is incredibly important for keeping your home safe and preventing damage to the structure.
Poorly drained homes can suffer from issues such as foundation damage, cracked walls, and mold or mildew growth. Additionally, poor drainage can lead to flooding, which can be both costly and dangerous.
Depending on your situation, there are a few options you could consider for directing drainage away from your home.
If you have rain gutters installed, simply direct the downspouts away from your home.
Another option is installing a French drain, which is a gravel-filled trench with a pipe that diverts water away from the area.
You could also install a sump pump, which pumps the water away from the area.
If you’re looking for a more natural solution, you could consider planting vegetation that can absorb water and direct it away from your home.
A great way to get started on organizing your garage is to divide the space into sections and designate a purpose for each. (3 Echoes Content Studio)
Organize Your Garage
Organizing your garage can save you time and energy in the long run, so it’s worth making the effort to do it when you’re home for the holidays.
It can help you to find items more quickly, as you’ll know exactly where everything is located. It can also free up more space for storage, making it easier to store items that need to be kept out of the way.
Furthermore, it can help to protect valuables from the elements and make your garage look more presentable.
Cleaning windows with microfiber cloths is a great way to get a streak-free shine. (Manuel-F-O, Getty Images)
Clean Windows and Doors
Cleaning house windows is a relatively straightforward task that can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your home. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Start by using a soft cloth to wipe away any dirt and dust that has accumulated on the windows.
Once the windows are free of dust, use a mild cleaning solution (diluted dish soap, a store-bought cleaner or a combination of white vinegar and water) to clean the glass. Don’t forget to clean the tracks too!
Use a squeegee or a soft cloth to wipe the windows clean. Start from the top and work your way down in overlapping strokes.
For extra sparkle, finish by wiping the windows with a cloth dampened with distilled white vinegar.
Draining some of the water out of your hot water heater annually removes sediment that settles in the bottom of the tank. (C5Media, Getty Images Pro)
Drain Water Heater
Draining your water heater can make your water heater more efficient and extend its life by draining the tank and flushing away sediment at least once a year.
A perfect time to do it is after all your guests have left your home for after the holidays.
Here’s all you have to do.
For electric heaters, turn off the power at the breaker box. For gas units, turn the fuel control to the off setting.
Next, turn off the cold water inlet valve, and attach a garden hose to the outlet valve at the bottom of the tank. When you open the outlet valve, be careful; it is hot water, after all.
To get the water flowing, you also have to flip the pressure relief valve near the top of the tank to break the vacuum inside.
Once the hot water drains, open the cold water valve to flush out the tank, and then simply reverse the process to restore normal operation.
Autumn brings to mind some of the best memories for me, like the crunch of leaves underfoot, the crisp, fresh air and the trees ablaze in brilliant shades of red and yellow.
It’s only natural to want to bring some of those elements indoors, and one easy way to do this is by making a fall leaf garland to show off those fantastic fall colors.
This is a nice, quick project for an afternoon indoors, so grab a hot chocolate and a pair of scissors and let’s get crafting!
Download the fall leaf template, print it out onto white card and cut out the leaf shapes.
Trace around the leaf template shapes onto the back of your colored paper. Trace as many leaves as you’ll need to fill the length of your fall leaf garland.
Step
Cut out the leaves you traced with a pair of scissors.
Step
Punch two holes in each leaf with a small hole punch. You’ll use these holes to attach the leaves to your garland.
Angle your holes in various ways to make your leaves hang in different directions:
Two holes straight across will make your leaf point straight down.
Having one hole higher on the left will make your leaf point to the right.
Having one hole higher on the right will make your leaf point to the left.
Step
Cut a long length of twine and tie a knot in one end.
Step
Get the opposite (unknotted) end of the twine and start threading your leaves onto it. Alternate between leaves of different colors, shapes and directions.
Step
Once all your leaves have been threaded on, tie a knot at the end to secure them in place.
It’s easy to tweak this fall leaf garland to suit your fall decorating – just use alternative colors and maybe other types of leaves for a completely different look!
