10 Inexpensive Fall Decorating Ideas


Fall decorations can conjure up so many emotions of nostalgia and comfort. Can you design on a budget?
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The Fall season brings tons of sights, smells, and textures that we yearn for all year. It signals jackets and vests, hayrides, and pumpkin spice everything. 

It’s also one of the best seasons for house decorations, but it can get expensive quickly. This year, you can curl up with a cup of coffee on the back porch while you feel the temperature drop and rest easy, knowing your house looks amazing and you didn’t break the bank.

The season is all about slowing down and enjoying the little things, so enjoying the way your home looks without worrying about money should be no different. 

Keep Things Functional 

A great tip for saving money is to keep your decorations functional. If they can serve other purposes or align with items for other seasons, you can save some money. 

Repurposing items you already have and using them for this season is another way to save money. It’s also a great way to ensure your house is clutter-free! 

Saving money and keeping a clutter-free space often go hand-in-hand, so if there’s any way to use items you purchased from other seasons and use them in a different way for the Fall season, your wallet will thank you. 

Check out these affordable Fall decorating ideas to see what you can incorporate in your own home!

10 Inexpensive Decorations for Fall

1. Utilize Tin Buckets 

A staple of this season is tin buckets and vases. It’s a texture that signals cooler weather, bonfires, and hot chocolate. 

Tin buckets can hold flower or plant arrangements, pumpkins, and any other items you may have. 

They look great outdoors or indoors, and they’re extremely affordable. The part is you can use them for other seasons as well. 

The metallic finish goes with almost any style and lets you utilize the convenience of the bucket year-round. 

Flowers and Gardens engraved in a tin bucket

2. Arrange Scented Candles 

Displaying an assortment of scented candles is a great way to get in the Fall spirit at the beginning of the season. 

Smell is also a powerful trigger for memories, making this a personal touch as well. You may have fond memories of a campfire or pumpkin smell, and burning candles with these scents will remind you of happy memories. 

Candles are a cost-efficient way to decorate because they often match the season you’re in, meaning the campfire and pumpkin scents will likely be in orange or yellow jars. 

Two red bergamot scented candles arranged over a wooden tray

3. Use Red and Orange Accents 

You can get ready for this season without even spending money on specific items. Using household items with Fall colors is a great way to save money and get in the spirit of the season. 

Use your red or orange scarf as decoration by hanging it from the mantle or on the coat rack by the door. 

Similarly, incorporate your yellow rain jacket by using it as an accent piece on the wall by the back door. 

You can even bring out an orange blanket for the couch and pair it with vibrant colored throw pillows that you re-use for this season. 

Chances are, there are plenty of options within your household items that can get your house ready to embrace the cooler weather and pumpkin spice lattes. 

A pumpkin sitting on top of a book with an orange blanket background

4. Create a Pumpkin Arrangement 

A classic and inexpensive way to get into the spirit of this season is by creating a pumpkin arrangement. 

Try to find various sizes, colors, and varietals to give your space contrast and interest. You can find them at a local farmer’s market or supermarket, and since they are so resilient, they will last all season long. 

You can create an arrangement on the front doorstep or inside the house around the fireplace or on the dining room table. 

Wherever you decide to create the beautiful arrangement, you’ll have the gorgeous Fall colors and inspiration at a cost-efficient price. 

Pumpkins of different colors and sizes stacked vertically

5. Paint Your Mason Jars 

Mason jars have tons of practical uses, and chances are, you have a few laying around the house. 

Grab some paint from the store and transform the glass jars into your favorite Fall decorations. 

Painting them red, yellow, orange, or white is a cost-efficient way to add a pop of color to your space and help you get ready for the season. 

You can place fresh flowers or plants in the jars and use them as table arrangements or on the mantle for a fresh update. 

Grab the kids and let them paint a few on their own to add a personal touch to this project. Your kids and your wallet will enjoy it!

Mason jars used as candle containers and vase for a table decor

6. Replace Flowers With Leaves and Pinecones

Everyone loves a good flower arrangement, but this season calls for a different style. Replacing fresh and bright flowers with leaves and natural elements like pinecones is a great way to get in the spirit of this season. 

Try to use neutral colors such as greens, browns, and oranges to help the arrangements stand out and blend with this style. 

Your home will still feel connected to nature, and using seasonal elements will allow the space to feel authentic and align with the weather outside. 

Add a pop of color by using real leaves of orange and red. Incorporating leaves into the arrangements will bring an authentic touch and scent that will open up your space. 

A woman arranging some orange leaves and flowers on a vase

7. Incorporate Pampas Grass

Nothing says Fall like a glass vase full of pampas grass. The grass itself is subtle but the perfect touch for this season. 

It’s a natural and neutral color that will accompany any interior style and remind you of the changing season. 

You can buy fake pampas grass or save some money and find it growing naturally and use it for your space. 

Adding it to a glass jar and using it as a centerpiece on the coffee table or dining room table is the perfect way to decorate for this season. 

It’s cost-efficient and natural, making this a go-to for the season. 

A dried pampas grass placed on a glass jar as a decor piece

8. Use a Neutral Pallet

Incorporating soft tones and neutral colors is a great way to save money and get in the holiday spirit. 

Using neutral colors means the decorations you choose for this season can be used year-round. 

You may even have decor from Christmas or Spring that uses neutral colors, and using them for this season will save time and money. 

Another benefit of a neutral pallet is the ability to add a pop of color. Red, orange, and yellow are popular colors this time of year, and using accents with these colors will be a lovely contrast to your neutral pallet. 

This color scheme aligns with the weather and natural plants outside, which aligns with your interior and exterior scenery. 

You can use households items like colored blankets and dish towels to contrast your neutral-colored decorations. This saves money and creates a fun element in the space by adding old and new elements. 

A dinner table arranged with some candles, small pumpkin and dried flowers

9. Decorate a Chalkboard

Chalkboards are great for almost any season. You can personalize them and change them as often as the seasons change. 

For the Fall season, they’re great because you can add a pop of color to them or keep it black and white. 

Chalkboards give you the opportunity to change as often as you’d like, making this a fun addition to your space. 

You can include a countdown to Thanksgiving, draw a new jack-o-lantern face each day, or write out your seasonal recipes and hang it in the kitchen. 

The possibilities are endless, making this one of the most versatile decoration options you can find. 

You can use the chalkboard in other seasons as well, making this a good investment for your home. 

Get the kids involved and let them draw their favorite elements of the season to add a personal touch to your space. 

They’ll love the fun activity, and your wallet will love the inexpensive idea that you can use year-round. 

A showcase of kitchen ware and pumpkin with a chalkboard menu

10. Incorporate Natural Wood Elements

Another staple of this season is natural wood elements. This is the time of year when you start to see piles of firewood on the side of the house and smell the freshly split logs. 

Try to incorporate wooden elements such as wooden coasters, wooden stools, and even wooden baskets. 

It’s a neutral-colored decor that will go with any interior style, it can be used year-round, and it allows your colorful elements to shine. 

Natural wooden elements remind you of the changing weather and even have a strong smell that signals the start of something new. 

Adding colorful accents like orange throw pillows, red leaves, and a yellow coffee mug will perfectly contrast these elements. 

It’s also a fantastic way to add a different texture and create depth in your space. Keep a stack of firewood by the fireplace for a functional and eye-catching way to decorate your home. 

Your wallet will love this inexpensive way to decorate for the Fall season.

A coffee table decorated with a fishbowl and some wooden elements as centerpiece
Jessica Childres
Jessica Childres is a Georgia native and former teacher. She loves to share her skills, knowledge and passion with others. She has an ongoing interest in real estate, home decorating, and design.
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