Fall in Love with Autumn: 5 Simple Decorating Tips

As fall nears, night comes earlier. The air is cooler, the sunshine more mellow. We draw free of summer’s pull and look forward to the brisk, busy days of autumn.

One way we prepare for a new season is by decorating our homes. The blue and green seashell tablecloth and the funny frog garden statues are stored away and replaced with decor in faded tones or flaming autumn color.

Hanging a wreath is one of the easiest ways to decorate! That’s partly because there are so many beautiful fall wreaths and so many ways you can use them. A fall wreath is the go-to decoration to add instant color and seasonal style.

Here are a few suggestions for decorating with a wreath:

• Place a wreath on your front door for an instant seasonal refresh.

• Replace wall art with a wreath over your entry table, buffet, sofa or fireplace.

• Hang matching or complementary fall wreaths over chairs and cabinet doors in the dining room and kitchen.

• Lean a small wreath on the mantel or credenza.

• Hang an artificial fall wreath on your front gate or from each fence post.

Weather-resistant and as changeable as the seasons, house and garden flags quickly add autumn flair to your home’s exterior.

You’ll find flags in many designs and styles to suit your decor and personality. From casual to quirky, whimsical to welcoming, a fall flag adds style to your home for a positive first impression.

And because fall flags are relatively inexpensive, you can buy a few to keep things fresh. Choose a flag with fall leaves or a harvest theme, a haunting Halloween motif or friendly Thanksgiving vibes and change them out as autumn progresses.

From front stoops to covered patios to second floor balconies, porch decor adds personality to your outdoor space and hints at your autumn aesthetic even before they ring the doorbell.

Porch decorations don’t have to be elaborate. For every house with a scarecrow, hay bale and pile of pumpkins there are dozens more that welcome autumn with a simple porch sign, a pot of mums or a cluster of gourds.

Fall is showy enough on its own. Save the stress and keep your fall porch decor simple, as an artful echo of the splendor just beyond your front steps.  

Clusters of miniature pumpkins, autumn leaves, tea candles and acorns are a classic way to dress a fall dining table – but tablesettings only scratch the surface of what is possible when decorating with fall table decor.

Think of any flat surface in your home – a side table, mantel, shelving, console, stool, ottoman, coffee table, buffet or countertop – as a medium for conveying seasonal style.

The abundance of fall table decorations and the variety of styles open worlds of possibilities for decorating your autumn tablescapes.

For instance, you can combine ceramic, fabric or wood pumpkins with candle holders, sprays of grass and other natural materials for a softly neutral look. Lay a wreath on your dining table or side table with a cluster of candleholders and flameless candles in the center.

The abundance of harvest decor means you can mix and match countless textures, colors and themes, using each piece as a stepping stone to express your unique seasonal style.

Speaking of candles, lighting is an important and impactful element to add to your autumn decor. The golden glow of candles and lanterns enhance the mellow tones of fall decorations and reflect the warmth we instinctively add to our homes as the weather cools.

In the autumn twilight, add a welcome radiance to your indoor and outdoor spaces with lights of all kinds.

Hang warm white patio lights outdoors to visually ward off the autumn chill. Fend off the lengthening shadows indoors with sparkling string lights.

Group tea lights, tapers and pillar candles for maximum effect. Use flameless candles for the same warm look as wax candles without the hazards. Porch floors and railings, mantels, hearths, entryways, stair landings, buffet and dining tables, consoles – tuck in a candle or group decorative lanterns wherever there’s a flat surface.

Autumn has a way of slipping in quietly, then suddenly surrounding us with color, light and cozy comforts. The good news is you don’t need to overhaul your entire home to enjoy the season’s magic. A wreath here, a few pumpkins there, a flicker of candlelight in the evening – small touches can make your home feel like fall in an instant.

So before the calendar fills and the leaves turn, take a moment to savor the season and dress your home in its warmest welcome. Grab a pumpkin spice latte, pull on a sweatshirt and start putting together your fall decor!

Explore Christmas Central for all your autumn, Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.