35 Ways to Decorate for Fall When You’re Sick of Pumpkins

Beautify your autumn home, with nary an orange gourd in sight.

By Andréana Lefton | Updated Oct 26, 2020 01:45 PM

Novel Ideas

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Fall decor no pumpkins

With cooler weather comes changing colors—and our favorite fall holidays. In this moment when many revelers are still adjusting to the "new normal," change is in the air—so why not consider revamping your traditional seasonal decor? This year, set your inner DIYer free with these original ideas for autumn decor.

istockphoto.com

A New Leaf

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Fall Leaves Garland

Life can definitely be messy, but joy is in the details—like this handmade leaf garland by the DIYers at A Beautiful Mess. Spend a little time cutting, stitching, and reveling in good old-fashioned fun!

Related: 50 Fall Decor Updates for $5, $15, $30

abeautifulmess.com

Warm Up

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Sweater candles

Jo-Anna Rooney, blogger at A Pretty Life, has found a way to remake old sweaters into candle holders. The end result is a cozy mantelpiece arrangement, which you can complement with apples, sunflowers, and fall leaves for the ultimate seasonal display.

Related: 14 New Uses for Old Candles

aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com

Looking Good in Leather

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DIY leather fall wreath

Seeking a more modern, minimal approach to fall decor? Cherished Bliss' leather wreath conveys elegant autumn vibes. With four inexpensive elements and less than an hour, your door will be the envy of the neighborhood.

cherishedbliss.com

Natural Touches

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Natural fall wreath

Laura, who blog at Make Life Lovely, lives in California—but that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy fall. She has invented a long-lasting alternative to floral wreaths that can usher in the season no matter where you live.

makelifelovely.com

Fall Florals

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fall floral arrangement

Ease off the mini pumpkins, but continue to mix florals and fall produce. That’s the advice from Cupcakes and Cashmere blogger, Emily. Artichokes, pomegranates, persimmons, squash, and apples are not only good to eat, but can take the place of honor as your centerpiece.

cupcakesandcashmere.com

Modern Wall Decor

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Modern fall wall decor

Who said wreaths must be round? Upend tradition and blend natural textures and foliage for stunning decoration, courtesy of Homey Oh My. With a few tricks and tools, wooden dowels and beads are transformed into wall art.

Related: Weekend Projects: DIY Thanksgiving Decor

homeyohmy.com

Mantel Display

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Fall mantel display

Your mantelpiece can be the focal point for seasonal celebrations. For inspiration, turn to Landee's blog, where she shows you how to upgrade your fall palette with creams, corals, and a touch of black.

landeeseelandeedo.com

Paper Cut Lanterns

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Paper cut out fall lanterns

We love Lia Griffith’s paper cut-out lanterns. A paper cutting machine makes the job easier, but there are plenty of hand-cut options as well, including leaf patterns and Halloween graveyard scenes.

liagriffith.com

Stenciled Slices

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Wood slice coasters

Perhaps you fancy just a touch of fall in your living room. If so, handmade coasters are an easy and subtle way to add some seasonality to your home. Wood slices can be stenciled with anything from monogrammed initials to stag’s heads. Great as gifts too.

unoriginalmom.com

Country Chic

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Wooden fall sign

Ready to welcome fall? Make it official with this “Happy Fall” sign, designed by Kelli and Kristi of the Lolly Jane blog, Simply print the stencil and follow the sisters’ how-to instructions.

lollyjane.com

Mums Aplenty

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Entryway fall decor

Learn a quick and easy way to rearrange your entryway for fall, with tips from Ashley Phillips of Simply Designing. With colorful mums, throw pillows, and a printable sign, your entryway can be the first sign that seasons are changing.

simplydesigning.porch.com

Roadside Signs

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Fall vignette

Tell your own fall story with a vignette—an intentional grouping of objects that brings charm and coziness to any space. Blogger Kimberly Sneed of A Night Owl created a fresh, farmer’s market vignette, perfect for a porch or front stoop.

anightowlblog.com

Wheat Bouquet

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Fall wheat decor

Simple is often best where crafting is concerned. Learn how to properly dry wheat, with this easy-to-follow guide by Leanna of Faeries and Fauna. Once fully dry, wrap the stalks in twine for beautiful, elegant wheat bundles. Enjoy all season long!

faeriesandfauna.com

Handmade Candle Holders

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Burlap and leaf candle

Fall leaves and burlap get an update with Garden Therapy’s rustic candle holders. While these glowing votives would be beautiful inside, they are especially appropriate for an outdoor setting, like an early fall garden party.

gardentherapy.com

Plush Pompoms

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Fall Pompom garland

Fall is all about memories and nostalgia, so find a project that you can do with your kids—like these pompom garlands. Lia Griffith lists all the materials and instructions on her blog, so all you have to do is set up a table and begin crafting.

liagriffith.com

Fall Wheelbarrow

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Fall wheelbarrow

Want to create some fun fall decor, but need a few pointers? The Home Depot offers free classes to help you improve your skills and complete seasonal projects, including a fall wheelbarrow, like this one made by Home Made by Carmona.

homemadebycarmona.com

Acorn Display

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DIY acorn wreath

In many cultures, acorns signal long life. Bring nature’s blessings to your home with an acorn wreath. It’s easy to create by following the how-to instructions at Tried & True.

triedandtrueblog.com

Turn of Phrase

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Fall message garland

Welcome the season—and family and friends—to your home with a playful fall garland. Just choose your words, then follow the helpful steps provided by the bloggers at A Beautiful Mess.

abeautifulmess.com

Fall Tablescape

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Fall table decor

Get Thanksgiving conversations rolling with a Q&A dinner game that doubles as a tablescape. With a little help from Home Made by Carmona, you’ll never have to sit through awkward family small talk again.

homemadebycarmona.com

A Little Flair

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Leaf decor

Fall’s beauty lies in nature’s changing hues—so why not make the most of those red and gold leaves? The party expert at A Subtle Revelry has an easy solution: Paint dried fall leaves with gold or silver paint.

asubtlerevelry.com

Wheat Sheaf Votives

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Wheat sheaf candle holders

Make homemade soy candles to use in your own home—or to give as holiday gifts and party favors. That’s the advice offered by Tanya, on her blog Dans le Lakehouse. Pour candles in a variety of vintage vessels, including tea cups and glass votive holders.

danslelakehouse.com

Rustic Wood Slices

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Rustic wood candle holders

Create simple, elegant candle holders using birch logs. Kristi, who blogs at Chatfield Court, offers helpful instructions, plus some real life advice for managing holiday stress through crafting.

chatfieldcourt.com

Custom Napkin Rings

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gold and white fall leaf napkin rings

Thanksgiving is the perfect excuse to break out the fine china and cloth napkins. Boost your table’s visual appeal with fall leaf napkin rings. The DIYer at Cherished Bliss recommends using Apple Barrel’s acrylic paint set, but feel free to experiment with your own paints and materials.

Related: Set the Thanksgiving Table with 20 Budget Buys

cherishedbliss.com

Acorn Appliqué

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Acorn appliqué pillow

Don’t bother buying expensive seasonal decor, like pillows. Instead, spruce up old cushions with felt appliques. Lia Griffith shows you how, and once you learn the technique, you can design your own.

Related: In Living Color: 7 Tips for Brightening Your Home's Palette

liagriffith.com

Wood Slice Wreath

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Wood slice wreath

This wooden wreath idea from Twelve on Main will never wilt—and can last for years to come. Wood slices and burlap ribbon combine for a natural look that will add a dash of country charm to your urban retreat.

twelveonmain.com

Ornamental Acorns

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Gold capped acorns

If you fill a bowl with these gilded acorns, just make sure no one eats them! The blogger at Make Life Lovely suggests that this is one project that anyone can attempt.

makelifelovely.com

Colorful Cake Stand

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Corn cake stand

Bethany Sy reinvented the humble cake stand, and found a new purpose for dried Indian corn when she created this handmade home good. Check her blog post on Reality Daydream for the full tutorial.

realitydaydream.com

Harvest Grain Display

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Fall mason jar decor

Put an autumnal twist on traditional Mason jars by channeling Susan B’s ideas for Oh My! Creative. The colors and materials both signal fall—burnt orange burlap, wheat stalks, and raffia.

Related: Say Hello to Fall with 21 Quick and Easy DIYs

ohmy-creative.com

Wrap Around

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DIY fall wreath

Even if you only have 10 minutes, you can still decorate your home for fall. All you need are faux flowers, a wicker wreath and this tutorial from A Piece of Rainbow. No glue gun or wire required.

apieceofrainbow.com

Wicker Balls

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Fall wicker ball display

Place these wicker balls on your coffee table as a low-key, natural centerpiece. Compliment with dried pomegranates, poppy pods, and potpourri for a subtle, aromatic sign of the season.

istockphoto.com

Hoop of Fruit

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Fall wreath embroidery hoop

Your choice of wreath says a lot about your style and personality. If you’re a blend of modern chic and traditional charm, make this embroidery hoop wreath. Find the full instructions in the video tutorial at Love, Create, Celebrate.

lovecreatecelebrate.com

Cinnamon Stick Candles

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Cinnamon stick candle holder

If you love the scents of fall—crisp nights, burning logs, baking spices—but hate artificial fragrances, these cinnamon stick candles are for you. Designed by Beth for Home Stories A to Z, these DIY displays will entice guests with fragrance and warmth.

homestoriesatoz.com

Light and Levity

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Popcorn candle holder

You can’t get any easier than this popcorn candle holder. All you need is unpopped corn, a glass candle holder, and a candle. You can also play around with dried kidney beans and split peas for other colors and textures—just don’t mix them together, warns DIY expert Shirley, who blogs at Intelligent Domestications.

intelligentdomestications.com

Faux or Fresh

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Fall planter arrangement

Do you have 30 minutes? Use your time to good effect and design a fall planter for your patio or entryway. The blogger at A Piece of Rainbow has provided a tutorial video and step-by-step instructions to help you create your own gorgeous botanical arrangement.

apieceofrainbow.com

Orange Accents

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Fall living room

Sometimes, decorating can be as easy as changing your cushions. Jessica Bruno of Four Generations Under One Roof proved that point when she designed this fall-inspired room, using a neutral white palette and burnt orange accents.

fourgenerationsoneroof.com

Fall Decor Delights

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Fall Decor DIYs

Fall decor is about so much more than jack-o-lanterns.

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