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Get Crafty! 7 Easy DIY Fall Decor Ideas You’ll Love.

By Rachel

published 08/06/2025

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Last Updated on August 6, 2025 by Rachel

Decorate your home on a budget this season! Try these 7 easy DIY fall decor ideas you’ll love for cozy, homespun, and handmade decorations.

It’s August and that means fall is just around the corner! If you are wanting to get a head start on fall decorating, you’ve come to the right place. But, with store-bought decorations often consuming a high price tag, why not try your hand at some simple and budget-friendly DIY projects? In this post, we’ll explore 7 easy DIY fall decor ideas you’ll love and that will bring the beauty of the season into your home without spending a fortune. No special skills or expensive materials required – just a little creativity and a willingness to get crafty!

Table of Contents

Craft Cozy DIY Decor for Autumn

I don’t know about you but for me personally, as soon as August hits, I dive head on into all things fall decor. It’s not that I start decorating yet but I for sure start thinking about my decor ideas for the season. This includes taking inventory, like what I may need to purchase and what I already have from last year, or coming up with decor that I can make for adding personalized autumn charm to any space.

These simple yet impactful DIY projects will, hopefully, empower you to create a beautiful and inviting fall atmosphere using common materials, and often with a thrifty twist!

Here, you will find 7 of my most popular fall DIY crafts from years past that you, my readers, have loved! I’ll also cover why to DIY home decor, general DIY tips, and where to source materials.

So, if you’re ready, grab a pumpkin spice latte and let’s get started!

Why DIY Fall Decor? Beyond Just Saving Money…

So, why do I make some of my own fall decor?

Making your own home decor, or taking a seen better days thrifted find and turning it into a striking piece of fall decor, is extremely rewarding.

Below are a handful of reasons as to why making your own decor is the way to go:

Budget-Conscious: DIY fall decor significantly cuts costs compared to buying new, allowing for more seasonal updates without financial strain.
Personalized Touch: It’s extremely neat to have home decor that literally no one else has! That’s what embodies a unique and special home. Making pieces that perfectly match your style and home’s aesthetic is wonderfully gratifying.
Creative Outlet: The creative process involved in coming up with a craft, gathering needed materials, and then actually making it is truly so satisfying. Crafting something with your own hands can also be a form of mindful and relaxing meditation.
Sustainable Decorating: The eco-friendly aspect of repurposing materials and reducing waste is another amazing benefit of DIY’ing your own decor.
Family-Friendly Fun: Many DIY projects can be enjoyable activities for the whole family! Get the kids involved or throw a fall DIY making party with some friends.

Where to Source Your DIY Fall Decor Materials

Wanna know an insider secret? I rarely buy materials or needed items from the craft store anymore! How, you may ask? The answer is simple…I either thrift them or use natural materials from nature that I source from my backyard or local parks.

Below are a few examples of what I mean as well as other places you can source materials:

Your Own Backyard/Nature: Includes natural items such as leaves, twigs, pinecones, acorns, and dried flowers.
Thrift Stores & Secondhand Shops: Source cheap items secondhand such as vases, stamps, books, scrap textiles, ribbon, or decorative accessories.
Dollar Stores: For super inexpensive craft supplies, dollar stores carry materials like faux florals, ribbon, and small pumpkins or gourds.
Craft Stores: Watch for sales on items such as paint, glue, paintbrushes, twine, or wreath bases.
Recycling Bin: Raid your recycling bin (or a friend’s) for glass jars, bottles, cardboard, Kraft paper, and the like.

Get Crafty! 7 Easy DIY Fall Decor Ideas You’ll Love.

Okay! Now that you have a few thrifty tips for sourcing and creating your own DIY decor for fall, let’s get into seven fall projects that I’ve created and shared here on the blog over the years. I’ve genuinely enjoyed crafting each one of them and still enjoy many of these projects now!

To view each project tutorial in its entirety, and to see the material list, just click on the green text.

1. DIY Fall Garland with Waxed Leaves

This simple yet stunning handmade decor brings the beauty of the outdoors inside. With just a few materials and steps, you can create a distinctive and personalized piece of decor.

Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or just looking for a fun project, I’ll guide you, step by step, on creating this whimsical DIY fall garland with waxed leaves. Learn how to transform ordinary leaves into a beautifully rustic autumn adornment!

You can find many of the materials at the thrift store or dollar store, making this DIY very affordable. All in, I spent around $9 on supplies for this. I think you are really going to love this one!

2. DIY Leaf-Printed Napkins for Fall Decor

Bring a touch of the outdoors to your table this season. Learn how to up-cycle fabric napkins using stamped leaves for budget-friendly DIY fall decor that will wow guests!

Not only will this autumn craft add a touch of nature to your table setting but it’s also an environmentally friendly way to spruce up your home for the season. In this post, we’ll dive into the process of turning a simple leaf into a stamp to create stunning napkins. I’ll provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to create your own set, perfect for any fall gathering!

3. DIY Fall Decor: Easy Leaf Stenciled Pumpkin

Behold low budget outdoor fall decorations at its finest! Effortlessly create DIY fall decor with an easy leaf stenciled pumpkin.

This pumpkin craft is simple and low-key. It is a great project to create if you are tight on time and need something quick or if you are just looking to add some color and botanical whimsy to your outdoor fall display.

The leaf stenciled pumpkin DIY is perfect for kids of all ages! Once finished, these colorful and handmade pumpkins make adorable accents to any fall porch or patio.

4. How to Make Fall Potpourri with Dried Fruit

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to bring the smells of autumn into your home. Learn how to easily make fall potpourri with dried fruit and fill your home with warm and cozy scents!

In this article, I’ll guide you through the simple steps of creating your own fall potpourri using readily available fruit.

Imagine the comforting aromas of cinnamon, cloves, apples, and dried orange slices filling every corner of your space. Not only will homemade potpourri add a festive touch to your decor but it also makes for a thoughtful and unique gift!

5. DIY Pumpkin Decor with Wooden Rosettes

By far, this DIY is one of my favorite decor projects that I’ve ever done.

This delightful fall craft took about two hours to complete from start to finish. You can find inexpensive supplies for this project from thrift stores or the dollar store.

Follow along to make your own DIY pumpkin decor with wooden rosettes. It’s extremely easy with minimal materials needed, making this craft very affordable. This little trio of pumpkins brings such fall cheer to your home!

6. Simple Fall Wreath DIY with Braided Rope

Easily create a simple fall wreath DIY with braided rope using dollar store materials!

With fall knocking on our door, I thought it would be fun to create an easy wreath that can be hung in multiple places. This wreath blends coastal style with the rustic nature of autumn, making for a cozy piece of fall decor.

7. How to Make Polka Dot Pumpkins

Pumpkin crafts for anyone… kids to adults alike! Learn how to make polka dot pumpkins using simple materials from around the house.

I mean…who doesn’t love polka dots?! This classic and whimsical design brings me back to my elementary school days. The beauty about this craft is that you can alter it to fit your style by using a different variety of pumpkin or choosing different paint colors.

For low budget fall decor, these cute little pumpkins are it! Style them in bowls, line them on window sills, display them on your patio or porch…the fall decorating possibilities are endless.

FAQ’s for DIY Fall Decorating: Your Handmade Autumn Home Awaits!

Before we close, I wanted to briefly touch on a few popular questions when it comes to decorating for fall on a budget. If you have an inquiring mind, or are simply curious about this topic, hopefully the answers below will give some insight.

How to decorate for fall on a budget?

You truly don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on fall decor each year.

For budget fall decorating, try:

source items from nature to style shelves or hutches such as dried grasses or leaves, seed pods, feathers, acorns, wheat, or neat twigs.
go through your decor bin and see what you already have! Use things in different ways.
OR, if you have the need for a few specific items, try thrifting! You’ll find the things you need for over half the price.
make your own decor!

How can I decorate for fall for free?

There are all kinds of ways to style your home for free for fall! The easiest way is to take decor or things you already have around your house and use them in different ways. This is basically like DIY decor, just in a slightly different way.

For example, take any random pitcher from the kitchen, pluck a stem of fall leaves, stick it inside, and voila! Instant fall. Or, use a small cup or ramekin and fill it with acorns from outside. See what I mean??

How can I decorate my house for cheap in fall?

Here are some easy and practical ways:

shop your house for things you can use
go thrifting!
source natural items from outside to use throughout your house
ribbon goes a long way…tie orange or plaid ribbon around handles, knobs, tureens, or pitchers

Closing Tidbits on Get Crafty! 7 Easy DIY Fall Decor Ideas You’ll Love

With that, this wraps up the fall DIY roundup. These 7 easy DIY fall decor ideas offer simple, creative, and low budget ways to infuse your home with the warmth of autumn!

For character-rich and unique decor, I hope this inspires you to get crafty and personalize your space. The process of making your home cozy for fall is mindful living at its finest, and the change in seasons is a wonderful time to do so.

Be encouraged to decorate your home with love, and your own two hands, understanding how special that truly is.

Leave me a comment! Which of these easy DIY fall decor ideas are you excited to try first? Share your crafting plans in the comments below!

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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.

Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!