When you're getting your home ready for fall, you've probably got images of carved pumpkins and plaid throw blankets dancing in your head. We love all those things, but we also love the idea of lightening up our fall decor a little bit. You know, using a softer, prettier color palette. With DIY fall decorations, you can use any colors you want. The best fall craft ideas take a seasonal element, like pumpkins or leaves, and let you put your own personal spin on it. So paint an ear of corn hot pink or carve a faux pumpkin into a hanging planter—there are no rules in crafting!
We picked these DIY fall decorations partly because they look so cheerful amid the darker evenings and colder weather. But it doesn't hurt that they make it affordable and easy to decorate your house. You do need to be a little crafty to make them, we're talking about using a glue gun and cutting paper in a straight line here. The rest of the skills required are minimal—and we'll walk you through them in detail, step by step. In fact, many of these fall decoration projects are even kid friendly, so they're a great activity for your next crafternoon.
Whether you're more minimalist, more maximalist, or somewhere in between, we've found DIY fall decorations you'll actually want to show off. Think tabletop accessories, a chic front door wreath, and accessories for your next party. So read on, pick one to try, and get ready to hear all the compliments.
1
Painted Pumpkin Wreath
Stand out from the traditional fall color palette (and cheer up those gray mornings) with a bright front door wreath. This version comes together easily using faux mini pumpkins, a wooden wreath form, and craft paint.
Get the tutorial from Lovely Indeed.
2
Pressed Leaf Pumpkin
Put the pretty leaves and flowers your little one brings home from walks or the playground to a creative new use. Decoupage glue (such as Mod-Podge) gives this pumpkin a glow-up, no carving required.
3
Punctured Can Votives
Repurpose empty pumpkin cans after baking your pie with this cute DIY fall centerpiece idea. We recommend wearing safety gloves while poking the holes just in case.
Get the tutorial from A Beautiful Mess.
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4
Wooden Bead Pumpkin
Minimalists, rejoice! We found a DIY fall decoration that works perfectly with your neutral color palettes. This cute pumpkin craft requires just three materials: twine, wooden beads, and hot glue.
Get the tutorial from Domestically Blissful.
5
Pressed Foliage Art
For a subtle celebration of fall, frame your favorite foliage and greet guests with a festive gallery wall. This is also a great way to celebrate your hometown's biodiversity. Plus, the frames can be reused and swapped with the seasons.
Get the tutorial from Bless'er House.
6
Wooden Disc Wreath
A few fallen branches get new life in this DIY fall wreath. Carefully cut them into thin rounds (or buy craft wood pieces), then use a brush to apply a swirl of paint to the center, and stack them onto a wreath form organically. The effect looks almost like dried citrus—especially in Alice and Lois' rich, rustic color palette.
Get the tutorial from Alice and Lois.
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7
Colorful Fall Garland
Whether you're throwing a party, setting up for a formal dinner, or just wanting to add some color to the gloomy fall days, these cheerful paper garlands do the trick. The templates make them a cinch.
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built.
8
Corn Wreath
Fall is harvest time, and the best way to celebrate is by eating all of the fall produce you've been looking forward to. If corn is your particular favorite, take that love one step further by making this vibrant wreath out of crepe paper (an unsung craft supply that's so fun to use). It'd look adorable on a door or over a fireplace mantel.
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built.
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9
Map Wreath
Fall wreaths don't have to be all twigs and dead leaves. In fact, you can use any type of material you have lying around, even maps. To make your wreath extra meaningful, cut out favorite vacation spots or loved ones' hometowns.
Get the tutorial from Piller Box Blue.
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10
Paper Pumpkins
A simple project for crafters of any age, these paper pumpkins look sweet displayed in a bowl on your coffee table or sprinkled throughout your house. You could even make a very cute tabletop display with a bunch in different sizes and complementary colors. Try different textures and types of paper too.
Get the tutorial from It's Always Autumn.
11
Bean Houses
Put those pantry dry goods to use by creating an adorable fall village to display as part of a tablescape or along windowsills. Paint a whole bunch of beans at once, then glue them onto premade houses when they're dry. The brighter the colors, the better.
Get the tutorial from Handmade Charlotte.
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12
Pumpkin Planter
While we wouldn't recommend using a real pumpkin to make this cute planter craft (hello, mold), a foam or faux gourd does the trick perfectly. Drill holes in the bottom and you could use it on the porch as a planter for seasonal blooms like mums.
Get the tutorial from Club Crafted.
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13
Acorn Squash Acorns
Turning acorn squash into oversize acorns—why not? Just look at how cute they are. Grab some rope and hot glue and you could have a whole bushel.
Get the tutorial from Inspired by Charm.
14
Quilted Pumpkin Pillow
For the more advanced DIYer out there, this quilted pumpkin pillow is a great way to use of leftover fabric scraps—and an adorable way to spruce up any worn out throw pillows. Win-win!
Get the tutorial from Polka Dot Chair.
15
Gratitude Tree
An ideal craft for the lead-up to Thanksgiving, this gratitude tree reminds us that we have so much to be thankful for! Encourage visitors to write messages on the paper leaves to complete your day-of decor.
Get the tutorial from The House That Lars Built.
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16
Fall Leaf Garland
Whether you use tissue paper, real leaves, or construction paper, this cheerful leaf garland is great way to add fall festiveness to any room.
Get the tutorial from Handmade Charlotte.
Kate McGregor
Digital Editor
Kate McGregor is House Beautiful's Digital Editor, writing in-depth home renovation cost guides, design inspiration stories, and plant care guides. With over five years of experience writing commerce and search-optimized content for brands like Domino, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest’s Clever, Kate has developed a passion for uncovering the personal stories that often lie behind the inspiration for people’s spaces. She previously worked as the assistant market editor at ELLE Decor where she identified top products and brands in the industry and interviewed emerging designers about their thoughts on the latest interior design trends. Kate holds a bachelor’s degree from Belmont University. When not researching the specificities of begonia plant care, you can find Kate scouring vintage markets for the ideal wrought-iron chair, knitting yet another cardigan, or reading historical nonfiction.
