30 of the best fall decor ideas, according to interior designers and trend experts

Think outdoor flowers are only for summer? Think again, says Rainey Richardson, the principal of Rainey Richardson Interiors. She recommends planting chrysanthemums, a hearty, flowering plant that flourishes in the fall. “Choose the yellow, orange, red or even purple colorway and plant in a large pot,” she says. “With little care, these plants should last through the fall season and make your porch inviting.”

If you want to spruce up your home with a nod to fall but you’re strapped for time, an autumn-inspired wreath will add character to your front door. Depending on your style, Richardson says, you can keep it simple with a twist or swag of fall leaves, or go lavish with various textures, dried flowers and even a bow made of burlap. This bright and bold number adds such a welcoming vibe to your front door.

And if you want to go the extra mile, try this decorative pumpkin statue, which stands 42 inches tall and looks quite realistic.

Whether you go Team Pumpkin or choose a clever fall-inspired saying, a seasonal doormat goes a long way in updating your front door. In addition to keeping up with your overall theme, it also keeps your porch fresh and festive, says Cynthia Montoya, lead designer and founder of Urban Gypsy: Styled. This durable doormat oozes fall with its floating pumpkins and charming cursive print.

Roll out the wooden carpet for your VIP guests as they enter your humble abode. This practical rustic pathway offers a decorative element to your outdoor space while preventing dirt and mud from entering your foyer.

Nothing screams fall quite like a hayride with family and friends. Bring the quintessential fall activity into your outdoor space with this stack of decorative hay bales fastened in adorable bows. Line them up on your front porch or style them on an outdoor end table for maximum effect.

Richardson says chargers are a quick and easy way to create a fall feel on your table. “Choose natural wicker or even plastic chargers in a wonderful fall color and put them under your regular dinner plates to bring warmth and weight to the table,” she says.

Etsy can be a great place to find fresh home decor like fun candles and holders, especially if you’re tired of what you’re seeing at bigger stores. As Richardson says, this season is the perfect time to gather all your candle holders and run them down the center of your table. “Different types and heights of holders will add more interest,” she adds. “Fill with varying heights of colorful fall flowers to add both color and ambiance to your tabletop.”

One of the biggest design trends of recent years has been bringing natural elements and textures into your home, and fall provides ample opportunity to experiment, according to Montoya. “Clinging to nature, comfort and earth tones, we are using fresh and dried greenery and florals to add natural pops of seasonal color throughout the home and especially as centerpieces in artisanal pottery,” she says.

To pull this off, she recommends adding handwoven cotton linens to your table medley as your first layer. Then, pair with round leather placemats and top off with a rich marble or wood tray to set your vase on.

Rich and moody candlelight can go a long way in taking a traditional tablescape up a notch. "Imagine a canvas tablecloth set with unique ceramics, linen napkins and cutlery with a hammered or hand-worked texture," says Justin Lievano, floral design manager at UrbanStems. "Then, you add a centerpiece full of unique autumnal stems and some organic-looking candlesticks with tapers for a warm glow, and all of this becomes a visual cornucopia of complementary textures. Under the glow of your candlelight, the table will look rich and delectable but seasonally appropriate too. Then, you take this principle and apply it to whatever space you’re decorating.”

A bowl in an autumnal texture and hue can do wonders in grounding your space. “If you’re adding a fall touch to the coffee table, a low bowl with air-plants and driftwood can make an incredibly striking statement,” Lievano says.

Burlap is proof that texture goes a long way in setting the tone for fall. Instead of investing in a heavy tablecloth that’ll conceal your favorite coffee or dining table, use this budget-friendly burlap table runner with dainty ties as a surface for elegantly arranging your fall-friendly vases, blooms and servingware.

“To create a focal point, lean a large mirror on your mantle and layer a framed photo of friends or family in front of the mirror to the right or left to make it off-center,” Richardson says. This brings attention to the hearth (aka the heart) of your space.

According to Montoya, this season is all about oversized greenery. You can do this with a big garland that wraps around your mantel or you can collect vases that mix ceramic, terra-cotta and woven rattan to fill with dried or fresh flowers. “Seasonal colors can have a big impact with lots of colors, or you can keep fall neutral with dried okra, wheat and pampas branches,” she says.

“I learned many years ago that every room needs eight or more sources of light to feel truly cozy, and candles are the perfect way to ensure that you don’t need over eight lamps in each room,” Lievano says. “Light a couple of candles, turn on some glowing lamps and infuse your space with the cozy warmth of an autumn hearth.”

This candelabra sets a moody, fall-forward tone while consolidating your lighting sources into one compact space. Whether you opt for this modern beauty in Walnut, White Oak or Whitewashed Ash, you’re bound to create the sophisticated yet cozy vibe you’re looking for.

Thanks to the subtle translucent construction, you can almost get away with styling these glass pumpkins year-round. 

Highlight your mantel as a focal point of your entertaining space in the most fall-friendly way possible with these timeless TikTok-famous walnut wood slats that infuse your fall decor with a Japandi (Japanese-Scandinavian) aesthetic. They additionally offer sound-dampening properties to create even more of a cozy oasis in your indoor space and are seamless to install.

The spookiest season of the year requires some mood lighting — even if you focus more on an ambient vibe than a scary one, Montoya says. Rather than the super-bright bulbs you usually flick on, consider a dimmable option or one that changes color with Wi-Fi or using Alexa. You can also add some flare with an outdoor lantern or two that gives you the same functionality.

Your couch might already have a throw pillow or two, but now is the time to make it seasonally appropriate. Swap out your everyday ones for orange, red, brown, yellow, deep green and other fall colors. Have fun with textures and sizes too, since they’ll all make your autumn nap more comfortable, Richardson says.

As with every season, Richardson says, one of the best ways to evoke the feeling of fall in your home is through smell. “Choose pumpkin spice, clove or cinnamon candles and light them in your family room. Lighting more than one will fill the whole home with the unmistakable fragrance of fall,” she says.

Grab a chunky knit blanket in olive, clay or putty hues to continue incorporating those fall tones into your current decor, Montoya says. “For an enhanced look, finish with rich cotton or velvet curtains in copper and dusty rose tones to really lean into those fall and winter months and give your home the warm cozy vibe you want,” she adds.

Velvet is proof that texture makes a huge impact in transitioning your sofa setup. “Add a touch of luxe with velvet throw pillows in jewel tones,” Mueller says. “They scream fall but in a chic and sophisticated way.” Available in a Burnt Brick color that’s not too on the nose, these pillow covers designed with a pumpkin-esque fluting are the perfect addition to your catnap setup. Stathis recommends pillow covers because you can swap them out every season in a way that’s more budget-friendly than replacing the entire pillow.

You can never have too many baskets. Not only will they help control your clutter but they’ll help drive home the fall theme. “Use these to store extra blankets or display faux fall foliage,” Mueller says. “They’re functional and fashionable.”

Your rug is at the focal point of your entertaining space, so giving it a fall refresh is the quickest way to create a cozy vibe. Made of a handwoven wool blend, this stunner from the design influencer Arvin Olano's line comes in earthy tones like Brick and Wheat to ground the room from every corner.

Nothing says fall like a pile of pumpkins. And the options are endless — from real to faux, colorful or classic orange, textured or smooth. Have fun with this part of decorating and experiment with different groupings. “Pile the pumpkins by a tree, along a sidewalk or use bales of hay to provide a varying level of display,” Richardson says.

Richardson recommends placing a bench in your front yard or backyard and adding some outdoor pillows in fall colors. “If the bench is covered, you can drape a cozy blanket over the back to make it even more inviting,” she says.

Depending on what zip code you call home, you may need to add a little fire to your backyard if you want to comfortably spend time outdoors. Montoya says you can easily do this by featuring decorative freestanding heaters and/or freestanding fire pits like this one from Solo Stove, the best smokeless fire pit we’ve tested, on the patio or around the yard. “Either way, be sure your outdoor furniture is comfortably positioned around it so you can enjoy the yard while staying warm,” she says.

“One of my favorites is fresh potted mums,” Mueller says. “They come in an array of vibrant colors and add a pop of color to liven up any space indoors or out.” This 2.1-gallon arrangement suitable for both outdoors and indoors makes a stunning statement, and it comes with a decorative planter making it worth every penny.

Most of us aim to make use of our outdoor spaces well into winter, and nothing creates a fairytale-like atmosphere to do so quite like the best string lights. Zuckerman recommends them for leaning into the fall spirit and bringing a sense of warmth to any space.