Fall craft ideas: 10 pretty ways to decorate indoors and out
We love that it’s the time of year to indulge in fall craft ideas. One thing we are aware of, though, is that life is busy, even with kids back at school, so we know you’ll want them to be simple to achieve.
It’s likely that you’ll want all your fall decor ideas to have longevity, too, so we have chosen ideas that are not only quick and affordable to make, but which will be wonderfully easy to update and add to for Halloween, Thanksgiving and even into Christmas.
We asked stylist Sara Bird to create some of these fall craft ideas just for us. Others are gathered as favorites by the Homes & Gardens team.
Sara Bird has worked on the Homes & Gardens team for many years, making seasonal projects look beautiful for us. Sara is passionate about reloving and renovating homes and interiors and always warms to great interior ingredients.
Fall craft ideas
Wondering when you should start decorating for fall? We’d say right now. Even if you don’t indulge in fall craft ideas for indoors for another week or two, it’s likely you’re already looking at your neighbors’ fall porch ideas and feeling inspired to get going.
1. Decorate your porch with fall candles
(Image credit: Future)
‘This fall craft idea can of course be used indoors as well as out, but we love its simplicity, especially outside on a porch or doorstep, where the cooler air temperature will ensure both the apples and the flowers will last longer,’ says Jo Bailey, Homes & Gardens Deputy Editor and stylist.
‘It’s likely that local garden birds will peck at the fruit, so you may want to ensure candle drippings are removed regularly, but if you are looking to feed birds in winter, it’s a great fall craft idea. Simply hollow out some apples, place candle wicks at the bottom of the hollow and pour in some wax. Leave to set and you’re ready to go.’
Amazon sells a natural wax and wicks set (opens in new tab).
As with all our ideas, never leave burning candles unattended.
2. Use paint to transform a room for fall
(Image credit: Dan Duchars / Future)
‘If you are looking for living room fall decor with a crafty feel, why not use paint tricks?’ suggest Deputy Editor (Digital) of Homes & Gardens. ‘Use stencils or paint free-hand to introduce a living room feature wall idea that’s unique to your home.
‘It’s also a wonderful way to introduce fall color schemes to otherwise neutral rooms, and can easily be painted over in spring – or you can introduce spring decor ideas instead.’
3. Make an outdoor fall decor idea easy
(Image credit: Future/Dan Duchars)
Looking for easy outdoor fall decor ideas?
‘Use humble terracotta pots to house pumpkins, foliage and flowers to give fall looks to doorways and entrances,’ says Sara Bird. ‘Use a crate to elevate and add height with more foliage and lanterns arranged on the floor. A lantern and candle will give an inviting warm glow come the evening.’
4. Hang a basket of fall foliage on a door
(Image credit: Future)
Wondering how to start decorating for fall? Foraging from the yard is the easiest way to do so.
‘Gathering woodland goodies to decorate your home with seasonal fall favorites is the simplest of fall craft ideas,’ says Sara Bird. ‘Pick leafy branches and cut to a similar length about ⅓ taller than the basket you want to display them in. Gather in a bunch and distribute inside the basket to pleasingly fall either side of the handles. Hang from a back of a door for instant foliage flair.
‘Add a personal touch with a ribbon hung charm – in this case rustic door keys.’
5. Hang a simple fall wreath
(Image credit: Future)
Fall wreath ideas make for a staple fall craft that you can fashion from scratch, or you could make a burlap wreath and simply attach fall flowers into this plainest of bases.
‘Show off shapely stems in a woodland-inspired wreath. Using a ready-made willow wreath, add lengths of grape vine to create a base, teasing the twigs out for a rustic look. Taking bendy foliage branches add around the wreath in curves, pushing in and out of the twigs and securing with florist wire. Finally push in berry, flower and seed head cuttings then hang the wreath up with a seasonally colored ribbon,’ says Sara Bird who also shows us how to make a fall wreath in our dedicated feature.
‘To create a wreath for year-round use, choose preserved and dyed flowers and foliage.’
6. Dress a fall table, simply
(Image credit: Helen Rushton / Future)
If you are making a pine cone wreath for fall, you might like to match your fall table decor ideas to it to create a cohesive theme.
‘I love to pile pine cones on to a tiered cake stand and place sprigs of berries and small fall flowers between them,’ says Homes & Gardens content editor Zara Stacey, but I love the relaxed, quick-to-assemble arrangement above.’
7. Dress a shelf or mantel for fall
(Image credit: Future)
‘Dress plain shelves or mantels to celebrate fall by arranging and displaying glorious autumnal bounty,’ says Sara Bird. ‘One of simplest fall mantel ideas is to use a goblet or vase for cut flowers, then pick nuts, seed, fruits and leaves to fill bottles, jars and bare surfaces to give a color and texture to this focal point in the room.’
8. Decorate a lighting for fall, indoors and out
Outdoor dining space by Neptune (opens in new tab)
(Image credit: Neptune)
‘Whether you have a traditional chandelier in your living room or a rustic candelabra outdoors, simply twining foliage around it (real is wonderful, faux is fine!) will create a focal point that will immediately make your space feel autumnal,’ says Andrea Childs, Editor of Country Homes & Interiors. ‘This is a wonderful outdoor dining idea that will make al fresco gatherings feel really cozy.’
As ever, ensure naked flames are well away from anything else and don’t leave candles unattended.
9. Arrange fall flowers for a quick result
(Image credit: Future)
Okay, so this only just qualifies as a fall craft idea, but it’s effective nonetheless.
‘Create an easy arrangement with fall foliage, flower sprigs, seed heads and berries that looks good and lasts,’ says Sara Bird. ‘Choose woody stems and flowers which dry stylishly, with the odd preserved sprig for stability and arrange in similar length cuttings. Watch them gradually dry and preserve, then gather up and use in a bunch to hang from ceilings afterwards.
‘Pop in paper flowers for more color and a stronger shape,’ she adds.
10.
(Image credit: Future)
Coffee table decor ideas are really important for creating a focal point in your living room.
‘Place a seasonal arrangement in the center of the room to draw the eye day or night,’ says Sara Bird. ‘Use a cake stand on which to raise and house a glass vase with a candle placed inside. Dress with seasonal foliage, flowers, berries and finds as the season changes.’
Do It Yourself fall crafts?
Two of our favorite and easiest fall crafts to do yourself are easy no-carve pumpkin ideas (think: spraying pumpkins white, piling them high on porches and so on…) and making a pumpkin planter, which can be used to show off fall flowers for pots or cut-flower arrangements.
(Image credit: Grandin Road)
