Look right outside your door for the best inspiration from nature for your fall decorations. These natural fall decorating ideas embrace the beauty of the outdoors and bring it inside for all to enjoy.
As the kids go back in school and the air is cool, crisp and comfortable, it’s so easy to get excited about decorating for fall.
But what really gets me excited is that my very favorite fall decorations are often free. That’s because I love to be inspired by our own backyard and items we already have!
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It doesn’t have to require a lot of time or money. In fact, it doesn’t require shopping at all! Many of these natural fall decorating ideas are simple and actually free!
When I think of fall, two things immediately come to mind – pumpkin spice and the beauty of the outdoors. As the leaves begin to change and colors in the environment turn from the vivid colors of summer to the more dramatic colors of autumn, it’s time to embrace the changes with fall decorations, too.
Those of you familiar with my fall decorating over the years know that I love integrating natural fall elements like pumpkin decor, and especially foraged finds. These, in combination with store-bought flowers and pumpkins, create such an easy and inexpensive natural fall look!
That’s what today’s post is about… bringing the outdoors in, without the burden of hauling crates of fall decor out of the attic. In fact, most of the ideas in this post are easily recyclable and affordable, too.
As you might already know, I’m something of a minimalist. I’ve shared my favorite Minimalist Fall Decor with you, and today we’re focusing on natural fall decorating ideas if you’re feeling the minimalist vibes this season, too!
Decorating with Natural Elements
Through the years I’ve shared an abundance of natural fall decorations – so I’m rounding them up into one easy guide! Fall decorating has never been more fun!
This post lists 17 of my favorite natural fall decorating ideas. And there are so many more where this came from! We love sharing our home with you, no matter the season.
Check out my Fall Porch Decor Ideas and Outdoor Fall Decorating Ideas for more inspiration! Have you seen these fun Halloween decorating ideas yet? And don’t skip Fall Living Room Decor inspiration for a few more of my favorite autumn ideas.
Natural Fall Decorations
Find inspiration for beautiful, natural fall decorations that are anything but cheesy!
Nature-inspired decorating can bring a room to life and won't consume space in your home throughout the year. Just look outdoors for inspiration to bring indoors.
Heirloom Pumpkin Fireplace
Fill your fireplaces with heirloom pumpkins! It's easy and oh so beautiful!
An heirloom pumpkin fireplace is the coziest way to create a charming fall look, especially if you have a non-working fireplace.
DIY Natural Fall Centerpieces
20 easy fall centerpieces to inspire you! Find endless creativity for your table centerpieces, including tips, tricks, and resources for flowers and so much more.
It’s a season of endless inspiration thanks to the sights and sounds of nature!
Update a Basic Wreath
Use a wreath that can transition from autumn through winter, by adding elements that change with the seasons.
Consider including other foraged items commonly found outside in autumn: pinecones and nuts are wonderful vase fillers or additions to a centerpiece, and transition well into winter decor.
Use Inexpensive Potted Mums
Adding mums to your home, indoors or out, is the perfect way to bring the outdoors in!
Some mums are hardy and can be planted in your garden after they're done blooming, too - even better!
When selecting natural fall decorations like pumpkins and mums, consider the variety of ways you can use them. While they may grace our garage for now, when we have guests over they may line the table along with candles, or fill out our fireplace like you previously saw above.
Natural elements are long-lasting and portable and can be used in a variety of ways throughout the season.
Fall Centerpiece with Mums
Or, cut up your potted mum and create a long lasting floral arrangement with them!
Mums are such an affordable way to that natural element into your curb appeal, or inside your home. While it's easy to place a potted mum anywhere around your home, the cut flowers also make for a spectacular fall centerpiece.
Make a Corn Centerpiece
Tie ears of dried corn around a vase filled with a candle for a beautiful fall glow.
This dried corn centerpiece is easy to make and adds so much charm to your home for Thanksgiving or the entire season.
Use Fruits and Vegetables
While it may seem obvious to decorate using pumpkins, apples and wheat, don't be afraid to get creative.
Many of the colors we see in fall home decor are taken from the colors we see in nature - i.e. the produce that is currently in season.
Grapes, pears, plums, artichokes, red cabbage and all forms of green leafy vegetables form the perfect color scheme for a fall harvest tablescape or in a beautiful bowl on your kitchen island.
Add Harvest Stems to Vases
A vase of dried wheat or sorghum (available at your local farmer's market) adds a hint of fall color to any room of your home.
Bonus? They dry in place and last for months.
Did you know that it's easy to make your own preserved wheat? Using fresh wheat, simply hang it upside down by the stalks in a dark, warm room (70-75 degrees F) for 2 - 3 weeks.
And voila - you'll have your own dried wheat bundles that you can use throughout your home.
Hang a Laurel Wreath
It's a beautiful addition anywhere indoors! Bonus: this one is made of a natural fall element, wheat!
Learn how to use a classic Laurel Wreath and cheerful sunflower kitchen decor to incorporate the textures of autumn – no pumpkins necessary!
Wheat Sheaf Fall Wreath
Dried wheat is a popular way to decorate for fall, but it doesn't have to stay indoors.
A simple bundle wrapped with some ribbon or fabric can be used to adorn a shelf or mantel, or hang a wheat sheaf on your door to display as a wreath!
Dried Flower Arrangements
If you have hydrangeas in bloom in your yard, consider making some clippings and allowing them to dry out.
A flower arrangement like this can easily be made with cuttings from your your own garden, or store bought flowers. Learn where to buy flowers here!
You can find all of my flower arranging tutorials on YouTube and get my tips for creating arrangements here.
Decorate with branches
One of the easiest ways to decorate for fall is to bring in branches from your backyard! In fact, I have a whole post dedicated to decorating with branches, as it's one of my favorite natural fall looks.
Magnolia branches work beautifully in our entryway, and will last for weeks. Magnolia doesn't dry out too quickly so it's a great candidate for bringing inside.
It's also a great choice for easily transitioning from fall to Thanksgiving and winter. Other varieties that will work with fall decor include crabapple, spruce, pine, maple and even pretty Rose of Sharon branches.
Even simple oak tree branches can add robust color to your fall decor. You can display in a vase - I typically use an odd number, 3, 5, or 7 branches.
Simply remove the leaves that would fall below the rim of the vase and add water. Voila! An instant arrangement for an entry, coffee table or kitchen island.
Bring in a Bundle of Wood
Whether outdoors or in, why not bring in a bundle of firewood to use as decor by your fireplace or firepit?
Firewood is inexpensive, rustic, and adds charm to any area of your home. Click through to find this and many other natural fall porch decorating ideas!
Stovetop Potpourri
This is natural fall decor at its finest, because it's more than decor - it smells amazing too! You can learn to make homemade potpourri to add to a bowl anywhere in your home.
Or try this stovetop potpourri - perfect for gifting and sure to warm your entire home through and through!
Add a Stack of Pumpkins
They're the perfect coffee table accent, but also work well next to a fireplace, sofa or entry!
Stacking pumpkins is one of my favorite outdoor fall decorating ideas, too.
Incorporate Found Antlers and Pinecones
Get the whole family involved in scouring the woods for found objects!
Pinecones and antlers make a beautiful addition to a centerpiece or coffee table.
Bring Wildflowers Indoors
Fill a basket with wildflowers! These beauties are found in nature all the way through November in some parts of the Midwest.
It makes an easy centerpiece for your table, bookcases, entry and more!
I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of our natural fall decor and will use these ideas as inspiration as you decorate your home for the season.
Don’t miss these fun fall posts – fall home tour and how to make a DIY treat bucket to match a costume!
Julie, your floral arrangement is just perfect for fall! Light enough to be pretty, yet including the feel of fall, nonetheless. So many lovely subtle touches. Beautiful!!
Hi Julie!
First of all, thank you so much for joining us! And as you know, I’ve been a fan of your simple but stylish blog forever and it’s no surprise that you have again pulled off an effortless way of incorporating fall without going over the top!
Your flowers are gorgeous! And I love the pumpkins scattered here and there in an almost sculptural way. And I can I tell you a secret? I plop my mums into the pots as well. No re-potting for this girl:)
So very glad to have you with us… happy fall!
Sheila
xo
Love all of your natural accents Julie and one of the things that caught my eye is how your garage doors are painted in the same tones as the rest of your exterior. That was a much debated subject here when we had the house painted a few months back!
It’s the little things we stress over the most, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by to say hello!
Julie,
1st off let me say I’m so glad your house and décor is not the same o same o white everything in the house!! I love the darker pieces you have in your home and its so refreshing and different than what everyone else seems to be doing. All that white gets to be boring after a while. In a year or two, they are going to be stripping all those painted pieces and wish they hadn’t painted them at all! Your home is cozy and inviting and especially warm looking. Interior design, just like fashion, changes because the mundane goes away and something new takes its place. I’m thinking the darker colours will be here for interiors very soon. Well done you!!
Thank you, Suzanne! I truly appreciate your thoughtful comment. I actually want to strip a piece I painted 6 years ago to restore it to it’s original beauty and integrity! The regret! I feel wood makes a home feel warm, though I love calm, light and bright interiors! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
I always first thing about decorating with nature for fall and I do the same thing just placing the potted flowers in pots. Great ideas and happy fall!