Fall Decorating on a Budget

Apple picking. Warm sweaters. Cool breezes. Early nights. Black Friday deals. These are just a few of the wonderful things that fall brings with it. Another great thing about fall is decorating for the season. Bold reds, warm oranges and earthy browns. Wonderful scents, gorgeous natural centrepieces. If you are planning on doing some fall decorating, you don’t have to spend a fortune. Here are a few hints and tips to get your house stunning for fall while working within a budget.

Shop Secondhand stores

Secondhand stores are a great place to get not just decorations for the fall, but also material that can help you create a warm, inviting fall atmosphere. You can find colorful throw rugs or blankets that you can toss on the back of your couch. Stick to oranges, browns and reds with touches of gold. If you are crafty you can pick up a piece of material or a sheet at a second hand store and make slipcovers for your throw pillows. You can completely transform your living space for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

Stick to a focal point

Whether you are decorating your yard or your dining room, it’s always best to stick to one focal point with smaller touches around it. If you have too many large items in one space not only will you end up overspending, but the room or the front yard could end up looking tacky and overdone.

Use nature

There are so many things in nature that you could use to decorate. Gourds, tree branches and leaves will all give your home a genuine fall feel. And they tend to be very inexpensive if they cost anything at all. Here’s a few ideas than incorporated nature:
 Fill a glass vase with leaves or spread leaves around your mantle or centrepiece. When you pick the leaves, cover both sides lightly with a moisturizer to help them keep their color and to stop the edges from curling up.
 Cut a small tree branch and use it as the focal point for your centrepiece or on your mantle. Surround it with leaves, small gourds and glass stones. Or you can drill small holes in the branch and use it for tapered candles.
 Gourds are perhaps the most versatile item in fall decorating. You can place them in a tall vase for a colorful focal point. Or you bunch them together on a coffee table or mantle. You can hollow them out and use them as vases or cut small holes in them and use them as candle holders.
 Corn husks and bales of hay make the perfect outdoor decoration. Place a few gourds and a pumpkin on the bale of hay and you have the perfect outdoor fall decoration.

Scent your home

For many, fall also means pumpkin spiced lattes and apple cider. Bringing some of those wonderful fall scents into your home can help create an inviting space. There is no shortage of fall scented candles and essence oils, but some of those can be on the pricey side. If you are looking for a wonderful fall scent that doesn’t cost a fortune, just head into your pantry. Fill a pot about 3/4 full of water and add a bit of vinegar. Then add some cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and allspice. You can also add some orange or Mandarin rind. Let the mixture simmer on your stove and your home will soon be filled with the wonderful scent of fall.

Fall is a great time to add some color and warmth to your home. And thankfully you can get create some stunning fall decorations without spending a lot of money.

Do you decorate for the fall? What are some of your tips for fall decorating on a budget?

Kara Taylor is a freelance writer who loves to cover a wide range of topics from saving money to interior decorating.