Early Fall Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Home Now!
Hello friends! Labor Day weekend is over, and the unofficial end of summer has arrived. Are you looking for early fall decor ideas for your cozy home without extra cost? I know late summer just passed, and it’s still hot in many places. You might be saying, “I’m not ready for full fall mode yet!” I hear you. But as I sip my favorite pumpkin spice coffee, I can’t help but get excited for the autumn season. This is the perfect time to make simple changes to your home decor. Today, I’m taking you on an early autumn season tour and sharing early fall decorating ideas for a cozy home, budget-friendly ideas that don’t cost extra!
Table of Contents
- 1 Early Fall Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Home Now!
- 1.1 Favorite Ways to Bring Autumn Into Your Home Decor
- 1.2 Shop Your Own Home First
- 1.3 Cozy Vibes: Throw Pillows and Throw Blankets
- 1.4 Obsessed with Acorns and Other Natural Elements
- 1.5 Grocery Store Finds: Budget-Friendly Inspiration
- 1.6 Rustic Touches: Fall Vignettes and Dough Bowls
- 1.7 Adding Natural Elements for Fall
- 2 Natural Textures & Gatherings
- 3 Favorite Early Fall Inspiration: Click the Purple Link
Early Fall Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Home Now!
When the change of seasons begins, I love adding small touches of fall colors to our living spaces. Imagine walking into your living room, and a few natural elements can completely change the vibe.
This is a good time to share these easy ideas. I’m here to help you get your own home ready. So you can enjoy this festive time of year with these simple ideas. These budget-friendly ideas aren’t just perfect for early September. They’re the easiest ways to refresh your living spaces through the autumn season. So, when the fall leaves start changing into their fall colors, you can cozy up with a pumpkin spice latte or tea and add real pumpkins in warm colors to your home decor and enjoy the process. I hope you enjoy this early fall tour, sharing my favorite ways to add simple touches of the season.
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Favorite Ways to Bring Autumn Into Your Home Decor
How can I add nature to our home decor for the autumn season?
- Fall wreaths for the front door, on a shutter, or on a wall
- Acorns, pinecones, and nuts in the shell
- White pumpkins, mini pumpkins, and dried gourds
- Pumpkin stems saved from last year’s real pumpkins (tip at the end of this post for making faux ones look real!)
- Cinnamon sticks, star anise, and dried oranges
- Dried hydrangeas, dried lavender, or sunflowers
- Wood crates, baskets, and even pheasant feathers
These simple ideas bring warm colors and texture to your coffee table, living room, or dining room without extra cost.
Shop Your Own Home First
Early September is a great time to “shop your own home.” Look through throw pillows, faux greenery, and fall florals from last year. Sometimes the best ways to decorate don’t come from Hobby Lobby or a thrift store; they’re hiding right in your own home.
Cozy Vibes: Throw Pillows and Throw Blankets
I admit it, I broke my rule and bought a few new throw pillows. They were too perfect to pass up! Pillow covers are such an easy way to refresh a space, and they don’t take up much storage next year.
Pair them with throw blankets to create cozy vibes in your family room. For me, there’s nothing better than curling up with my husband and our pup, Reeses, under a throw blanket, enjoying a pumpkin spice latte. That’s my idea of a cozy home.
Obsessed with Acorns and Other Natural Elements
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I’m slightly (okay, fully) obsessed with acorns. They’re obvious fall decorations, but they’re one of my favorite ways to decorate during the autumn season.
I use them in fall vignettes on the dining table, coffee table, or tucked into a dough bowl centerpiece. Add pinecones, dried gourds, or small sticks from your yard; natural elements are the best ways to decorate without extra cost. See a step-by-step tutorial in this blog post to clean and preserve acorns for crafts and decor for years! You will see how I preserved small sticks, too!
Grocery Store Finds: Budget-Friendly Inspiration
Speaking of inspiration, the grocery store is my go-to for seasonal decor in early September. Here’s what you can find for easy ideas:
- Small white pumpkins
- Gourds and Indian corn
- Apples and pears (look for faux ones at the thrift store)
- Star anise, cinnamon sticks, and dried oranges
- Wheat stalks and sunflowers
These simple ideas make it easy to create a fall vignette on your coffee table or dining table.
Rustic Touches: Fall Vignettes and Dough Bowls
I love styling a dough bowl for autumn decor. Layer dried gourds, mini pumpkins, pinecones, and a stack of breadboards as a base layer. Add in fall florals and faux greenery for a refreshed look that feels cozy and layered.
Simple changes like these are some of the easiest ways to refresh living spaces during this time of year.
Adding Natural Elements for Fall
One of my favorite parts of decorating this time of year is bringing in little natural elements. You don’t need to spend a lot to make your cozy home feel warm and seasonal. I always start with what I already have, maybe a basket of pine cones or some dried hydrangeas from the garden, and then mix in a few finds from a thrift store or craft shop.
If you’re wondering how to add more natural beauty to your home decor for the autumn season, here are some ideas I love (I’ve linked a few favorites so you can shop easily too!):
Natural Textures & Gatherings
- Fall wreaths – on the front door, over a mantle, or even hung inside on mirrors
- Pine cones – free to gather or easy to buy in bulk- Shop Pinecones (HERE)
- Acorns – perfect for filling bowls and scattering across coffee tables
- Nuts in the shell – nostalgic and rustic
- Apples or Pears – Shop Direct link (Apples) (HERE) and (Pears) (HERE)
- Indian Corn
- Wood crates – instant farmhouse charm
- Baskets – great for storage and layering textures – Shop Basket (HERE)
- Seasonal Produce & Garden Finds
- Pumpkin stems – I dry real ones, or you can buy them
- White pumpkins – a fresh alternative to orange
- Mini pumpkins – perfect for small vignettes Shop Pumpkins (HERE)
- Dried gourds – full of texture and charm
- Dried artichokes – textured and unique
- Dried hydrangeas – my go-to every fall
- Dried lavender – another favorite, fragrant and timeless – Shop (HERE) Shop Lavender Wreath – (HERE)
- Dried oranges – a cozy farmhouse favorite
- Fragrant & Seasonal Touches
- Cinnamon sticks – perfect for tying into bundles or displaying in bowls – Shop Direct Link – (HERE)
- Star anise – beautiful and aromatic – Shop Anise – (HERE)
- Pheasant feathers – add rustic elegance and height Shop Direct Link – (HERE)
These simple ideas bring warm colors and texture to your living spaces and make your cozy home feel ready for cooler days. Most of them are easy to gather from nature, the grocery store, or your favorite craft shop, all budget-friendly ideas for the fall season. Here’s a dried orange garland. It works through the holiday season! How’s that for budget-friendly?Now is a great time to get fall inspiration at the grocery store.
Cindy’s Note: I own the products listed!
Fall Wreaths: A Nature-Inspired Look
The first thing I think about when the fall season approaches is fall wreaths. Not just for the front door, try layering one on a table, or inside a lantern.
I’ve made fall wreaths from pinecones, dried oranges, sweet gum balls, and painted hazelnuts. They last next year and a long time. These add a unique look to your home decor.
Cindy’s Fall Decor Tips: Here are early fall decor ideas for a centerpiece. Mix fall florals with greenery such as seeded eucalyptus and branches. Add these to a vase or pitcher. Add pumpkins, pinecones to a bowl or tray. These ideas that work through Thanksgiving.
Cindy’s Wreath Note: visit my DIY & Crafts page. Wreaths for multiple seasons. This pinecone wreath is a favorite, and it’s three years old. It looks as good as the day I made it, can you believe it? These are sustainable crafts!
Cindy’s Moss Tip: When adding moss to wreaths or other crafts. I spray the moss with Mod Podge Matte Sealer. It prevents the moss from fading and shedding!
Bringing It All Together: Favorite Early Fall Touches
Thanks for joining me on this early fall tour! With the official first day of fall approaching, I hope these early fall decorating ideas inspire you to add small touches, simple changes, and budget-friendly ideas to your cozy home.
Sometimes, the favorite things, warm colors, and easy ideas from last year or the grocery store are the best ways to welcome the autumn season.
Grab a pumpkin spice latte, embrace the change of seasons, and enjoy creating a cozy home ready for fall. I’d love to hear about your favorite ways to decorate. Leave a comment and let me know!
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Favorite Early Fall Inspiration: Click the Purple Link
Fall Centerpiece Ideas on a Budget
Chalk Paint Foam Pumpkins A Sustainable Choice
These ideas are all amazing, Cindy! I’m totally with you, it’s been hard to get into the swing of things when it’s still hot outside. That said, the season goes by quickly and I want to make sure we soak up every bit we can. Thanks so much for these fabulous ideas. I love the way you always highlight nature and create such a warm and inviting home. Big hugs, CoCo
You are the best CoCo. I love nature and it’s Free! I have been finally getting back in the swing. The summer was tough here in NJ for my MS. Peanut’s death took a huge toll on us.
Cindy, your house looks so lovely and I adore how you use natural elements in your decor! I’m all for anything that’s free and looks pretty! Thanks for the great ideas!
You are so sweet Donna. Nature is the best decor!