I can count on one hand how many times I’ve rearranged our furniture in our home in eight years! I think part of the reason is once I find the way I like something, I keep it like that forever. 

The other reason is the open layout of our home doesn’t really lend itself to moving things around much. There’s more opportunities to move things around when you have four walls to work with!

The other day I was in our basement living room assembling a new chair for the space, and the layout of our furniture was just feeling off. 

I first noticed it months ago, when we had a few neighborhood basketball playoff game watch parties in our basement. Thankfully we all like each other, because we’d have to sit pretty close to fit everyone on our sectional sofa.

And no one liked sitting along this side, because it was awkward to watch TV:

When I was down there working the other day, my mind started going through ways I could reconfigure the sectional to make it a bit more open for easy TV watching. 

This sofa has sat in this configuration since we got it eight years ago…we’ve only moved it to clean underneath occasionally. 

I decided to try out a slightly different layout, so took the sections apart and started pushing them around. Basically I just turned it clockwise in the room, but this time, I moved one of the single seat sections to the  long section facing the TV. 

It created a much cozier feeling in here, but also opens up the seating area for the armchair:

Just by turning the sectional and moving one of the seats in the sectional, it allowed the part facing the TV to be the longest section. It works so much better! 

I’ve been looking for one in a green color (that wasn’t crazy expensive) for down here forever. I finally I gave it another go recently and found this comfy dark green swivel chair that arrived super quickly:

It was a decent price and I was able to put it together in less than 30 minutes. It’s surprisingly comfortable and we love that it has a nice, deep seat. 

I’ve been making more small, low-cost tweaks to the room in the recently as well. 

I found a pretty mirror on Facebook Marketplace for a future bathroom makeover, but it was too tall for that room. I may still try to make it work there later, but for now I hung it above our vintage dresser: 

Every time I see a table or console covered with eclectic frames I just love it. It feels so cozy and collected. I started gathering frames and placing them on this dresser: 

The marble and brass piano lamp is one of my favorite FB finds ever! I was watching one on there for months, but it was priced at nearly $200. I was thrilled when someone listed the exact same lamp for $40! 

I love the look of it shining down on all of our family photos. 

The decor on my giant DIY bookcase wall has changed over the years as well! Our son is a Lego nut, and we’ve started displaying some of our favorite sets on the shelves: 

It looks so great with the wood tones and will warm up the space nicely. I’m excited to start that project! And yes, that will be the third grasscloth wallpaper I’ve added to our home…I think it’s a classic!

Another project I’m drumming up in my head is building a long sofa table for behind the sectional. It would be great to have a spot for drinks and maybe a small rechargeable lamp. 

Now that we’ve moved things around a little, there’s so much more space to add something:

It would be great to have a spot to pull up some counter stools back there when we have a lot of people over as well. 

Have I convinced you to shop FB marketplace yet?

One of my favorite parts of this quick change was that it gave us a bit more room for a bigger end table. I brought my three tier wood end table downstairs that my Dad refinished for me more than 15 years ago:

I’m not sure if we will keep this layout forever, but it feels incredibly cozy and intimate with a simple adjustment of the sectional: 

Plus this change gives us way more room for the Christmas tree. 🙂 

We put it in between the bookcase and the window, and this will give it some room to breathe and allow us to really enjoy it: 

Every seat will have a great view of the tree and I’m excited about that! Anyone else starting to get excited about Christmas decor? Too soon? 

I was soooo happy puttering around, moving the sectional and figuring out the perfect layout. Since I never rearrange furniture, it was fun to create a new look without spending a dime! 

Moving stuff around is one of the best ways to redecorate for super cheap. Or I should say, for free!

It’s fall, and you love to decorate, but you don’t want to break the bank. No worries – fall decor doesn’t have to be expensive. You can have a Pinterest-worthy, fall fabulous home with a few simple pieces that give you a lot of bang for your buck. Whether you’re a DIY lover, a thrift store treasure hunter, or just someone who wants to sprinkle a little autumn magic around the house, this list is packed with chic and budget-friendly ideas.

Let’s fall into fabulous! Grab your favorite pumpkin-spiced drink and your coziest fall blanket as you enjoy this list of stylish and totally doable fall decor ideas.

1. Pinecones in Bowls or Vases

Pinecones are nature’s free decor (you can literally find them outside, depending on where you live). Toss them in a pretty bowl or glass vase, and boom — instant fall decor. Bonus idea: Lightly dust them with cinnamon essential oil for a subtle seasonal scent.

2. Candle Clusters

Group candles of varying heights on a tray. Consider color: Mix in brass or gold holders for a warm glow and orange or deep red candles to amplify the fall feeling. Choose traditional seasonal scents like apple cider, pumpkin spice, or vanilla chai.

3. Cozy Textures Everywhere

Fall is all about being warm and cozy with cooler weather making its way through the season. Layer your space with chunky knit blankets, faux fur throws, and velvety pillows.

4. Acorn Accents

Fill small jars or bowls with acorns (real or faux). They’re small, easy to find, earthy, and perfect for adorning bookshelves, mantles, and coffee tables.

5. Statement Vases with Faux Flowers

Swap out summer blooms for faux or dried fall florals. Features floral colors in burnt orange, mustard yellow, and deep burgundy. Pampas grass and eucalyptus are also great neutral options.

6. DIY Fall Wreath

Grab some floral wire or a wreath frame and add twigs, feathers, faux leaves, and even cinnamon sticks to create a wreath that’s beautiful and uniquely yours. Hang it on your front door or above your mantel.

7. Rustic Centerpiece with Gourds

Create a fabulous fall dining table centerpiece with a mix of mini pumpkins, gourds, and candles. Add a burlap or velvet runner underneath for extra charm.

8. Apple-Inspired Decor

Fill a wooden crate or basket with red and green apples, thoughtfully place faux apples around your home, and use apple-scented essential oils. It’s simple and fresh.

9. Crafty with Cinnamon Sticks

The smell of cinnamon invites warmth and fall feels. Add a little throughout your home by tying cinnamon sticks together with twine and tuck them into your centerpiece or place settings. They smell amazing and look rustic-chic.

10. Pumpkin Spice Everything

Pumpkin spice screams fall. From drinks to scents, it’s everywhere. If you’re a fan, you can affordably add them to your home with candles, hand soaps, oils, and more.

11. Front Door Glow-Up

Add a fall-themed doormat, a wreath, and a few stacked pumpkins to make your entryway feel warm and welcoming.

12. Thrift Store Treasures

Add some character to your decor with vintage brass candlesticks, amber bottles, or old books with warm-toned covers. These cost next to nothing and instantly give your home decor a rustic feel.

13. Layered Textures

Texture doesn’t just stop at bedding, pillows, and cozy blankets. Mix burlap, wood, and metal pieces to create some country charm and make the space feel warm and inviting.

14. Neutral Fall Palette

If your home decor leans more neutral, skip the bright oranges and go for creamy whites, soft browns, and muted greens. It’s on theme and adds a chic touch.

15. Dollar Store DIYs

The local dollar store is a gold mine for DIY fall decor. Start by grabbing faux leaves, mini pumpkins, and glass jars, and get creative. Remember to have a plan before you go in, like choosing colors that match your fall decor theme. You’d be surprised how luxe everything can look with a little creativity.

16. Blanket Ladder Display

Drape your coziest throws over a wooden ladder for a functional and stylish display. Vary it up in texture and color based on your overall decor.

17. Found from Nature

Nature can be our biggest inspiration and gift us free decor. Take walk and gather twigs, leaves, and pine branches. Arrange them in a vase or use them in a DIY garland.

18. Gourd Garland

Gather together mini gourds or faux pumpkins to create a festive garland to hang across your mantel or staircase.

19. Scented Simmer Pot

Fill your home with autumn scents by simmering a pot of apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peels on the stove. You can do this once a week for a natural, cozy scent that pairs perfectly with your fall decor.

20. Decorative Tray Styling

Use a tray to feature candles, mini pumpkins, and a small vase of fall florals on your coffee table or kitchen island.

21. Budget-Friendly Throw Pillows

Here’s an easy and quick fall decor solution: swap out your pillow covers. With the right measurements, your pillow covers can easily become the perfect fall-inspired accent piece. Look for plaid, velvet, or faux leather and various colors like brown, orange, green, and red.

22. Seasonal Dishes

Display fall-themed mugs or plates on open shelves or in a hutch. It’s a subtle way to bring in the season without investing in too much decor.

23. Mantel Magic

A mantel is the perfect functional space to feature layers of garlands, candles, and seasonal items like mini pumpkins or vintage books. Turn your mantel into a cozy focal point, then sprinkle similar accents throughout your home to create a warm, inviting vibe.

24. Baskets Full of Fall

Fill woven baskets with various textured blankets, florals, and surround them with your favorite guards or pumpkins for a luxurious, lived-in look.

25. Branches and Twigs in Decor

Branches and twigs signify the changing seasons. Place them in a tall vase or use them as part of a centerpiece. Mix in faux sunflowers and eucalyptus in a vintage pitcher or amber bottle for a farmhouse feel.

27. Copper Accents

Copper mugs, trays, or candle holders add warmth and a touch of glam to your fall setup.

28. Feather Fun

Tuck a few feathers into your faux flower arrangements for texture and a touch of whimsy or simply add a few standalone feathers to your favorite vase.

29. Amber Glass

Use amber glass-shaped decor or bottles (which are great as vases or candle holders). They’re moody, chic, and perfect for fall.

30. Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

Fill your home with the scents of fall by adding oils like clove, orange, cinnamon, and cedarwood to your essential oil diffuser.

31. Lantern Love

Place lanterns around your home, surrounded by candles, mini pumpkins, or fairy lights, for a magical glow.

32. Pears as Decor

Keep it super simple by adding faux or real pears to bowls or centerpieces for a fresh, unexpected twist.

If you love fall, these ideas will help you add a few fabulous touches to the warm and cozy season. All you need are a few key pieces to refresh your space with cozy textures, warm colors, and charming details. And don’t worry about breaking the bank, there are so many budget-friendly ways to make your home feel like a luxurious autumn retreat.

So light a pumpkin spice candle, turn on your favorite fall jams, and start decorating!

Other fall favorites you’ll love:

Easy DIY decorative wood riser for countertop or display.

I’ve seen some really cute decorative wood risers in stores and online over the past year or so. I don’t NEED one, but I’ve always thought they would be a nice little addition around our home. 

Problem is, I had particular spot in mind, and could never find one in the size I wanted. I thought it would be cute to prop up our pretty glass containers in the basement bar on a riser:

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.

I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links. 

The other problem was, I knew I could make my own for so much less (especially for the size I wanted)! This one is 16 inches long, but deeper than I’d need. 

I thought I had everything I needed for this project in my DIY stash, but I didn’t have scrap wood in the size I needed. That’s the only part I had to spend money on!

I picked up a four foot pine board for $10 and then beat it up a bit. 🙂 I didn’t get a picture, but you can take out your frustrations on the wood — I used a hammer and a couple pry bars (in two sizes) to give the clean wood some “character.”

Next up, I measured the decorative trim to fit around three sides of the riser. I mitered the trim at 45 degree angles so it met up on the sides and front corners: 

I wanted the riser to fit flat against the backsplash, so I didn’t add trim all the way around. I used wood glue along the back of the trim to attach it to the pine board. 

The decorative trim isn’t necessary, but keep in mind the two cut ends of the pine board will be rough. You can also use iron on edge banding to give the edges a clean finish. 

If you’re making a riser for an island or coffee table, make sure to cover all side of your wood panel similarly. 

Once that glue was dry (about an hour or so), I grabbed these wood “feet” I have in my craft stash: 

Since they have holes, I used screws to attach them, but you could also use wood glue. 

You could also cut small square pieces of wood (or one long scrap along each end of the stand) instead of these feet. Kind of like this decorative riser. 

Usually I’d use a pre-conditioner before staining this bare wood, but I knew I’d be doing a paint/stain combo so most imperfections wouldn’t be noticeable. 

I gave the DIY riser a quick coat of dark walnut stain: 

And then let that dry overnight. 

The next morning I mixed some black paint (I used regular latex paint in the color Tricorn Black) and mixed it with a bit of water to create a “wash”: 

I let it sit for a minute or so and then wiped up the excess paint with a damp paper towel. This lets the stain show through a bit.

We have butcher block counters in our basement bar and a honed black tile backsplash, so I wanted to combine both of those finishes on this decorative stand.

For the smoothest finish, it’s best to give the wood a very light sanding between each one of these steps. (Before staining, after staining, in between washes of paint.)

It took a couple coats of this watered down paint to get into all of the grooves on the detailed trim. 

After letting everything dry thoroughly, I gave the riser a couple light coats of wipe on polyurethane: 

And that was it! I let everything dry for an hour or two before handling.

Here’s a full list of the supplies I used for this exact project: 

• pine wood board measuring 1x6x48 inches
• decorative trim (one eight foot length will be more than enough)
• round wood feet 
• wood glue
• dark walnut stain 
• polyurethane protective coat

I created exactly what we needed for our space! It took me a couple hours over a day or so to finish up this easy project, and I only spent $10:

This project is so easy to customize to your needs and style! Use more elaborate feet or trim for a farmhouse look, or paint it all glossy black or white for a sleeker version. 

We use these for candy and snacks, but they would be lovely with baking necessities like sugar and flour as well. 

I may move the feet out to the corner a bit more, since you don’t really see them much: 

But overall I LOVE how it turned out! Not bad for $10 and a couple hours of my time.

This is a great beginner project if you leave off the mitered trim on the edges of the wood board. You can have the wood cut the length you need at most hardware stores. 

Tip one: Put it under glass

I like to add a bit of interest to faux greenery by putting it under glass:

Simple decor just looks a little more special under glass!

Sometimes little faux plants can look a little wimpy on their own, and adding the glass makes them feel a bit more substantial, but not busy. 

The glass gives it weight without it feeling visually heavy…love it!

Tip two: Put it in a bowl or tray

Gathering like items in a big tray or bowl makes smaller items look way less busy and more cohesive: 

Even smaller utility items on a kitchen counter look great gathered on a tray: 

We always have plenty of wine corks! They add a little texture and can be a great conversation starter: 

Tip three: Add knobs or pulls where there aren’t any.

We have a few furniture pieces in our home that I love, but they are so affordable and versatile, a LOT of other people love them too. I see them all over social media and on blogs.

Adding hardware is an inexpensive way to make them look just a bit different, and it’s super easy to do (check out this simple tool I use to make installing hardware even easier!).

It’s not a huge thing, but it adds a bit of a custom touch to a very popular furniture piece. 

And of course, just changing out the existing knobs on a piece of furniture can make a big difference! 

There are so many options — they truly are like “jewelry” in a space. Our Hemnes dressers came with basic knobs that I changed out: 

Tip four: Furniture hardware isn’t just for furniture.

I blogged about this years ago, but it’s such a great little detail, it’s worth mentioning again! I like to use knobs as hangers as well:

Instead of nail or hook, they add a pretty detail that I love!

Sometimes I’ll hang the actual item and then use the knob so it looks like it’s hanging from it (this mirror was hung from the back, then I used the knob for the rope): 

This just makes it extra stable, and keeps the item from hanging away from the wall and moving around.

I had two of those feather pulls I shared earlier, so I later added one to this storage box lid: 

Having the pull on the lid makes it so much easier to access. 

This works particularly well with these versions that have the screws sticking out. I need to cut down the screws a bit eventually. 

Knobs and pulls as decor is such a fun little detail! This is our son’s old room, but these “FLY” knobs are hanging in his new bedroom too: 

Tip five: Fill your frames with something different

When it comes to filling frames, you can do photos or traditional artwork of course…but there are SO many more pretty and inexpensive options!

I used leftover wallpaper for these frames:

You can use anything! There is some beautiful wrapping paper out there that would look awesome framed. 

Years ago I used scrapbook paper for this big gallery wall: 

It’s SO easy and you’ll get super inexpensive seasonal art of them: 

So fun and SO cheap! The dollar store is a GREAT place to get inexpensive bags for this art. Love it! 

All of these little details that don’t take a lot of DIY knowledge and they are quick to implement around the house! Hopefully they gave you some ideas for your home! 

How to make your builder grade cabinets look custom with simple trim. 

Adding just a bit of inexpensive trim makes a big difference on the sides of your kitchen cabinets! 

I’ve been hard at work in our kitchen finishing up a few smaller projects. I LOVE our kitchen, but I’ve planned all along to add some small details that add some interest and character. 

You know character is the name of my game! My goal for the past couple decades of home ownership has been to add custom touches to our homes.  

This one is a quick project that I never had to address in our old kitchen makeover because we didn’t have any exposed cabinet ends: 

Basic cabinet side panels don’t bother me — but I do see them as an opportunity to make the kitchen look more custom! 

First I had to remove all of the trim along the side — the quarter round, baseboard on the wall and the trim along the back of the cabinet. I used a pry bar and my hammer to pull those off. 

Because the cabinets have a small “lip” on the front, I needed to make everything even so I could add the trim on top. 

Most cabinets will have that face part that will make things uneven on the side. 

I had a piece of luan cut to the size I needed and then I nailed it on to the cabinet with my nail gun: 

Make sure to use very short nails so they don’t go through the other side! Or even wood glue would work. 

I kept the old trim from the kitchen island to use on this project but had to buy a couple new 1×3 pieces of lattice (I find this size at Menard’s): 

I created a very simple board and batten look on the ends:

I started painting it with white paint and then I realized our white cabinets are not bright white — so I took a cabinet door to the paint store to have it color matched. 

This might be my new favorite white!:

It’s such a lovely, creamy white. I love it! 

I sanded lightly after each coat and did three coats total. 

I LOVE how this simple trim makes the cabinets look more custom! 

It’s a pretty detail that’s subtle — again, not in your face. 

If you don’t add feet, you will just have the thin trim coming down to the floor on the side of your cabinet.

I love those projects — when you tweak something for the better and it’s subtle enough the space feels different, but a visitor wouldn’t be able to put their finger on it: 

Here’s the only pic I could find of this view before the island makeover: 

And here it is now with the “new” island and DIY detail on the end of the cabinets: 

And here’s a before of the other side of our kitchen: 

Yes, I covered most of this one up with the IKEA bracket and my cute kitchen stuff, but the end of the cabinet is still a beauty!

I did both exposed ends for about $30. The 4×8 luan is plenty for this small project, and I have a bunch leftover. I had some of the 1×3 trim and bought a couple more. 

Have you tried a simple project like this in your home?