Decorating for fall on a budget.

It wasn’t always this way, but now fall is probably my favorite of all the seasons. There is so much to love – the colors of the leaves changing, the cute fall clothes, the cooler temperatures.

But there’s nothing I love more than the feeling of change that fall brings. I don’t know what it is, but every year around this time I feel the need to move and change (almost) everything around in my house. Does anyone else feel this way?

If you’re feeling like a change but don’t have the budget to re-accessorize and re-furnish your entire space, I’ve got 9 affordable ideas for fall decorating I think you’ll love. Including a couple ideas that won’t cost you a single penny!

9 Budget-Friendly Fall Decorating Ideas

1. Switch out your throw pillows.

Seems simple enough, but changing out your throw pillows can make such a difference. It can shift a color scheme or bring in some texture to a space that otherwise felt flat.

Try bringing in some colder season fabrics like fur, velvet, or sherpa (or a combo of all three)!

Still need help? Try changing out a linen pillow for a velvet one (like those dreamy velvet pillows in the photo above from Studio Giancarlo Valle) or switching out a bright pink pillow for a deep mustard color.

2. Wrap up with fall-worthy textiles.

When I think of fall, I think of cooler evenings spent getting cozy on the couch (or my bed).

Having a fuzzy throw nearby to keep you warm or the perfect color rust bedding (like this one from Bed Threads) to give you those fall color vibes are great options for seasonal textiles.

3. Use what you have.

One of the easiest (and completely FREE) ways to change up a room is to use what you already have lying around the house.

Switch out the rug in your living room for the one in your bedroom and rework the space around a new color scheme. Just because something isn’t new to you, doesn’t mean it won’t feel new in a different space.

And note to self: There are many ways to decorate for fall that don’t revolve around colors. Textures can be really important too.

Going from a low pile rug with a relatively smooth surface to a high pile rug with plenty of texture and softness can be a game changer under your feet for the season.

P.S. How pretty is the space found on Our Food Stories?! That natural light.

4. Bring the outside in.

When fall rolls around, I start seeing twigs, dried flowers and even dried grass pop up everywhere. So what better way to embrace the changing season then to decorate with a little bit of nature?

A cool vase with some dried flowers on the mantle can bring a lot of texture to a space, and make things feel cozy for fall. Or try something bold and decorate your entire mantle with fall foliage, sticks, candles, etc – like this mantle decor from Anthropologie.

This is another one of those fall decorating ideas that could be completely free too, since you can grab most of these materials right outside your door.

5. Repaint your walls!

Is the basic builder grey that’s been on your walls since you’ve moved in making you feel like you’re in a rut? Change it up!

Be sure to get permission from your landlord if you’re renting. But in most cases, they won’t mind as long as you agree to paint it back to the original color.

Try a pop of color or go with a more neutral earth tone, like this one from BloggaiBagis. Either way, a change in color can make a room feel completely new.

6. Refinish an older piece.

Is your coffee table begging for an update? Anything is possible with a little bit of paint (or stain) and some elbow grease.

Take a stab at repainting a piece of furniture like I did with this entry table or how Leanne Ford painted these wicker chairs (above).

7. Try some new window treatments.

This tip is especially easy if you already have curtains hanging! Swapping out curtains can bring some color in and can be pretty affordable if you look in the right places.

If you’ve got a sewing machine and can sew a straight line, making new curtains from scratch is a breeze.

First, measure the length you you need and cut with an extra 4 inch length. Then, sew a 1/4″ hem on the sides and a 2 in. hem on the top and bottom. I use the curtain clip rings from IKEA to easily swap out curtain panels. The options are endless, but I especially love these mustard velvet curtains (above) from Colombe.

8. DIY some new accent tables.

There are some really cool console, side, and coffee table DIYs out there like this amazing DIY wood accent table from Smor. Or the easy terrazzo side table I did a while back.

9. Try some new art.

Feeling adventurous? Maybe you’re not the next Picasso (me either), but I willing to bet you can still whip up a cool new piece of art.

Pick a few colors that work well within you space and try your hand at some abstract art, like this piece I found over on Remodelista. It’s the home of Kai Avent-deLeon – owner of the concept shop Sincerely, Tommy. By using different brush sizes or just painting random lines you can make a cool piece that is really unique!

Or take note from Leanne Ford’s book and paint a canvas all one color for a large scale piece of art. Using gesso and acrylic paint, you can create a textured canvas that, even though it’s just one color, can really make an impact. *I did this a few years ago too, back when I had  huge studio walls to fill, and showed how to stretch your own (really big) canvas in the process. So, if you have a wall for painting, stretch your own giant canvas and make it renter-friendly. It’s cheaper this way than buying one that’s pre-made and you can make any size you want!

You think you’ll try some of these tips out? Let me know in the comments! I’m curious to hear how you are refreshing your space for the fall.

Fall nesting is the slow art of evolving our home with the season.

Do you feel it where you live? The subtle change in the air, the softer light, the way the trees begin to turn? Fall has always been my favorite season for home — a time to slow down, gather in, and make our spaces feel extra warm and welcoming.

Over the years I’ve called this practice fall nesting. It’s the gentle process of evolving our home as the season shifts — not in a rush, not all at once, but with small layers of care and intention.

In fact, since 2007 I’ve been sharing this tradition with you here on The Inspired Room, and every year I return to it because it grounds me. Fall nesting isn’t about keeping up with trends or pressure to do more — it’s about savoring the season, noticing what comforts you, and creating a sanctuary right where you are.

Here are 6 reasons I believe fall is such a special season for our homes — and why years ago I created this list as A Fall Nesting Manifesto.

It’s my gentle reminder (and yours, too) that our homes don’t have to be perfect to feel like a sanctuary.

6 Reasons to Love Fall at Home:

1. Fall nesting is the slow art of evolving our home with the season.

Just as the trees turn and the light shifts, our homes, too, can gently change. This isn’t a process to rush or complete in a day — it’s an invitation to let our home grow and breathe alongside our own season of life.

2. Fall nesting is an opportunity to nurture ourselves.

This season is about weaving into our surroundings what comforts and inspires us, and preparing what will sustain our well-being in the months ahead. It’s less about what we lack, and more about noticing and enjoying what we already have.

3. Fall nesting is about creating a sanctuary.

When we welcome fall with intention, we don’t need to feel anxious about our home’s imperfections or worried about the future. Instead, we can focus on how we feel right now, and on small, meaningful steps that bring warmth, peace, and contentment.

4. Fall nesting is about layers of warmth and charm.

Sometimes that means adding something new, but often it begins with letting go, repurposing, or simply rearranging. It’s about textures and colors, natural elements and light, all coming together to set the mood of the season.

5. Fall nesting is about rituals of comfort.

It’s the joy of puttering, of tending to little corners, of finding beauty in small shifts. It’s lighting a candle at dusk, setting out mugs for tea, or laying an extra quilt across the bed. These simple rituals nourish us and those we love.

6. Fall nesting is about gratitude.

It’s slowing down to notice, savor, and give thanks for the season we’re in — then expressing that gratitude in our surroundings. Our home becomes a reflection of inner contentment and a welcoming place for others to feel it, too.

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If you long to apply these rhythms to your home, I’d love to welcome you into HomeBody Gathering Place. It’s where we bring this manifesto to life.

Inside HGP, you’ll find a private, cozy community where we practice these rhythms together with weekly encouragement and tools that make them simple and doable.

And even if you simply read along here, I hope this manifesto reminds you that your home can be a place of peace and sanctuary in every season.