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.

How to easily treat wood butcher block counters so they will resist moisture and last forever!

Contrary to popular belief, wood countertops are not hard to take care of! If you treat them correctly up front, they will last for decades (even around a sink). 

One of the top five questions I get about our house (and our old one!) is about our butcher block countertops. We’ve had wood counters on our islands for around 15 years now. 

It’s really best to reapply this every six months or so…but as you’ll see, it’s not absolutely necessary. Ours have held up beautifully even after a year or more. 

Overall, the whole island counter has lightened from use, and it was uniform. The only part that was slightly darker was under the tray that I use for hand and dish soap:

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Nearly EVERYTHING is easily cleaned off of the wood counters. We’ve had water condensation sit for hours, water spills, wine, cat vomit — all of it. If you treat them well like I’ll show you, you won’t have any issues keeping them clean. 

The only thing that I haven’t been able to remove is permanent marker: 

The great thing is, you can sand that down and get rid of it. 

When I’ve treated the counters within six to 18 months, the reapplication process is super easy and quick. 

Today I did it again after well over two years, so I did a very light sanding of the wood counters, then proceeded with the rest of the steps…

Whether sanding or not, wipe them down well — I use a damp microfiber cloth: 

Let it dry thoroughly and then you can start adding the Tung oil. Tung oil has been used for centuries and is by far my favorite way to protect wood. 

Polyurethane works too, but I find this is MUCH easier to work with and hides wear much better. It’s also more difficult to take off and refinish.

This is the brand I’ve used for years:

The Minwax brand has since purchased Formby’s and their Minwax Tung oil works just as well.

I have also tried true, pure Tung oil and do not like it as much. It takes absolutely forever to dry. 

To apply you’ll want a glove to protect your hands and a low lint rag. I just pour the oil out and start spreading:

It instantly warms up the wood!

The oil really brings back that deeper, beautiful wood tone: 

Rub it in well, then go over it again immediately while your cloth is wet. 

You’ll want to make sure you get full coverage. This is why I prefer to do this treatment at night — I use the sheen of the lights to look for spots that I may not have covered well:

Let it sit for a few minutes, then use a clean rag to wipe up an excess. Continue to rub it in until you get a uniform finish: 

Another reason I like to apply the oil at night — we can leave it to fully dry without touching. Usually one recoat is dry in a few hours. 

Tung oil is truly the easiest and best way to protect wood countertops: 

Even with our sink in the island, we’ve had zero warping or damage in our walnut wood countertops!

I LOVE this stuff and the warmth and character of wood counters! I’ve heard from many readers over the years who have been warned off of them by contractors. 

Are they completely maintenance free? Nope. But if you protect them well every year or so they will hold up beautifully with minimal effort. 

If you have any questions about wood counters please let me know! 🙂