As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisper, it's time to embrace the cozy and inviting atmosphere that fall brings. One of the best ways to do this is by decorating your apartment with seasonal touches.
This article offers creative and budget-friendly fall decor ideas to transform your living space into a cozy haven for the autumn season.
Is Fall Décor Safe for an Apartment or Rental?
Yes, you can decorate your space with fall apartment décor as long as you use removable, non-damaging methods like adhesive hooks, glue dots, and other removable adhesives or freestanding décor that doesn’t require hanging. Before decorating, check your lease terms before attaching anything to your apartment walls with nails, tape, or adhesive.
Budget-Friendly Fall Apartment Décor Ideas
Buying seasonal décor for your apartment can be costly, especially when there are so many options. Do-it-yourself (DIY) seasonal décor is easy, budget-friendly for items that you only use for one season, and a fun way to add creativity to your apartment space.
While you can DIY almost any décor item, some projects are especially fitting for the fall season.
Make a fall-themed wreath
Finding affordable wreaths can be difficult, especially since you’ll only be using the wreath for one season. That’s where a DIY project can come in handy. Even if you don’t consider yourself creative, this DIY wreath is perfect for all artistic levels.
All you need is an empty wreath, a hot glue gun, and fall leaves. You can buy an empty wreath online or at a craft store. After you have your wreath and hot glue gun, it's time to start foraging. You can look for orange, yellow, and brown leaves, flowers, and pinecones in your front yard, along a trail, or you can buy faux foliage at a craft store.
After you collect all your fall materials, it's time to start putting your wreath together. Begin by gluing and weaving different leaves and flowers throughout the wreath. Arrange the materials until the wreath looks as full as you’d like. After your wreath is complete, hang it on your front door for you and your neighbors to enjoy.
Create a pressed-leaf garland
If you still feel like your home lacks fall spirit, pressing leaves is an easy DIY craft that can give your home a seasonal touch. All you need are fall leaves, paper, and a heavy book.
Start by placing a leaf between a folded piece of copy paper and putting it inside a heavy book. You can place multiple leaves inside the book, and after a week or less, start removing the pieces of paper with the leaves inside. Check the leaves periodically and remove them when they’re dry and flat. After your leaves have been pressed, you can start crafting your fall garland.
If you don’t want to create a garland with your fall leaves, use them as decorations throughout your space instead. You can even decorate picture frames, walls, or other flat surfaces to bring fall color into your home.
Make your own fall doormat
Doormats can be expensive, especially if you want a different one for each season. An easy way to save money and keep the seasonal spirit high is to make your own. Start by purchasing a plain doormat and paint in the colors of your choice. You may also need cardboard, a permanent marker, and scissors if you want to make stencils.
After you gather your supplies, determine whether you want to freehand a fall design on your mat or cut stencils to trace. If you cut stencils, consider shapes like ghosts, pumpkins, leaves, or other fall-themed items to embrace the season. After your design is finished, let the doormat dry completely. After it’s dry, you can place it on your doorstep to let your guests and neighbors know you’re ready for fall.
Why Multipurpose Décor Is Good for Fall
If you’re not a DIY person, you can still bring fall décor into your apartment without making it yourself. Visit your local home décor store and browse pillows, candles, and cozy blankets to help make your apartment cozier.
Going out and buying new home décor purely for the changing seasons can be costly and could take up too much of your storage space. One way to save money and storage space is to purchase multipurpose décor that can be used year-round. Here are some examples of décor pieces that you can use throughout the year.
How to curate a cozy space
To begin curating your cozy fall space, look for blankets in warm tones, such as red, tan, and yellow, as well as a mix of textures. These are classic fall colors that can be used year-round to keep you warm and cozy.
Next, choose decorative pillows that work throughout the year. If you think you need more fall accents in your space, consider adding a small fall-themed pillow or a candy jar filled with Halloween candy to your coffee table.
Add fall-scented candles throughout your apartment
Few things feel as seasonal as a spiced candle. Look for candles with pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, apple cider, or amber scents to get the fall fragrance that you’re looking for.
Even if you don’t want to buy several scented candles, you can incorporate the scents of the season by baking pumpkin bread, adding cinnamon to your coffee, or making a simple stovetop potpourri.
Use fall-colored candlesticks
Candlesticks are affordable and can help your space feel cozier. Look for fall-colored candlesticks, like orange, dark red, brown, and yellow to match the colors of autumn. Style the candlesticks at different heights to create an interesting décor display.
If your lease does not allow an open flame or lit candles in your apartment, consider using battery-powered candles or string lights to keep the fall vibe while adhering to your lease terms.
Incorporate small hints of fall
If you're looking for easy, affordable and non-DIY décor ideas, add small touches of fall with seasonal produce and flowers. For example, buy small pumpkins at the grocery store and seasonal flowers that you can display throughout your home. You can also buy a large bag of apples and leave them in a fruit bowl on your counter, adding another seasonal touch.
After you pick your items, add more hints of fall by swapping your dish and bathroom towels for seasonal colors and choosing soaps with fall scents. Making these small changes can put you, your guests, and your apartment in the fall spirit.
What Fall Décor Trends Are Worth Trying in a Small Apartment?
Decorating a small apartment can be challenging, but knowing which fall décor ideas work in smaller spaces can help you plan your seasonal look. Pumpkins, fall leaves, and early Halloween themes are common seasonal décor choices, so getting creative is just as important as choosing the right pieces for your apartment.
Consider these fall apartment décor ideas to make a small space feel cozy and ready for the season:
- Textured layers (pillows, blankets, and rugs)
- Warm, ambient lighting
- String lights
- Seasonal garland
- Seasonal or battery-powered candles
- Fall-toned flowers (orange, yellow, white, and brown)
- Small pumpkins
Incorporating the right fall apartment décor can make your space feel more inviting, especially with the holidays approaching. While decorating a small apartment can be difficult to navigate, choosing the right décor and curating a fall vibe can help your space feel cozier.
Pair your seasonal décor with an amazing fall view and your apartment can feel ready for autumn. Happy decorating!
Find an Apartment in Time for Fall on Apartments.com
If you’re looking for an apartment in time for fall and the holiday season, start your search on Apartments.com! On Apartments.com, you can search for apartments using search filters, like amenities, floor plans, size, and price. Find the right apartment for you on Apartments.com today!
This article was originally published on September 21, 2023 by Helen Ann Wells and has been updated.
FAQs
What are some affordable decor ideas for an apartment?
Some affordable decor ideas for an apartment include pillows, blankets, fall-scented candles, and DIY decor. DIY fall decor ideas include wreaths, fall lead garlands, and a custom doormat.
How can I add fall decor to my apartment without damaging the walls?
You can add fall decor to your apartment without damaging your walls by using decor that doesn't need to hang, like freestanding decorations. If you have decor items that you want to hang, use removable, non-damaging methods, like adhesive hooks or peel-and-stick products. Always review your lease before hanging decor on your apartment walls.
What fall decor items can I use in my small apartment?
Fall decor items for a small apartment include pillows, blankets, candles, small pumpkins, and seasonal garland. You can also incorporate ambient lighting with string lights and soft lighting to give the space a cozier vibe.
