As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves start to turn golden, it’s the perfect time to give your home a seasonal refresh. Fall brings a cozy ambiance that can be accentuated with clever, budget-friendly home improvement. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your space for the season or simply want to make your home more comfortable, there are plenty of ways to pull off a stylish update without breaking the bank. Here are some of our favorite creative and budget-friendly fall home improvement ideas to consider as those leaves begin to fall.
Revamp Your Front Porch
Your front porch is the first thing guests see and interact with when they visit, and a lovely fall makeover can make it feel welcoming and festive. You can replace those summer pinwheels and flamingo decorations–they’ll start feeling out of place once the air gets crispy. Instead, go for classic fall: pumpkins, hay, and autumn colors like brown and orange. You can get much inspiration by walking the aisles at your local arts and crafts store; consider making a little wreath or planter with faux berries, fruits, acorns, and leaves. If you’re dedicated, you can also take the chance to dust off those Halloween decorations–after all, most stores put them out once the fourth of July is over!
Update Your Throw Pillows and Blankets
This isn’t too far off from redecorating your front porch. Summer brings those light, airy blankets and bright blue, white, and yellow colors, but that won’t be cozy enough for fall. You can quickly and cheaply change your living room by adding some earthy-toned pillows and blankets to add a seasonal touch. You can also bring out the heavier fabrics like knitted and faux fur blankets–they’ll come in handy with the cooler weather. If you’re savvy with knitting and looking for a DIY opportunity, you can try knitting your own blanket or pillowcases for an even more personalized touch for a lower price tag.
Create a Fall-Themed Gallery Wall
A gallery wall is a great way to showcase your personality and add seasonal flair to your home. You can use existing frames and print out free autumn-themed art online. Consider prints with fall foliage, cozy scenes, or Halloween or Thanksgiving themes.
You can also incorporate swatches of fabric or dried leaves behind glass, two design elements exclusive to fall. This project can be completed with minimal expenses, especially if you make it with materials you already have on hand. It’s a great way to add a very autumnal and custom touch to your decor this holiday season.
DIY Candle Holders and Centerpieces
Candles add a warm, inviting glow to any room, and making your candle holders can be a fun and inexpensive project. You can use mason jars or empty glass candleholders decorated with twine, pain, or fall-themed stickers.
An idea for a simple centerpiece is to gather a collection of small pumpkins and place them in a large bowl or tray. You can also add candles among the pumpkins for a cozy, fall-inspired display. This not only makes your autumn dining table look festive but also creates a warm ambiance for autumn gatherings.
Enhance Your Lighting
Improving your home’s lighting can make a big difference in creating a cozy atmosphere as the day gets shorter. Start by swapping out harsh, bright bulbs for softer, warmer ones. Consider using dimmable or string lights to adjust to the time of day and mood. This makes your dining table look festive and creates a warm ambiance.
You can add them to almost any room in your home, too. Drape them across mantels, string them through plants and around window frames. They’re often quite affordable; you can find them at most stores. If you want to overhaul your lighting, consider purchasing some intelligent lights. They’ll cost a little more upfront, but they’ll last much longer and be controllable by smartphone.
Give Those Window Treatments a Fall Treatment
Changing your window treatments is another budget-friendly home improvement way to update your home for fall. Opt for heavier fabrics like velvet or thermal curtains to keep the chill at bay. Rich, autumnal colors, such as burgundy, amber, or deep green, can add a seasonal touch to your windows.
You can get a fall-themed tie-back if you’re not interested in purchasing new curtains. If you’re feeling another DIY project, you can buy simple fall-colored material and sew your own curtains. A simple change can refresh your windows for the new season and let that crisp fall air in.
Rearrange and Declutter
There’s spring cleaning, but have you ever heard of fall cleaning? Sometimes, a good declutter and rearrangement can make your home feel brand new. This includes switching out the summer wardrobe for the fall and winter clothes and stowing those beach chairs and bags until next summer. But you can also go a step further and rearrange your furniture to free up space or create a new functional area, which will be welcome since you’ll spend more time inside in the coming months.
A simple idea is to create a new sitting or reading nook. You only need a comfy chair, a soft blanket, and a small table. You can find these items in the furniture you already have, or you can find them gently used on the cheap on furniture marketplaces online. By reorganizing and repurposing, you can enhance your home’s fall appeal without spending much money.
Also Read – How to Declutter Your Home After the Holidays
Focus on Small Touches
Sometimes, the most minor changes can significantly impact–life’s all about the small things, right? Luckily, fall is full of little changes that can improve your home.
First–fall scents. Arguably the best of all the seasons, you can add them to your home with candles or essential oils. Think of apples, wood, cinnamon, and pine. You can also incorporate them in other rooms by switching out soaps and air diffusers. In addition to oil diffusers and candles, you can make your natural scents with a simmer pot for way less. Dry out slices of oranges and apples and mix them with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and your favorite herbs in a simmering pot of water. The steam will carry the fragrances around your home, creating a layer of fall warmth.
Second–the decor. It’s cheap and easy to add touches of fall everywhere. You can switch out the dish towels in the kitchen for fall-themed ones. Or create a fall-themed spread on the coffee table or centerpiece on the kitchen table with bowls of pinecones, dried corn, gourds, or acorns. Switch out the table fruits in the bowl for fall ones: apples, pears, or pumpkins and gourds (we don’t recommend eating those, though!).
Tackle Small Repairs
Fall is a great time to handle those minor repairs you’ve been putting off for summer adventures. Check for drafty or cracked windows and seal any gaps for efficiency and comfort. A simple caulk job is often all it takes to prevent a cold draft and a surge in your heating bill.
Inspect your home’s exterior for issues like peeling paint or loose shingles. Making these little repairs can prevent more significant problems from emerging down the road and enhance your home’s overall appearance.
Upgrade Your Flooring with Some Rugs
Fall is all about coziness. Adding rugs to your living spaces can instantly make your home feel cozier as the weather cools down. Instead of replacing your entire floor, an expensive and long-winded endeavor, opt for area rugs that add warmth and comfort underfoot. Look for rugs with autumnal patterns or deep, rich colors to complement the season’s aesthetic.
Layering rugs is a trendy and budget-friendly home improvement way to create depth and interest. You can layer a smaller patterned rug over a larger, neutral one to create a dynamic look. Thrift stores, clearance sections, and online marketplaces often have affordable rugs to help you achieve a stylish update without overspending.
Install Quick Peel-and-Stick Backsplash or Wallpaper
For a quick and affordable update in your kitchen and bathroom, consider installing peel-and-stick backsplash tiles or wallpaper for any season. These products come in a wide range of styles and can mimic the look of more expensive materials, like subway or shiplap, without the high cost or hassle of traditional installation.
Peel-and-stick products are easy to apply and can be removed without damaging the walls or surface. This makes them ideal for a quick seasonal change or renters who need to leave the place intact. Choose designs that match your fall color palette to give your space a refreshed and cohesive look.
Create a DIY Fire Pit for a Cozy Outdoor Space
Everyone loves a summer bonfire, but you can also have them in the fall! If you have a backyard or even a small patio area, a DIY fire pit can be a fantastic addition for fall. There’s something incredibly comforting about gathering around a fire on a crispy evening. Building a simple fire doesn’t have to be costly; you can use inexpensive materials like bricks, stones, or pavers to create a safe and functional fire pit.
Consider adding comfortable outdoor seating if you cannot build a fire pit. Don’t forget to stock up on blankets! You can also string up some outdoor fairy lights or lanterns to create a nice ambiance for those outdoor fall evenings. This setup can transform your outdoor space into a cozy haven for a fraction of the price of a complete outdoor renovation.
Repaint and Refinish Your Furniture
A fresh coat of paint can work wonders for old or outdated furniture, giving it a new life without the cost of purchasing new pieces. If your furniture got a little dinged up from all those summer parties and shenanigans, consider giving it a new coat of earthy tones to match the fall season–dark green, deep navy, rich brown, or orange. Chalk paint is trendy for DIY projects because it sticks to most surfaces without being primed or sanded.
If you prefer not to paint, you can re-finish the furniture to enhance its natural beauty. Staining wooden furniture in darker shades can bring out the wood’s natural grain and add warmth to your home. Repainting or refinishing is a creative and cost-effective way to upgrade your furniture and align it with your fall decor theme.
Set Up a Hot Beverage Station
We saved the best for last. Summer may have iced tea and lemonade, but fall has its delicious beverages–hot chocolate, apple cider, mulled wine, and hot herbal tea. Indulge by setting up a cute hot beverage station in your kitchen or a side table in the house. You could go all-out and buy a dedicated Keurig or hot kettle, or simply take your existing appliances and arrange jars of cocoa mix, marshmallows, and tea around them. Feel free to add additional touches, like autumn-themed napkins, pinecones, and a pumpkin spice candle.
Transforming your home for fall doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money! As you can see, most of the time, you can change the mood and season of your place with a couple of dollars and some creativity. Having an eye for repurposing and hands for DIY also helps too. These budget-friendly home improvement ideas provide more ways to celebrate the season, making your home a reflection of the beauty and comfort that fall brings. Get your hot cider, get inspired, and create that perfect autumn sanctuary!
Conor Prendergas is a freelance copywriter, with five years of experience writing for healthcare companies, science news, medical journals, and now for GenStone. He has a BA from Muhlenberg College, and is in his third year of his MD at New York Medical College.
