DIY Fall Decor Ideas: 9 Easy Projects to Start Now

Are you starting to think about fall but not quite ready to pull out the pumpkins? You can still get a head start on the season with these DIY fall decor ideas featuring leaves, pinecones, wheat, and other nature-inspired elements.

You don’t have to be ready to decorate for fall to start making your fall decor!

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In fact, starting a few projects now means you can take your time, enjoy the creative process, and have beautiful handmade pieces ready to display whenever you decide it’s time to welcome the new season.

So, whether you’re still soaking up every last bit of summer or already dreaming of cooler days, grab your craft supplies and get inspired by these nine easy fall projects you can start now!

Table of Contents

DIY Fall Decor Ideas with Leaves

Assorted paper and fabric leaves, some made from book pages, burlap, cardboard, and cream-colored material, arranged flat on a surface.

If you’re craving a touch of fall but aren’t ready for pumpkins, leaves are the perfect place to start.

Their beautiful shapes instantly bring the season to mind, and you can easily customize the colors and materials to complement your decorating style.

Best of all, you don’t have to wait for the leaves outside to start changing!

From paper and book pages to clay and faux leather, there are so many creative ways to bring this classic symbol of fall into your home.

Make a Paper Leaf Garland

A white arched mirror with windowpane design is decorated with brown paper leaves along the top and side. Candles and light from a nearby window are beautifully reflected in the mirror.

Bring the beauty of fall leaves indoors by creating a garland from inexpensive brown craft paper.

I love the nature-inspired look of the oversized leaves, and you can make the garland as long or short as you need for your space.

For my garland, I repurposed an outdated leaf garland by removing the old leaves and using the existing structure as a base.

But don’t worry if you don’t have an old garland to reuse!

Covered floral wire or wired jute twine will work as well.

Ready to make your own?

Head over to our paper leaf garland tutorial to see how I made the leaves and assembled the garland.

Dress Up Plate Chargers with Fall Leaves

A fall-themed table setting with white plates on a gold charger, decorated with white faux leaves and patterned napkins, arranged neatly on a wooden table—perfect inspiration for your DIY fall decor ideas.

Want to give plain plate chargers a beautiful new look for fall?

Adding leaves around the edges is an easy and inexpensive way to turn basic chargers into something special for your seasonal table.

For this project, I used faux leather leaves from Dollar Tree and painted them a soft, creamy color to coordinate with gold chargers and my china.

One of my favorite little discoveries was that using a chip brush to paint the leaves created lines that resemble natural leaf veins!

I also attached the leaves with glue dots rather than permanently gluing them in place.

That way, I can remove the leaves after fall and use both the chargers and leaves for other projects.

See our DIY fall leaf plate chargers for all the details and step-by-step instructions.

Create Inexpensive Framed Leaf Wall Art

A rustic mantel decorated with dried leaves, gold candle holders with white candles, and a wheat bundle in front of a distressed arched mirror offers inviting inspiration for DIY fall decor ideas, all beautifully framed by four botanical sketches on a white wall.

Want to add seasonal artwork to your home without spending a lot of money?

Make your own!

This framed leaf wall art is a budget-friendly way to bring a subtle touch of fall to your walls.

For my artwork, I used inexpensive canvases and a reverse-canvas technique to create the wood frames.

Our son drew the leaves on the canvas, but you don’t have to be an artist to make this project!

You can cut leaves from kraft paper or cardstock, use a cutting machine, or purchase ready-made leaves instead.

Head over to our framed leaf wall art tutorial to see how we transformed basic canvases into inexpensive seasonal artwork.

Create a Book Page Leaf Garland

Paper, burlap, and cardboard leaves, some made from book pages, are arranged with small pinecones to create a decorative autumn wreath—a charming example of DIY fall decor ideas. The visible book page says CHAPTER ONE.

Do you enjoy decorating with traditional fall colors, prefer a neutral look, or like to switch between the two?

This reversible leaf garland gives you the best of both worlds!

I combined leaves made from old book pages with wood, burlap, and faux leather leaves, then added miniature pinecones for even more texture.

One side of the garland has a neutral, nature-inspired look, while the reverse adds touches of fall color, so I can simply flip it around when I’m ready for a change.

The best part is that you can completely customize this project to complement your home.

Substitute cardstock, craft paper, or fabric for any of the materials and choose colors that coordinate with your fall decor.

Visit our book page leaf garland tutorial to see how I combined all of these elements and made the garland reversible.

Make Clay Leaf and Acorn Charger Plates

A decorative bowl filled with dried gourds, a woven ball, and faux white berries sits on an ornate plate—an inviting centerpiece perfect for those seeking DIY fall decor ideas. In the background, a pumpkin-themed pillow decorates a chair.

If you’re ready to tackle a fall project that takes a little more time, you’ll want to start these beautiful charger plates early!

I used air-dry clay and decorative molds to create individual leaves and acorns, then attached them around the edges of basic charger plates.

After painting everything in a creamy white, I added dark wax to highlight all those pretty details and give the chargers an aged, vintage-inspired finish.

They may require a bit more time and patience than our previous leaf chargers, but the finished result is worth the extra effort!

Plus, you can use them for more than setting a fall table—try one as a base for a seasonal centerpiece or display.

Visit our DIY clay leaf and acorn charger plate tutorial for complete step-by-step instructions.

DIY Fall Decor Ideas with Pinecones

A wooden tray filled with brown pinecones sits on a light surface. The tray features a handle made of round wooden beads, adding a rustic touch perfect for seasonal displays.

Pinecones are one of my favorite natural elements to use in seasonal DIY projects.

Their warm brown color and interesting texture make them perfect for fall, but they’re versatile enough to use throughout winter and even into the holidays.

Best of all, if you have pine trees nearby, you may be able to gather your supplies for free!

Before bringing pinecones you’ve collected outdoors into your home, however, you’ll want to clean and preserve them to remove dirt, bugs, and sticky sap.

If you’ve never done that before, check out our how to preserve pinecones for indoor use tutorial.

Once they’re clean and ready to go, you can turn those humble pinecones into beautiful decor for your home!

Make a Pinecone Flower Wreath

A rustic wreath made of dried twigs, beige grasses, and brown seed pods hangs on a white wooden door with vertical panels and an ornate metal keyhole plate, offering charming inspiration for DIY fall decor ideas.

Did you know you can turn ordinary pinecones into beautiful flowers?

Cutting them open reveals layers that look surprisingly similar to flower petals, making them perfect for a nature-inspired fall wreath.

For this project, I kept the pinecone flowers their natural color and paired them with soft, flocked stems on a twig wreath.

I love how the combination highlights the texture and intricate details of the pinecones while creating a unique piece of fall decor.

If you’d like to give it a try, visit our pinecone flower wreath tutorial to see how to cut the pinecones into flowers and assemble the wreath.

Create a Classic Pinecone Wreath

A large wreath made of brown pinecones hangs on a dark-colored door. The pinecones create a textured, rustic appearance, giving the wreath a natural and earthy look—perfect inspiration for those seeking DIY fall decor ideas.

If you prefer the natural look of whole pinecones, this classic wreath is a beautiful way to showcase their shapes, colors, and textures.

I combined pinecones in several different sizes on a basic wire wreath form to create a full, layered design.

You can leave the pinecones natural for a warm, rustic look that’s perfect for fall, or paint the finished wreath to coordinate with your home and enjoy it during other seasons.

This project is easy to make, but it does take a bit of time and patience, making it another great DIY to start before fall arrives!

Visit our classic pinecone wreath tutorial to see how I arranged and attached the different-sized pinecones to create this one-of-a-kind wreath.

DIY Fall Decor Ideas with Wheat and Grasses

A rustic candle holder with a white candle stands next to a jar of dried grasses; dried palm leaves decorate the white textured background.

Wheat and ornamental grasses are another beautiful way to bring a touch of nature indoors for fall.

Their warm colors and interesting textures add seasonal charm without making your home feel overly decorated.

Whether gathered into a simple arrangement or combined with other natural elements in a wreath, these materials make it easy to create fall decor that can be enjoyed throughout the season.

Create a Dried Wheat Arrangement

A woven tray holds a decorative pitcher, two bundles of dried wheat tied with ribbon, and a flower-covered pumpkin—an inviting arrangement that inspires DIY fall decor ideas—displayed on a glass table in front of white cabinets.

Have you ever admired beautiful dried wheat bundles in home decor stores?

Instead of buying one, try making your own!

The warm golden color and natural texture of wheat make these arrangements perfect for welcoming fall.

I created two different versions—a tall, square arrangement and a smaller, round one—using an old box and an empty paper towel roll as the bases.

Once covered with wheat, you’d never guess what was hiding underneath!

Finish your arrangement with ribbon for a more elegant look or wrap it with burlap or jute twine for a casual, rustic style.

Then use it as a centerpiece, tuck it into a fall vignette, or display it on its own.

Visit our dried wheat arrangement tutorial to see how I turned a bundle of wheat and a couple of everyday items into beautiful fall decor.

Make a Fall Wreath with Wheat and Grasses

A large pampas grass wreath is displayed on a mantel with decorative white balls and ornate, layered mirrors in the background. Perfect for those seeking DIY fall decor ideas, the arrangement has a neutral, natural color palette and a rustic, elegant style.

Want the look of a high-end fall wreath without the high price tag?

This beautiful project combines some of our favorite seasonal textures while using several smart tricks to keep the cost down.

I layered faux wheat stems with corn husks, pampas grass, and bunny tails to create a full wreath with plenty of texture and movement.

Most of the supplies were thrifted, purchased on clearance, or pulled from my existing decor stash, proving you don’t have to spend a fortune to create something beautiful for fall.

Another money-saving trick was attaching the stems with pipe cleaners instead of glue.

Not only does this make the wreath easy to assemble, but I can also take it apart later and reuse the stems in future projects.

Visit our DIY fall wreath tutorial to see how I layered the different materials and get more of my tips for creating a beautiful seasonal wreath for less.

Get a Head Start on Your Fall DIY Projects

A white mantel decorated with empty picture frames, a pampas grass wreath, white decorative balls, and small vases with dried flowers, complemented by a vintage mirror in the background.

You don’t have to be ready to say goodbye to summer to start preparing for the season ahead!

Choose one or two of these DIY fall decor ideas to make now, and you’ll have beautiful handmade pieces ready to display whenever you’re ready to welcome fall into your home.

Whether you prefer crafting with leaves, pinecones, wheat, or grasses, I hope these projects inspire you to get creative and put your own spin on them.

Change the colors, substitute materials you already have, and make each project work with your decorating style.

Best of all, by getting a head start now, you can enjoy the process without feeling rushed—and when the first signs of fall arrive, you’ll be ready!

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Blessings, Donna and Rich

More Fall Inspiration

Looking forward to the season ahead?

Keep the inspiration going with more ideas to help you make the most of fall, from seasonal decorating to fun activities you won’t want to miss!

A tall tree with bright yellow autumn leaves stands against a clear blue sky, surrounded by evergreen and green-leaved trees, while a wooden fence lines the background—a picturesque scene that offers wonderful inspiration for DIY fall decor ideas. — Fun Fall Bucket List Ideas for the Best Autumn Ever

Pale yellow chrysanthemums in a black planter, surrounded by white and pale green pumpkins of varying sizes, displayed on a stone surface—perfect inspiration for DIY fall decor ideas. — Seven Simple Steps to Decorate Your Fall Porch

A decorative wreath with leaves and white berries, inspired by DIY fall decor ideas, hangs above three wooden cutting boards of different shapes, set against a white tiled backsplash. — 9 Fall Kitchen Decor Ideas You Can Easily Duplicate

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