16 Everyday Items That Double As Seasonally Appropriate Fall Decor

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Every year, as the fall months approach, people naturally turn their thoughts to pumpkins, bales of hay, and colorful ears of corn repurposed as decor. It's not just holidays like Halloween that awaken the inner interior designer. Seasonal temperature changes and the urge to wear chunky sweaters can also inspire you to fill your rooms with fall decor.

It's not difficult to transform your home into a warm, cozy retreat that celebrates the cooler weather and lovely glow of autumn. However, between rising costs and a surge in sustainability, buying purely decorative items for a three-month season can seem questionable. The good news is that there are many everyday items that can pull double duty as fall decor. So, we've gathered ideas for using those items as festive touches on your mantels, table tops, counters, entryways, and more.

Of all the traditional symbols of autumn's unique aesthetic, pumpkins must be near the top of the list. Take advantage of their flexibility by grouping a few of them together. You can put them almost anywhere, although most people group them outside on a stoop or porch, placing them carefully to avoid rotting.

To make the most of your pumpkin display, start by selecting pumpkins of different sizes for more visual interest. Organize them in groups of three, five, or seven to achieve a more aesthetic balance. Group miniature pumpkins to create a display for your coffee table, wall console, or dining room table. Alternatively, you can stack pumpkins into a small tower, with the largest on the bottom for stability, or line the walkway to your front door to create a welcoming first impression for fall. 

Your everyday flatware and serving utensils set the mood all year long. Opting for elevated materials is a once-dated trend that is making cutlery the star of the dining room table again. If you have utensils in tones and materials that evoke the fall season, bring them out of kitchen drawers to display them both for practical use and as a fall-friendly display. Bronze, brass, copper, and wood are all materials that have an autumn-like feel.

If you have antique brass or gold serving pieces, display them by placing them on an ivory tablecloth or runner, or mix the rustic and the refined by grouping them casually in a farmhouse-style basket. Or use a brass or copper-toned pot as a utensil crock to amplify the effect. You can purchase flatware with warm metallic or wooden touches, like this Gold and Wood Set from Berglander. Or, mix and match finishes for a casually chic tablescape.

For a striking approach, arrange long leafy branches in vases instead of flowers. In addition to bringing the outside in, branches can add height and texture to any surface in your home. If the vase is sturdy enough, you can arrange it with longer branches and let it command attention from a bare corner. Branches that are of moderate length can be arranged into smaller vases and placed on a sideboard or dining table as a stunning fall centerpiece that instantly elevates your space.

Many tree species lend their branches quite beautifully for fall displays. Look for willow or dogwood branches for a more supple look with a natural curve. Birch branches have a striking look and shape, while silvery eucalyptus branches give off a scent that many people enjoy. And of course maple and oak produce traditionally vibrant leaves that immediately convey a sense of the season. If you want stems that you can reuse each year, look for products like this 12-Piece Set of Fall Eucalyptus Leaves.

The humble pine cone is another natural item with an immediate connection to autumn. Chances are, you could collect a wide assortment of pine cones in different sizes from your own yard or a nearby park. They cost nothing and are plentiful in many areas. Plus, they add both structure and texture to your decor and can carry straight through winter. Soak them in an even mix of warm water and white vinegar to get rid of dirt and bugs, then bake the pine cones in the oven for about an hour at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Arrange pine cones in a bowl for an easy and natural addition to your seasonal decor. Choose a wood, bronze, copper, or natural stone bowl for a rustic look, or line a crystal one with a cloth napkin for a more luxe vibe. For a bit of dazzle, add twinkle lights to the bowl, such as Brightown's Battery-Operated Fairy Lights. Alternatively, display your pine cones by lining them up along the mantel with candles. You can also stack them casually in a woven basket or a wooden crate on your front porch.

Table linens are an affordable way to update your dining room. Swap out your usual table and kitchen linens for ones in autumnal shades of orange, saffron, deep red, bright yellow, and dark green. Select fun, whimsical tea towels in seasonal motifs and patterns to brighten up your kitchen.

Keep the dining room casual with linens in solid colors, and add depth and interest by mixing and matching them. For example, pair a deep russet tablecloth with mustard napkins to create a contrast. Or, use napkins of a variety of colors for a unique and festive look. Use whatever you have on hand in these hues for a fall-themed look. But if you think your supply is looking a little threadbare or thin, you can add to your stock inexpensively with dollar or thrift store finds.

Create a cozy scene with everyday items that are closely connected to thoughts of cool weather. A stack of firewood is practical for homes with fireplaces or outdoor fire pits. It's also incredibly evocative of autumn, boasting associations with family time spent gathered around a warming fire. Even if you don't have a fireplace, you can use firewood stacks for practical purposes, including door stops.

Stack your firewood neatly on your porch or in your entryway. Then, add a blanket ladder with some thick, cozy blankets in fall colors over its rungs. Or, pile some logs in a basket in your living room, and casually drape a few throws nearby. As for the wood itself, choose oak logs for a more traditional look, or mix and match with other species to add some contrasting textures and tones.

Create a mood and make your home cozier with warm lighting from candles and lanterns. Simply group these on tabletops or mantels, using the 3-5-7 rule to ensure your groups achieve the right visual balance and aesthetic appeal. Don't forget to layer the light by arranging candles and lanterns so their flames reach different heights. This helps to evoke the warm flicker that's reminiscent of a fire in the fireplace. 

Candle holders in warm autumnal tones of amber, gold, or russet, or ones made of copper or brass help create a complementary color scheme. For safety's sake, use fireproof holders for your candles, and place heat resistant plates beneath lanterns before lighting them. If you have lanterns that you don't want to place lit candles inside, use flameless options like Homemory's Battery-Operated Tealights.

The classic still life composition is a staple of visual art, but there's no need to leave it to the painters. Why not craft your own fall-themed still life with some commonly found seasonal grocery items? You can use a mix of just about any kind of fall-related item. For example, bowls of cranberries, walnuts, and foil-covered chocolate coins make a delicious-looking and colorful display.

Take a casual approach by spreading the items onto a tray or decorative bowl, like the fruit that spills out of a cornucopia in your favorite masterpieces. This makes a warm, homey, and colorful display for any tabletop, although it looks especially good on your kitchen counter or coffee table. Or skip the tray, and arrange your items in a repeating pattern down the center of your dining table or along your mantel for a lovely fall display.

Many people use chargers — larger platters that go beneath dinner plates. They're a simple and lovely way to easily add a festive, polished touch to your table. So, swap out your everyday charger plates for ones in autumn shades, such as gold, bronze, pumpkin, or forest green. Chargers in natural materials such as wood or woven materials like rattan, seagrass, or bamboo can also add a more rustic touch of autumn. Mixing materials can add a fascinating touch of depth to your table, such as pairing a rattan charger with glossy white plates.

You can also repurpose chargers throughout the home. Use them as a base for a display of candles or a centerpiece on your dining room table. Put one to use as a stylish way to collect mail, keys, and coins on a console or table near your front door. If you're fortunate enough to have decoratively painted or carved ones in a cohesive color scheme, create an artistic grouping and hang them on your wall. You can also put charger plates with food-safe finishes to use as charcuterie boards or serving platters.

Vintage glassware literally sparkles in the warm light of autumn, reflecting a sunset or flickering candles with equal grace and beauty. Grouping small glasses, vases, or apothecary jars adds a seasonal touch and historical interest. Amber apothecary-style bottles and vintage ruby-red wine glasses help turn any occasion a little more magical. Plus, using vintage glassware that's already on hand or repurposing secondhand pieces is sustainable.

This is another situation where you can use the helpful 3-5-7 rule of interior design. For maximum impact with minimal fuss, create sets with a unifying element. For example, display wine glasses in different colors but with the same size and shape, or use apothecary jars of the same hue in various sizes. If you want to go a step further, use your glassware or bottle collection as small vases for fall flower buds or assorted items such as small pine cones, walnuts, feathers, or even twinkle lights.

Copper cookware is a once-dated kitchen staple that's now a must-have collectible. Its conductivity and temperature sensitivity make it an excellent choice for everyday and special-occasion cookware. At the same time, its rosy glow and warmth echo the orange hues we associate with autumn leaves and pumpkins. That makes it beautifully suited for display as fall decor. If you have copper cookware on hand or can source pieces secondhand, give it a good cleaning and polishing. You can use lemon and salt, or a commercial product such as Wrights' Copper & Brass Polish and Cleaner Cream, to get it ready to show off.

Once you've got your cookware gleaming, you have a few different choices for creating a display. Line cookware up on an open shelf, or hang your pieces on hooks or from a hanging pot rack. Or, use an open pot or pan as a container for other bits of decorative items, such as pine cones or your seasonal utensils.

Not many items are as ubiquitous or utilitarian as the humble wooden cutting board. If you have a few (or several) of them taking up cabinet space, consider transforming them into a creative display of fall decor. This is a lovely idea that works especially well if your boards vary in size and hue. 

If you'd like to hang them on a wall as a visual art piece, select a layered mix of sizes and shapes. Experiment with your layout first by spreading them on a tabletop that fits the space, then hang them on the wall. You can also display your cutting board collection by placing them along the edge of a console or side table and leaning them back against the wall. Create a spare, Shaker-inspired look by choosing just a few boards and spacing them out. Or achieve a more maximalist look by stacking several of them together, arranged by size, with the smallest in front.

When we think of seasonal foods for fall, dishes enhanced with herbs and spices often come to mind. Thick beef stews with rosemary and paprika, grandmother's sage stuffing recipe, and of course, the ubiquitous pumpkin spice lattes. All of these foods and drinks reflect our tendency to embrace strong aromatic flavor profiles. Spices can evoke a sense of fall with their aroma as well, and they can also be used as decorative seasonal displays.

Group several cinnamon sticks with a dash of whole cloves into a small, shallow glass or brass dish for a simple display that also makes your home smell deliciously like autumn. Rosemary, an iconic fall herb, can be bought and displayed as a tree, or you can add sprigs to a small vase. Small sage plants are another way to add festive greenery and subtle smells of the season.

From the first days of the season, when Ginger Gold and the popular Honeycrisp are ready for harvest, through its end, when you can find options like Granny Smith and Braeburn apples, fall is intertwined with apples. They are deeply loved and incredibly versatile when it comes to eating, cooking, and baking them. They also double as lovely, colorful fall decor.

Displaying a large bowl of apples of different types is a delicious way for your decor to acknowledge autumn. Mix the deep reds of Red Delicious and Empire with the blush and sunset tones of Gala and Honeycrisp. Or, display some bright green Granny Smiths with a few small oranges for visual interest. Choose a bowl that sets off those colors beautifully, such as Kanwone's Large Fruit Bowl, or opt for the more rustic look of a woven basket.

Many people prefer sipping their tea from delicate china cups on saucers or their coffee from oversized bowl-shaped mugs. However, if you want to inject a little bit of fun and whimsy into your home's fall decor, take a look at a third option. Novelty mugs, like this Set of Ceramic Pumpkin Coffee Cups, can serve dual purposes. Instead of putting them up in the cupboard when not in use, group them together to make a whimsical decorative statement.

For a more subtle approach, simply display mugs in seasonal hues. A group in traditional autumn colors creates a simple yet practical display. Ceramic mugs in deep claret, hunter green, espresso, pumpkin orange, and sunny yellow naturally evoke the colors of the season. Display them on a tray or hang them from a mug tree or under-the-cupboard hooks.

Whether handwoven or mass-manufactured, baskets are surprisingly useful and decorative products. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors. Plus, they add lots of texture and welcoming character to your space.

You can style baskets in every part of your home. Plus, they give you both practical ways to collect and display other items, and they serve as decorative objects themselves. Unpainted baskets of bamboo, rattan, or seagrass provide a naturally rustic touch to your autumn decor. Large baskets can hold rolled-up throw blankets or firewood, and smaller ones can serve as a background for other decorative objects such as small pumpkins, pine cones, or walnuts. You can even display them on the wall like a rustic collage.