12 Whimsical Decor Ideas That Will Transform Your Home for Fall
Autumn is truly a magical time of year. The changing leaves, the cool breeze in the air – nothing beats it. Plus, there are two major holidays during the autumn months, which means more opportunities to spend time with friends and family. There’s no better way to prepare for autumn and the festivities that come with it than adding fall décor to your home. This can be in the form of pumpkins and skeletons or in a more subtle way by updating your throw pillow covers to fall colors. Here are 12 ideas on how to whimsy up your home for fall.
1. Floating Objects
Nothing screams “FALL!” more than Halloween décor, and nothing feels more whimsical than floating objects. There are several ways you can achieve the floating look. Witchy hats, pumpkins, and bats all make for charming floating objects. You can use invisible string to hang these items from the ceiling, or you can attach them to your walls in a creative way. It’s really fun to add floating objects over your dining table, up the wall along your stairs, or in the entryway of your home.
2. Add Twinkle Lights
Twinkle lights can add a magical touch at any time of the year, but there’s something really beautiful about adding twinkle lights to fall décor.
I love the enchanting look of twinkle lights in lanterns. These can be added to your front porch for an inviting entry, or you can add them to either side of your fireplace or even as a centerpiece on your dining table.
You can opt for fairy lights, small Edison bulbs, or even traditional Christmas lights to achieve an enchanted twinkle light look. Tinkle lights can be added anywhere and everywhere, but you can also choose to use them sparingly for a more minimalist look.
3. Spider Webs & Spider Decor
Adding faux spider webs to your home adds a really fun spooky fall vibe. Normally we think of spider webs as gross and something to be cleaned out of the home, but as décor, they can be very cute!
Add fake spiders to the mix for an even creepier look for Halloween. Spider webs can be used as outdoor décor on your porch or indoor décor on your mantle or in your entryway.
4. Autumn Flowers
Dried flowers can be the perfect autumn touch for your dining table centerpiece, your coffee table, or your kitchen. They are subtle and elegant and look beautiful in an earthenware vase. You can choose to use colorful dried flowers or neutral-colored dried plants. You can also opt for faux dried flowers.
Adding chrysanthemums to your front porch is also a beautiful touch for fall. I love the classic combination of pumpkins and chrysanthemums on front porch steps.
5. Throw Pillows & Throw Blankets
One of the easiest ways to transform your living space for autumn is to change out your throw pillows and throw blanks for a fall theme. You can add gingham and plaid patterned pillows and blankets in traditional fall tones like brown, orange, sage green, and muted yellows.
You can also go with a less subtle look and add pumpkin/ghost/black cat pillows and throws.
6. Candles & Candle Holders
A really versatile way to decorate for fall is by adding candles to your home. Scented candles can help set the tone for fall with fragrances like cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin. Decorative candlestick holders can also add a touch of whimsy to any room of the home.
If you’re not comfortable with the idea of pillar candles because of the fire hazard they can be, you can opt for battery-powered candles that give the same feel as real candles without the potential risk. You can also choose candles in the shape of ghosts, pumpkins, and other spooky-themed characters.
7. Artwork & Wall Decor
Adding or changing out your wall art for fall is another simple way to change it up for the autumn season. There are literally tons of options for autumn wall art. You can add traditional-style artwork that uses fall colors, or you can add fun spooky art with ghosts, skeletons, and the like to create an autumnal feel in your home.
Another fun trend people are participating in is buying second-hand art from local thrift stores and adding painted ghosts to the art themselves – so fun! The great thing about wall art is that it is super versatile and can be added to any room of your home.
If you find a piece of artwork you love, you can add a decorative antique-style frame to it to give it an autumn feel.
I also love the look of decorative mirrors mixed in with fall decor. They can add so much elegance to any space. Black-framed mirrors and brass-framed mirrors provide an excellent autumn feel.
8. Charcuterie Boards & Party Platters
Every gathering among friends and family should include a charcuterie board! And this is another opportunity for you to create fun fall vibes in your home. You can create a classic and elegant charcuterie board by using a silver platter and piling it high with fancy meats, cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruits, etc.
You can also add some sage green and cream-colored pumpkins to your charcuterie board for a beautiful effect.
The options for spooky charcuterie boards are endless. You can get creative with the actual food by making Halloween or fall themes, such as ghost-shaped cookies and pumpkin candies. Or you can add plastic skeletons, pumpkins, or spiders to the board to create a creepy and cute fall theme.
I love this Thanksgiving charcuterie board with chocolate turkeys and maple leaf cookies. It’s so cute, and it just goes to show that the ideas are endless when it comes to creating food platters for your fall celebrations.
9. Table Settings
A really great way to get into the fall spirit is to set your table for fall. You can add autumn-themed glassware, plates, and silverware. You can also spruce up your existing dinnerware with autumn-themed napkins, tablecloths, and centerpieces.
This table setting uses touches of fall colors – sage green glassware, mustard napkins, and cream-handled cutlery – to create a subtle, elegant autumn ambiance.
Adding a plaid tablecloth to your autumn table creates instant cozy vibes. You can complement your plaid tablecloth with earth-toned dishware, amber glassware, and copper cutlery for a perfect fall feel. Add a dried flower centerpiece and some pretty terra cotta candlesticks and you’re all set to entertain this fall!
I love the moodiness that this dark floral tablecloth creates. The addition of woven placemats and burnt sienna plates creates a gorgeous autumn look.
You can create a traditional look for your Thanksgiving dinner table by adding turkey-themed dinnerware. This creates a classic autumn tablescape that still incorporates a touch of whimsy.
10. Table Centerpieces
Adding a beautiful autumn-themed centerpiece to your table is a great way to upgrade your fall décor. There are many options to choose from when it comes to centerpieces. You can opt for a pumpkin-themed centerpiece, dried flowers mixed with moody candles, or even a spooky centerpiece.
I really adore the look of these fresh flowers mixed with dried leaves in crystal bud vases. The dried leaves add a rustic element that presents a truly autumn feel while still being very subtle.
You can add fall elements to your table, such as dried branches, pumpkins & gourds, and fall fruits displayed in a basket as a beautiful centerpiece for the autumn season. Throw a woven jute runner and some candlesticks to your table to really bring the look together.
You can also bring an eerie Halloween vibe to your centerpiece by adding a faux skull mixed adorned by pumpkins. This look screams “Halloween” without being garish.
Another fun way to add some Halloween drama to your table is with a skull vase filled with bright fall-colored flowers. Add a complementary black and white striped table runner and black candlesticks to complete the look.
11. Pumpkins
Of course, pumpkins are the quintessential fall décor. You can buy real pumpkins and decorate with them as is, or you can carve them. You can also add fake pumpkins to your decor, and there are many varieties to choose from. There are a lot of perks to buying fake pumpkins – you can reuse them for years, they don’t rot and start smelling after a few days, and they’re aesthetically pleasing. Faux pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes and can be really affordable option for fall decorating.
I love neutral pumpkins – they add touches of fall to your home but can also tie in with your existing decor. You can find neutral-toned pumpkins in lots of different materials, including resin, plastic, foam, cloth, rattan, etc.
Chinoiserie/ginger jar patterned pumpkins can add a classic touch to your fall decor. The blue and white pattern plays so well with autumn colors.
Metallic pumpkins can add a bit of glitz and glam to your autumn decor. You can use gold-toned pumpkins, studded and bejeweled pumpkins, or even glass pumpkins to create a beautiful metallic effect.
12. Fireplace Garland & Adornments
Nothing is more charming than a fireplace garland, and fall-themed fireplace garlands may just be the cutest. You can add a leaf garland, Halloween-themed garland, or a simple Thanksgiving banner – there are so many options. You can also add twinkle lights to your garland for a really magical result.
I love the look of an earthy garland for fall. Garlands made from faux or real dried leaves, wooden beads, and pinecones are very simple but can also add an understated elegance to any mantle.
I also love the look of twinkle lights mixed in with an autumn garland. You can find twinkle lights in a variety of fall themes as well, such as leaf lights, acorn lights, and pumpkin lights.
It’s really fun to create a Halloween theme on your mantle using spooky garland. Skeleton garland and bat garland are great choices for this look.
You can also use cute fall banners as garland on your mantle. These banners create a fun and festive look for the autumn season and can be kept up through Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Whatever you choose to do, you really can’t go wrong. Just tap into your personal style and select items that you love. Fall is a time for gathering with friends and family, and adding touches of autumn to your home can really elevate a celebration. I hope these whimsical autumn decor ideas can help inspire you as you decorate your home this fall.