DIY Fall Decorations: 6 Easy Projects for Autumn 2026

Updated October 2026. We refreshed these DIY fall decorations with step-by-step notes, a candle safety check from the U.S. Fire Administration, and tips if your home is listed for sale this autumn.

Six easy DIY fall decorations: leaf jars, a falling-leaves garland, yarn pumpkins, a pumpkin serving platter, candy corn button art and burlap wine covers. Most take an evening and craft-store supplies. One safety note for October 2026: the U.S. Fire Administration, citing NFPA, says about 20 home candle fires are reported every day, so use flameless candles inside jars.

Jump to: 🏠 Leaf jars · 🪜 Pumpkins · ⏱️ Table ideas · 📸 If you’re selling · ❓ FAQ

Fall is the season of apple picking, hayrides and warm cider, and of bags of decorations that cost more than they should. Making your own is cheaper and, honestly, more fun. Nothing here needs special skills. You need a glue gun, a free evening and a little patience while things dry.

A quick plan before you start: pick two or three colors (orange, gold and cream is a classic) and repeat them. That’s what makes homemade pieces look like they belong together instead of like a craft table exploded.

How do you make autumn leaf jars?

Grab a few mason jars from any craft store. Brush decoupage glue on the inside, press in leaves (real or paper), then seal with another thin coat. Drop in a tea light and you’ve got a soft orange glow for the mantel or the porch steps.

If leaves fall where you live, collect some on your next walk. Dry them flat between sheets of newspaper under a heavy book for about two weeks before using them. Fresh leaves curl and brown inside the jar.

Use a battery tea light rather than a real flame. The U.S. Fire Administration’s candle safety page, citing the NFPA, says about 20 home candle fires are reported each day, and it suggests flameless candles, which look and feel close to the real thing.

How do you make a falling leaves garland?

This one brightens a tabletop, a fireplace or a doorway. You need a pack of artificial leaves, twine or fishing line, craft glue and a lot of glitter. Dollar stores carry all of it.

1. Brush a thin layer of glue on each leaf and sprinkle glitter. Shake off the extra over a sheet of paper so you can reuse it.
2. Let them dry flat for an hour.
3. Thread or glue the leaves onto the line every few inches, alternating colors.
4. Hang it with removable hooks so you don’t mark the walls.

Keep paper and glitter garlands away from candles, heaters and fireplaces. The USFA says to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources.

How do you make yarn pumpkins?

Yarn Pumpkins look like you worked for hours, and they take about one. The finished shell is a light orange web that seems to float.

You’ll need orange yarn, white glue, a few small balloons and brown and green pipe cleaners. Blow up a balloon to pumpkin size. Soak the yarn in a bowl of glue thinned with a little water, then wrap it around the balloon in every direction. Let it dry overnight. Next, snip a small hole near the knot, let the air out slowly and pull the balloon free. Twist a brown pipe cleaner into a stem and a green one into a curly vine.

Make three sizes and group them. Odd numbers look more natural on a shelf.

What fall decorations work for the table and the bar cart?

Pumpkin serving platter

Serve cookies and candy on a seasonal stand. Paint a foam pumpkin orange, let it dry, then hot-glue a plastic or melamine platter on top. For the stem area or trim, we like this soft gold metallic craft paint; check the label for a non-toxic, low-odor rating before you buy. Make a couple of small matching centerpieces with leftover foam pumpkins to tie the table together.

Keep food on the platter surface only, not touching paint or glue.

Candy Corn Button Art.

This quirky piece livens up a mantel or an entry shelf. Buy a simple black frame, cut a square of burlap for the background, and glue white, orange and yellow buttons in rows to form a big candy corn. Kids can help sort the buttons by color. It’s a nice rainy-afternoon job.

Burlap Wine Covers

Sticking with burlap, these rustic wine bags make a good hostess gift. Burlap gives an autumn look with no fuss, and the five-minute version really can be done before dinner. If you have more time, stencil a guest’s name or a short greeting on the front with fabric paint.

Can you decorate for fall in a warm climate?

Yes. Even in sunny Florida, where the leaves don’t change much, people still put out pumpkins and gold and orange accents. Lean on materials that handle humidity: ceramic or foam pumpkins, burlap, wood and metal. Real gourds can mold fast outdoors in the heat, so keep those inside in the air conditioning.

A porch looks better with a clean deck and a fresh doormat than with any garland. If you have a pool, our tips on cleaning your pool before the season keep the backyard looking cared for. And for the inside, try simmering cinnamon and orange peel; our post on how to make your home smell amazing has more ideas.

How should you decorate if your home is for sale this fall?

Go lighter than you would for yourself. Buyers want to see the room, not the collection. A wreath on the door, one bowl of small pumpkins on the table and a throw on the sofa say “warm and cared for” in photos. A pumpkin on every step and garland on every railing just looks busy.

• Shoot listing photos with neutral decor, then add a few seasonal touches for showings.
• Skip lit candles during showings; use flameless ones.
• Take decorations down promptly after the season so later photos don’t look dated.

Our ideas for a relaxing, cozy space work well for showings, and six decorations that raise home value lists the pieces worth keeping year-round. For timing, see the best time to sell a house in Florida.

If you list with a Beycome flat fee MLS listing, from $99 with $0 due to Beycome at closing, you can swap your photos yourself for free when the decorations change. Over 22,000+ homeowners have sold with Beycome and saved more than $225 million.

DIY fall decor questions