7 Thrifty Fall Decorating Ideas
According to this survey from ValuePenguin, fall is America’s favorite season. It’s the season that yields a harvest, boasts unparalleled beauty, and offers a reprieve from heat and humidity. Autumn also heralds leaves dancing in the wind, the cry of migratory birds, pumpkin pie, and cold nights snuggled under a warm blanket. It’s no wonder that people love to greet the season in a big way! If you want to welcome fall with a few decorations without breaking the bank, you’re in the right place. Here are a few thrifty autumn decorating ideas just for you!
Smashing Pumpkin Prices
Nothing says “autumn” quite like pumpkins! Perhaps this is why an estimated 154 million Americans bought pumpkins in 2023. That’s roughly 46% of the population! It’s probably no surprise that with the rising cost of living, pumpkin costs are rising, as well. In fact, the price of pumpkins from 2021 to 2023 increased by 41 cents per gourd.
Yikes!
The good news is that pumpkins are relatively inexpensive and easy to grow. As a matter of fact, my father decided to grow a pumpkin patch one year. He planted many ornamental varieties and included some specifically for baking. Dad had such great success that he shared his bumper crop with many of our neighbors. Moral of the story? Before you shell out a lot of money for pumpkins, try to grow your own first. Or you could always check around and see if any of your friends or loved ones are growing their own patch. It’s a cheap, easy way to score one of the quintessential autumn emblems!
Mum’s the Word
As I drive by a familiar country church every fall, I’m in awe of its massive display of chrysanthemums. When it comes to autumn décor, mums make a powerful visual impact. They dress up yard displays, perk up porches, and highlight flower beds. Sometimes, they’re the last bloomers of the year.
But, like pumpkins, many mums have a short shelf life and end up in compost piles. Fortunately, you can save money if you know the difference between garden mums and hardy mums. Planting the correct mum and providing the proper care can save you money and beautify your property with each returning autumn. This garden site provides great mum tips.
Farmstand Foddershock
One fall day, I was driving down a rural road and came across a farmer selling fodder shocks, hay bales, pumpkins, and Indian corn. There he sat, a senior farmer with an old truck and a homemade sign, awaiting customers at the end of his gravel driveway. Not only were his prices great, but his huge fodder shocks were the healthiest I had ever bought. In fact, they were almost as long as my car! The farmer tied the fodder to the roof of my Corolla and secured two hay bales in my open trunk. He even threw in two pumpkins for free!
Talk about a great deal!
I took a picture of my good fortune and still smile when I run across the picture of my silly-looking car. While you might not find an older farmer with a driveway full of autumn decorations, you probably have a local farmer’s market or a good, old-fashioned farm stand. If not, take a drive to find one close to you! From my experience, it’ll be worth your trip!
Go Au Naturale
The wonderful thing about autumn is that it’s the best season for gleaning FREE natural decor. Simplify the process by collecting offerings from your own yard. Use a small ornamental branch with or without leaves to create a tall focal point on a mantle. Dried hydrangea heads, crepe myrtle branches, pine cones, grapevines, acorns, and other nuts make beautiful wreaths.
Alternatively, you can take a nature walk where tall grasses, cattails, goldenrod, ironweed, and milkweed branches can create a beautiful single or combined bouquet. My friend hunts for bittersweet and rosehips to enhance the autumn theme on her front porch. Dry your gleanings if you want to keep them longer. Feathers and fallen nests also add nice autumnal touches. When it comes to decorating the natural way, the only limit is your imagination!
Shop Your Shed
Before you head out to buy autumn décor, hunt for display items in your garden shed or garage. With a little creativity, you can save big money! First, start with a focal point. Old doors (wooden or screened) or a section of old fencing will do the trick. Not only do they make a great backdrop, but they’re perfect for hanging wreaths or natural vines. A wooden ladder or old wooden chair can also add visual interest.
Other things to add to your display are:
- Old rakes
- Watering cans
- Terra cotta pots
- A child’s tractor
- Birdhouses
- Old rotary push mowers
- Metal pails or wash tubs
- Granite canning pots
- Wooden crates
- A bicycle with a basket tied to the handlebars.
If you have a covered porch, bring out some old quilts, or paid blankets. Use a vintage picnic basket, straw hats, a vintage thermos, canning jars, concrete chickens, squirrels, or owls to stage a fall scene. If you don’t have many or any of the above items, don’t worry. Write an autumn decor “most wanted list” and spend a week or two on a hunting expedition.
Thrifty is Nifty
This past Friday, my friend and I spent the day thrifting. We ended up at three estate sales, two thrift stores, and a yard sale. I can attest to the fact that we found great seasonal décor at great prices. At the very first estate sale, I found three scarecrow forms with cute faces lying in a pile. Next to them were several seasonal wood signs. There were also totes full of grapevine wreaths. I bought a ceramic pumpkin and some foam pumpkins. Both my friend and I bought beautiful old quilts for less than forty dollars.
Many fall items that you can’t find in your garden shed or garage just might be in someone else’s. Estate sales and yard sales are wonderful places to find a treasure trove of seasonal décor. And don’t forget antique stores! Recently, I found two seasonal blow molds in mint condition for ten dollars each and an old antique lantern for five dollars. You might be able to score similar deals at antique stores in your area, too!
Department Store Discounts
For items that you can’t find second-hand, shop in department stores with coupons or when a sale is going on. Some stores already have fall discounts of 50% or more. Buying a few new autumnal additions is gratifying and can help you build a great décor collection. Right now, two of my favorite candle dealers are offering online and in-store autumn scent sales. In fact, more candles sell in autumn than in any other season. Make sure to shop end-of-season sales to score some deep discounts for the following year!
Takeaway
As you drive around this autumn and catch sight of other people’s gorgeous displays, don’t assume that a similar one is out of your price range! With a little ingenuity and hunting, you can also create a truly spectacular autumn display that’ll usher in the season perfectly! Don’t underestimate your own creativity. If you need ideas, check out YouTube and Pinterest for a little autumnal inspiration. And, from all of us here at Senior Resource, we hope you have a fun, beautiful, and safe autumn!
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Originally published September 24, 2025
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