If like me you like to decorate your home for autumn then you might have noticed that there is a bigger range of autumnal decor in the shops. However, there are plenty of autumn decorations you can create yourself for free or for a fraction of the price you will pay in stores.
Get inspired
When you want to decorate for autumn on a budget then you need to get inspiration for the decor that you want to have in your home.
My favourite place to find inspiration is Pinterest, where you can find autumn decor as well as crafts to follow. You can also take inspiration from places such as Instagram, magazines and even from visiting home decor shops to get ideas.
Second hand items
Charity shops, online selling sites such as Vinted and car boot sales are great places to find autumn decor or materials to craft autumn decor for a fraction of the cost of buying them new.
You never know what you will find, so keep an open mind - for example, if you see a plant pot that would be perfect if it was in an autumnal orange or brown colour then consider painting it or even a plain glass jar can be turned into a gorgeous autumnal piece with the right lights.
Collect pine cones and conkers
Pine cones and conkers are the two things that instantly make me think of autumn, and the great news is that you can usually find them for free whilst out on walks. You can make it a fun activity with kids going on walk to specifically find them or you can start collecting any as and when you see them.
When you have a big enough collection of pine cones and conkers then you will want to clean them to remove insects and sap before you use them to decorate. Simply submerge them in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar for 30 minutes then shake off the excess water and with the pine cones bake them in the oven at 200C until the pine cones open up again, which could take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes.
Once you have a stash of cleaned pine cones and conkers there are so many budget-friendly decorations that you can make.
Some ideas include:
A pine cone wreath for your front door
Fill a vase or bowl with pine cones and conkers for a simple decorative piece
Make animals out of both
Leaf photo frame
You will start by collecting some of your favourite autumn leaves when out on a walk and then place them in between greaseproof paper in the middle of a heavy book. Leave them in there for approximately 12 hours.
Then carefully remove your leaves and place them into a spare photo frame or one you have picked up cheaply. You now have a beautiful decorative piece.
Use Candles and fairy lights
Changing the lighting in your home can actually have a dramatic effect, so autumn is the time to start getting both your candles and fairy lights out.
Buying candles and fairy lights doesn’t have to be expensive - you can pick them up cheaply from places like B&M, The Range , Wilko and Poundland.
I absolutely love candles and have a mix of scented ones in autumnal fragrances such as pumpkin spice latte, vanilla pumpkin and autumn glow. I also like pillar candles which you can get unscented that give a beautiful glow.
We have a few fairy lights too my favourite ones are leaf shaped that glow in gorgeous brown, orange and yellow tones.
Switch out your accessories
You don’t need to go all out and buy brand new bedding, throws, cushions and curtains for autumn, especially if you are wanting to decorate on a budget.
If you are crafty then you can update your current soft furnishings in a variety of ways. You might want to dye blankets to a more autumnal colour, or add pompoms in browns and oranges to your existing soft furnishings using something like Velcro. Even fake leaves are cheap to buy and can be added to your homewares for example threading them onto a dream catcher or fairy lights.
Enjoy the scent of autumn
You can buy an autumnal scented essential oil for just a couple of pounds from places like Amazon, and use it around your home to bring the smell of autumn inside. Along with candles, you can create a cosy, autumnal atmosphere to enjoy.
