As poet Bliss Carman once said, "there is something in the autumn that is native to my blood," but -- while we might wholeheartedly agree with this -- decorating for fall may not be as native to your wallet. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable and easy ways to embrace the changing of the seasons and make your home feel festive without breaking the bank.
Read on to see how the editors at Dot & Bo are sprucing up their spaces to welcome the autumn season.
1. Bring fall foliage into your home. See that gorgeous, bright gold or red Maple tree in your front yard? Grab a pair of scissors, cut yourself some short branches, and stick those branches in a stylish vase. Nothing says fall quite like the changing of the leaves, so harvest some for your own personal use (just don't steal your neighbor's branches...while they're looking).
2. Let your inner craft goddess out. Pinterest is literally bursting at the seams with adorable (and cheap) fall crafts that will perfectly fall-ify your home. We love PassionatePennyPincher's understated and affordable corn and twine candles.
3. Whip up all of the pumpkin-based baked goods you can. When fall comes around, it's pretty impossible to avoid pumpkin-packed dishes and drinks, but store bought pumpkin items can often be on the expensive side. Instead, bake your own delicious pumpkin scones, bread, or cupcakes -- not only will you get to savor the goodness that is pumpkin, but your home will also be filled with delicious smells that scream "fall is here!"
4. Put some tastefully placed gourds around your home. There are three great things about gourds: they're cheap to buy, they're easy to decorate, and they immediately make any place look more festive. Spice things up a bit and get some uniquely shaped gourds to place as accent pieces on your mantel, kitchen countertop, or dining room table. Pro tip? Paint them in fall appropriate hues -- we're loving matte charcoal, terracotta, simple white and a pop of metallic gold.
5. Make some delicious hot cider that tastes - and smells - great. Cider is simple to make and, if left on the stove, will fill your home with a quintessential fall scent. Try this super easy recipe from KitchenTreaty, then sit back and wait for you home to fill with scents of orange, cloves, and apples.
6. Play up the candlelight. You don't need to have a fireplace to make your home feel cozy and lodge-like this fall. Some well placed, softly glowing candles can have the same effect. For an added bonus, you can buy candles with scents like pumpkin spice or cinnamon, but unscented candles work just as well.
7. Cozy-fy your shared spaces. Thanks to that fall chill in the air, you can lay out all of the soft, fuzzy blankets you normally reserve for cuddling. Place a burnt-orange throw across the back of your favorite arm chair, or place a flannel blanket in a cute wicker basket next to a couch for an easy way to get your snuggle on.
8. Play with fall-colored accessories like throw pillows and placemats. Pick out some inexpensive, autumn-colored pillow covers that you can place over your existing pillows, rather than buying something entirely new. Or, simply buy some cute fall-inspired paper or cloth napkins that you can put out during parties.
9. Decorate with fall-themed candy. Fill up a rustic jar or glass cylinder with candy corn, candy pumpkins, or really any kind of candy that seems festive. It will add some color to any room and won't cost you very much, though you may have a hard time resisting grabbing a few everytime you walk by -- we know we would.
10. Make some classic fall dishes. Break out your crock pot and whip up some hearty soup to savor on a brisk fall evening. We love this vegan red lentil and pumpkin soup from PreventionRD's food blog.
Your turn: Do you have any easy and affordable ways of decorating and getting in the fall spirit? Share your ideas in the comments below!