Decorating Ideas:
- Lights. String lights cozy up any space. I especially love that the orange of the pumpkins gives these a warm glow.
- Pumpkins and gourds. You can find these in supermarkets for less than a dollar apiece. They’re a necessity for any authentic harvest vibe. If you plan to go apple picking this year, don’t forget to check out their offerings as well. This is where I plan to pick up my own pumpkin for carving this year.
- Scarecrow. This is mainly because I love scarecrows. You can find some great inexpensive ones or even make your own.
- Window clings. These inexpensive decorations can spruce up any room with a window or mirror. Find them at most grocery and drugstores with a seasonal aisle.
- Fall-foliage garland. While we tend to think about garland for Christmas, autumn-themed garlands are great around mirrors or on sofa tables.
- Faux leaves. These are another item you can add to any number of places to add a pop of color. My favorites are around picture frames or year-round wall decor. Another tip is to put some in an old wine bottle to add to a table centerpiece. You can change out the leaves with each season, replacing them with pine for winter and faux flowers in spring.
- Candy. Putting treats like candy corn in decorative bowls is festive and fun to snack on besides.
- Mums and other fall flowers. Great for outdoor or in, these do require light, so make sure to position them strategically during the shorter fall days.
- Candles. Candles are critical to building your home’s coziness factor. If you’re on a budget, a great tip here is to pick up a battery-operated one. For the price of one Bath and Body Works three-wick, you can get the same effect from a faux candle and a scented wall plugin that will last the whole season. This also works well if you live in a dorm that doesn’t allow candles or if you have fire concerns.
- Old costume pieces. Repurpose old costume accessories, such as a witch’s hat or mask, as fun Halloween decorations.
Other tips:
Keep your eye out! There are many places to purchase inexpensive decorations: superstores like Target and Walmart, Halloween costume and party supply stores, Michael’s, grocery and drugstores, dollar stores. The possibilities are endless. I keep an eye out for coupons, especially from Michael’s, which is where I picked up both my scarecrow and “welcome” door hanging.
I found my Halloween village at Walgreens years ago, but I have seen similar versions more recently. I used fabric from an old costume for the ground to tie the whole thing together.
Store decorations carefully! While decorations may not last forever, one of the keys to decorating inexpensively is keeping your decorations (apart from perishables like real pumpkins, obviously…) from year to year. I know that decoration storage is the least glamorous part of cozying up your home, but you will save lots of money when you don’t have to replace everything the following year. For this, I recommend keeping as much of the original packaging as possible in order to protect your decorations in storage.