18 Rustic Fall Decorating Ideas for a Cozy Autumn Home

By Interior Designer TRACY SVENDSEN | Published August 24, 2019 | Updated on July 22, 2024 |

Are you looking for rustic fall decorating ideas? The autumn season is upon us, and what better way to embrace the changing colors and cooler weather than to transform your home into a cozy and inviting rustic haven? Whether you live in a bustling city or quaint countryside, these rustic fall farmhouse decor ideas will bring warmth and charm to any living space.

The possibilities are endless, from incorporating natural elements like wood and stone to adding cozy textiles like wool and flannel. With creativity and inspiration, you can create a relaxing autumnal oasis that feels like a warm hug on a chilly day. Feature image courtesy of Amber Interiors.

Fall Living Room
Image courtesy of Rustic Luxe Pottery Barn Fall Lookbook 2024

For 2024, rustic-luxe decor takes center stage with calming neutrals, rustic textures, and touches of green and bronze. Transitioning your home for fall doesn’t have to be a complete overhaul, as a few touches can have a strong visual impact.

Here are a few ideas for bringing a festive feel to your home for the upcoming holiday season:

Fall Colors in the Living Room
Image courtesy of Amber Interiors

1. Warm Earth Tone Colors

The autumnal color scheme is warm, earthy, and inviting. These earth-tone hues are naturally inviting, and layering on a fall-inspired color story will make your home feel warm and welcoming. Rich and vibrant colors such as amber, ocher, and russet are evocative of gorgeous fall foliage, while wood and ceramic décor add perfectly imperfect beauty that echoes the glorious shades of the season.

Add throw pillows and blankets in shades of fall to give your living room and bedrooms a quick update. Chunky, textural knits and seasonally inspired pillows in warm tones are perfect for cozy fall nights curled up on the sofa. Autumn has many earth tones that reflect the landscape, including everything from bright red and orange to neutrals and jewel tones.

Fall Palette Ideas

2.  Rustic Materials

Rustic materials are perfect all year round but become especially important during cooler temperatures as they instantly warm a home by bringing the outside indoors. Natural wood, tree branches, logs, dried botanicals, stems, and natural stone all work together to create a home for the holidays. Stone décor, such as granite coasters, bookends, and serving trays, warm up the living room.

Thick woven baskets in jute or rattan fibers add space to store extra blankets and add an earthy and organic feel. Metals like wrought iron photo frames, antique brass clocks, or a bronze centerpiece bowl add a personal touch.

Rustic Luxe Home Decor
Image courtesy of Rustic Luxe Pottery Barn Fall Lookbook 2024

3. Fall Throw Pillows & Blankets

Throw pillows can effortlessly change the entire look of a living room or bedroom by adding a pop of color, texture, and pattern. New throw pillows are the perfect way to breathe new life into a room and are one of the best ways to elevate a house to a home.

When it comes to replacing your pillows, there are several options. In the fall, many home brands stock shelves with a vast array of throw pillows and blankets in warm earth-tone colors. Autumn-inspired motifs are also popular this time of year, and it’s easy to find a wide variety of pillow covers with pumpkins, fall foliage, and Thanksgiving themes.

Layering throw blankets over the back or arms of your sofa or armchair and at the end of the bed makes the room feel cozy. Luxuriously soft sheepskin, faux fur, and velvet throws make a statement and bring an extra touch of elegance. Mix and match throw blankets and pillows to coordinate with your living room in bold shades of red, orange, and yellow or subtle hues of wheat and ochre.

Fall Pillow Collection
Image courtesy of Rustic Luxe Pottery Barn Fall Lookbook 2024

4. Fall Decor

When you think about fall home decor, a few items come to mind: pumpkins, gourds, festive wreaths, plaid-patterned pillows and blankets, glowing candles, and cornstalks.  

Birch logs create a classic, woodsy look. The creamy white tones of the birch bring warmth to your space in the wintertime. Choose thin, light branches or twigs and place them in tall vases. Use logs tied in a natural jute cord for the floor or hearth area.

Autumn’s Softer Side
Image Courtesy of Balsam Hill

Bring the countryside indoors with a warm blend of gentle autumn hues and natural-looking flowers and accents. This beautiful wreath and floral arrangement are part of the Briarwood Cottage Foliage Collection by Balsam Hill and are designed using Autumn leaves, hydrangeas, white berries, pinecones, and rose hips.

Dahlia & Pumpkin Forest Foliage | Farmhouse Charm
Image Courtesy of Balsam Hill

Add a rustic touch to your spaces with earth-toned foliage. Fall flowers arranged with white pumpkins help bring the beauty of the countryside home. The Dahlia & Pumpkin Forest Foliage Collection of wreaths and garlands is created from dahlias, white pumpkins, snowberries, Norway maple leaves, and assorted greenery.

5. Soft Lighting

Everything looks better when bathed in a warm glow. Consider using different sizes and designs, from classic pillar candles to glass hurricanes. Taper candles in slim-lined holders work beautifully as table centerpieces and on buffets. Tealights make a stunning addition when scattered across table surfaces.

Candles create a warm, inviting, and intimate atmosphere. Cinnamon stick candles are beautiful and provide a welcoming fragrance for those who live in the home and special guests.

6. Let Nature Inspire You

Use the glorious colors of Autumn found in the great outdoors as inspiration to decorate your home. Bring the outdoors in by collecting branches, twigs, and foliage from your yard or local area. Arrange them in vases or use them to create a striking centerpiece for your dining table.

Embrace fall colors by using seasonal flowers and plants in your decor. Consider incorporating richly-hued sunflowers, marigolds, and chrysanthemums into your floral arrangements. Utilize wood slices, bark, and natural wood elements to add a touch of rustic charm to your decor.

Fall Design Trends for 2024 – 2025

From woven textures to mineral tones, here is what is popular this season:

• Artisan Stoneware: Tables set with artfully crafted stoneware that combines streamlined silhouettes with rustic details.
• Velvet Bedding: Meet your go-to fall layer. Super soft and lustrous – velvet bedding adds a sumptuous layer of warmth.
• Rich Leathers: Warm and distinguished, burnished shades of leather -from cognac to caramel – look modern yet timeless.
• Woven Accents: This trend is a favorite, rightfully so: Handcrafted natural accents add distinctive texture and effortless style to any space.
• Dried Grasses: Bundles of wild grasses bring the effortless look of foraged foliage to the table for a maintenance-free arrangement.
• Statement Botanicals: Branch out with festive faux foliage resembling foraged stems.
• Reclaimed Wood: Meet your next heirloom. One-of-a-kind markings and hand-applied finish give responsibly sourced furniture the appeal of an antique.
• Brass Accents: Brass is the gold standard for decorative metals – and adds warmth with a hint of glamour to a room.
• Layers of Linen: Lightly textured and irresistibly soft, there is a lot to love with the lived-in look of linen – in subtle earth-tone hues.
• Faux Fur: Faux-fur accents are equal parts luxurious and cozy.
• Shag Rugs: Plush textures underfoot give your space an instant cozy update while adding dimension and a touch of luxe.
• Autumnal Accents: Rethink your fall spread with neutral yet festive touches that are perfect from September until Thanksgiving.
• Colored Glass: You can easily elevate a table with beautiful votives in an array of autumn-inspired hues.
• Rustic Modern Decor: Nods to nature, from reclaimed materials to a mineral palette, make this iconic look feel fresh. Clean lines, rustic finishes, and earthy textures give it a timeless appeal.
• Terra Cotta: Handcrafted with terra-cotta and brought to life in warm, earthy tones, these vases are steeped in a rustic style that recalls primitive ceramics. They pair perfectly with billowing dried grasses or sprigs of faux berries.

Cozy Fall Living Room
Image courtesy of Amber Interiors

8. How to Make Your Home Cozy For Fall

Making your home look cozy for fall is about adding layers, from extra throw cushions to soft blankets. Once it gets chilly outside, add cozy textiles and woven materials. Glowing candles, cable-knit pillows, throws, and plush area rugs create an inviting living room or bedroom.

A layered, collected look provides a cozy and inviting space. Interior designer Nate Berkus says, “It’s all about mixing different materials, finishes, and textures. Choose natural materials and objects that feel well-worn or have a patina. Antique and vintage furniture, metallics, geodes, and wood are great for this.”

Make the bedroom cozy by swapping crisp cotton sheets for flannel linens that hold in the warmth. Drape a quilt or throw blanket at the foot of the bed and a soft sheepskin rug on the floor. A new rug is one of the fastest ways to instantly change the look and feel of a room from neutral to bold hues.

9. Rustic Fall Decorating Ideas for Outside

The best way to start decorating a fall front porch is to focus on color. A fall palette typically includes red and orange and shades of brown, gold, and deep purple. Faux leaf garlands stay vibrant through Autumn and are a great way to welcome the fall.

Layering multiple garlands in contrasting shapes and colors creates texture and interest. They look just as beautiful, wrapped around a doorway or attached across a porch overhang. To add a pop of color, add a seasonal wreath to the front door. There are many DIY wreath tutorials and gorgeous fall wreaths to purchase online.

Fall Front Porch with Wreaths, Garlands, Pumpkins, and Florals
Image courtesy of Balsam Hill

Cluster different-sized pumpkins and gourds on porches and back patios. If there is enough space, consider placing a friendly scarecrow on top of a hay bale. Other fall elements include hay bales, dried corn stalks, and wheat sheaves. String lights or lanterns help light up the longer nights and radiate a warm glow. Seasonal mums in architectural planters provide unexpected colors.

Outdoor Harvest Bloom Foliage 
Image courtesy of Balsam Hill 

11. Rustic Fall Decorating Ideas for the Entranceway

Nothing makes a great first impression like an entranceway beautifully decorated for the holidays. Fall entryway décor can be added to an entryway table to create a festive feel. Decorate with natural elements such as pumpkins, gourds, fall branches, baskets, and pine cones. Metallic tones add extra warmth and beauty. Try filling tall vases with acorns or create a fall floral arrangement.

12. Rustic Fall Decorating Ideas for the Living Room

The living room is often the heart of the home, and it’s the perfect place to incorporate rustic fall decor. Add cozy textiles like wool and flannel by incorporating a chunky knit throw blanket to your couch or swapping out your throw pillows and area rugs for ones with a warm, autumnal pattern. Another idea is to incorporate natural elements like wood and stone. Add wooden accent pieces like a coffee table or a side table.

Try adorning the hearth with spice-scented candles and colorful vases filled with artificial flowering branches. Seasonal garlands and tapered candles on the mantel add even more warmth. Additional decor that works well on a mantel are lanterns, faux pumpkins, artificial flowering branches, and vessels filled with acorns or pinecones.

With the hearth completed, it is time to tackle other surfaces, such as tables, window sills, and countertops. Here, you can add small-scale floral displays and statement bowls with rustic decor. A statement mirror framed in warm bronze adds depth to the room.

Warm & Inviting Living Room in Gorgeous Fall Colors
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Fall Decor

13. Rustic Fall Decorating Ideas for the Kitchen

The kitchen is another great space to incorporate rustic fall decor. One idea is adding warm, earthy tones to your kitchen decor. You can do this by bringing in a burnt orange or deep red kitchen rug or incorporating fall-inspired dish towels.

Another idea is to add some natural elements like wood and stone. You can add a wooden cutting board or stone accessories. Finally, add some autumn decor, like a bowl of apples or a vase of fall foliage. These natural elements add warmth and texture to any space.

Fall Kitchen Ideas
Image courtesy of Pottery Barn Fall Decor

14. Rustic Decorating Ideas for the Bedroom

Autumn brings cooler nights that require cozy covers. Bedrooms have become one of our favorite retreats in fall and winter. If you have brightly colored bedding, replace it with warmer tones, such as duvet covers in forest green, pale yellows and oranges, grey, or taupe.

Quilts and coverlets also add plush comfort and provide a cozy touch to the bedroom. Decorative pillows are the easiest way to transform the living room and bedroom. Compliment the bedding with fall-themed pillows for additional texture and pattern.

Pottery Barn | A Serene & Cozy Fall Bedroom

The feel of velvet is irresistible, and this bedding layers your bed with a sumptuous texture and lavish softness. Mix and match these shams with other textures, prints, or solids to create a rich and relaxing bedscape perfect for the cooler months.

15. Rustic Fall Dining Room Ideas

Create a beautiful centerpiece for your dining table using seasonal fruits, gourds, and foliage arranged on a wooden tray or a rustic table runner. Incorporating faux pumpkins, dried hydrangeas, pinecones, and autumn leaves can add a touch of nature’s beauty to your Thanksgiving table.

Fall Colors in the Dining Room
Image courtesy of Amber Interiors

16. Fall Mantel Ideas

There are plenty of ways to decorate your mantel for a cozy seasonal fall look. Create a natural arrangement with elements from nature, such as pinecones, acorns, and fall foliage, to craft a charming and organic fall display.

Hang fall-themed art or create a mini gallery of seasonal prints above your mantel to infuse your space with autumn charm. Arrange a variety of candle holders in a fall color palette like gold, bronze, or deep red to add warmth and ambiance to your mantel decor.

17. DIY Rustic Fall Decor Ideas

If you’re feeling crafty, there are plenty of DIY rustic fall decor ideas you can try. One idea is to make a fall wreath using natural materials like twigs, leaves, and acorns. Another idea is to create a fall-inspired centerpiece using a wooden crate, fall foliage, and candles. Make your fall-inspired throw pillows using cozy flannel fabric and a sewing machine. The possibilities are endless, and the best part is that you can customize your decor to fit your style.

18. Where to Buy Rustic Fall Decor

If you are crafty, there are plenty of places to buy rustic fall decor. Your local farmer’s market or pumpkin patch is a great place to start. These places often have a variety of fall-inspired decor like pumpkins, gourds, and fall foliage.

You can also check out your local home decor store or online retailers like Etsy or Amazon. These places often have rustic fall decor, including wooden accents, cozy textiles, and fall-inspired decor.

Top Fall Decor Online Retailers

Balsam Hill: Balsam Hill has reasonably priced, good-quality seasonal wreaths and garlands, topiaries, Christmas Trees, and potted arrangements.
Darby Creek Trading: Darby Creek has the most gorgeous high-end seasonal wreaths, garlands, and table arrangements. They handcraft their designs in Columbus, Ohio, using the best materials. Here, you will find unique fall home accents in gorgeous fall hues.
Pottery Barn: Pottery Barn’s Fall Decor leans toward modern rustic, and they carry an extensive collection of fall pillows, throws, decorative accents, bedding, and decorative accents.
Afloral: Afloral is the perfect place to purchase lovely fall branches and botanicals. Here you’ll find fall stems, dried hydrangea, flowers, and grasses. Afloral has pre-made arrangements, but for those who prefer to create their own displays – they have everything from sunflowers to oak, chestnut, and berry branches and rustic vases.

Rustic Fall Decorating Ideas Conclusion

In conclusion, transforming your home into a cozy, rustic haven this fall is easy and enjoyable. By incorporating natural elements like wood and stone, you can create a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly reflects the season’s beauty.

Adding cozy textiles such as wool and flannel will enhance comfort while incorporating plenty of pumpkins, rustic farmhouse decor, fall flowers, autumn wreaths, and other seasonal elements will infuse your space with festive charm. Whether you prefer crafting your own decor or purchasing ready-made pieces, there are endless possibilities to bring a touch of autumn magic into your home.

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