Fall craft ideas: 16 creative ways to welcome fall inside the home and out

Fall is upon us, and what better way to get your home into the full swing of the upcoming festivities than with fall craft ideas?

While we're all familiar with fall decor ideas as the starting point for embracing the cozy season in our homes, fall craft ideas provide a creative, tactile way to bring a handmade feel to our homes – even extending to outdoor fall decor ideas, too.

Plus, fall craft ideas make for a fun activity for the whole family as the nights draw in, so what's not to love? Here, we asked stylist Sara Bird and a range of other home decor experts for their favorite fall craft ideas for you to try out yourself. From handmade wreaths to garlands, these ideas will soon have your home ready for the whole holiday season – from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

16 fall craft ideas

Wondering when you should start decorating for fall? We'd say right now. Even if you don't start decorating your home for another week or two, now is a great time to start some craft projects so they can be ready in time for fall – which officially starts on the 22nd of September this year.

1. Bring the outdoors in with a pretty pinecone garland

A natural object synonymous with fall and festive decor, pine cone decorations can beautifully uplift a home with cozy character and timeless natural charm.

Instead of just placing these decorations in bowls or on shelves and surfaces, take your crafting ideas to the next level with a glorious garland, perfect for decorating a staircase or for fall mantel ideas.

Here, renowned floral designer Philippa Craddock has played with scale and paired birch branches with tiny pine cones with bunches of extra large pine cones to make a real statement of the staircase. The design is finished with large copper ribbons which add to the warm, rustic feel.

She says of the design, 'using branches with pinecones attached, or adding individual pinecones to branches, is a superb way to add additional shapes and textures to seasonal designs.'

Instead of a garland, pine cone wreaths also make for a great fall craft project for fall front door decor ideas and for fall wreath ideas.

2. Create a warming fall fragrance

Of course, it's vital to know how to make your house smell nice throughout the year, but making your house smell like fall through a crafted, homemade fall fragrance, is the perfect way to make your home feel more festive and special during the winter months.

Learning how to make pot pourri is an enduring craft idea that can be done throughout the year. Pot pourri can not only make your house smell good, it can also be a great mason jar craft idea, perfect for a seasonal scented gift for your loved ones.

Gather together ingredients such as star anise, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, rosemary cuttings, and bay leaves, put them in a jar or decorative bowl, as shown above, and let their fragrant scents fill your home with notes of fall.

3. Craft a stand-out fall table centerpiece

If you're planning on being the host with the most this fall and festive season, then you need to ensure you've got your fall table decor covered.

Here, a raised decorative bowl has been filled with fall foliage cuttings, pine cones, and candles; an easy and elegant table centerpiece that is perfect for a more rustic and organic look.

We also explore how to make a winter centerpiece in our step-by-step guide.

4. Decorate your porch with fruity fall candles

'This fall craft idea can of course be used indoors as well as out, but we love its simplicity, especially outside on a porch or doorstep, where the cooler air temperature will ensure both the apples and the flowers will last longer,' says Jo Bailey, Homes & Gardens' Print Editor and stylist.

'It's likely that local garden birds will peck at the fruit, so you may want to ensure candle drippings are removed regularly, but if you are looking to feed birds in winter, it's a great fall craft idea. Simply hollow out some apples, place candle wicks at the bottom of the hollow and pour in some wax. Leave to set and you're ready to go.'

As with all our ideas, never leave burning candles unattended.

5. Use paint to transform a room for fall

'If you are looking for living room fall decor with a crafty feel, why not use paint tricks?' suggests Jennifer Ebert, Homes & Gardens' Digital Editor. 'Use stencils or paint free-hand to introduce a living room feature wall idea that's unique to your home.

'It's also a wonderful way to introduce fall color schemes to otherwise neutral rooms, and can easily be painted over in spring – or you can introduce spring decor ideas instead.'

6. Craft an easy outdoor fall decor idea

Looking for easy outdoor fall decor ideas?

'Use humble terracotta pots to house pumpkins, foliage and flowers to give fall looks to doorways, entrances and for fall porch decor,' says Sara Bird. 'Use a crate to elevate and add height with more foliage and lanterns arranged on the floor. A lantern and candle will give an inviting warm glow come the evening.'

7. Hang a basket of fall foliage on a door

Wondering how to start decorating for fall? Foraging from the yard is the easiest way to do so.

'Gathering woodland goodies to decorate your home with seasonal fall favorites is the simplest of fall craft ideas,' says Sara Bird. 'Pick leafy branches and cut to a similar length about ⅓ taller than the basket you want to display them in. Gather in a bunch and distribute inside the basket to pleasingly fall on either side of the handles. Hang from the back of a door for instant foliage flair.

'Add a personal touch with a ribbon-hung charm – in this case, rustic door keys.'

8. Create a simple fall wreath

Fall wreaths make for a staple fall craft that you can fashion from scratch, or you could make a burlap wreath and simply attach fall flowers to this plainest of bases.

'Show off shapely stems in a woodland-inspired wreath. Using a ready-made willow wreath, add lengths of grapevine to create a base, teasing the twigs out for a rustic look. Taking bendy foliage branches add around the wreath in curves, pushing in and out of the twigs and securing with florist wire. Finally push in berry, flower, and seed head cuttings then hang the wreath up with a seasonally colored ribbon,' says Sara Bird, who also shows us how to make a fall wreath in our dedicated feature.

'To create a wreath for year-round use, choose preserved and dyed flowers and foliage,' – we explore decorating with dried flowers further in our dedicated guide.

9. Dress a dining table for fall

'Similar to our stand-out fall centerpiece idea, I love to pile pine cones onto a tiered cake stand and place sprigs of berries and small fall flowers between them,' says Homes & Gardens Managing Editor, Zara Stacey.

'However, I love the relaxed, quick-to-assemble arrangement above. From foliage to candles, string lights to purchased fall decorations, the dining table is often the heart of the home for many – even more so during fall and the holiday season, so be sure to celebrate it with plenty of fall decor and crafts.'

10. Dress a shelf or mantel for fall

'Dress plain shelves or mantels to celebrate fall by arranging and displaying glorious autumnal bounty,' says Sara Bird.

'One of simplest fall mantel ideas is to use a goblet or vase for cut flowers, then pick nuts, seeds, fruits, and leaves to fill bottles, jars, and bare surfaces to give a color and texture to this focal point in the room.'

We explore how best to decorate shelves in our dedicated feature.

11. Decorate lighting for fall, indoors and out

'Whether you have a traditional chandelier in your living room or a rustic candelabra outdoors, simply twining foliage around it (real is wonderful, faux is fine!) will create a focal point that will immediately make your space feel autumnal,' says Andrea Childs, Editor of Country Homes & Interiors. 'This is a wonderful outdoor dining idea that will make al fresco gatherings feel really cozy.'

As ever, ensure naked flames are well away from anything else, and don't leave candles unattended.

12. Arrange fall flowers for a quick result

Okay, so this only just qualifies as a fall craft idea, but it's effective nonetheless.

'Create an easy arrangement with fall foliage, flower sprigs, seed heads, and berries that looks good and lasts,' says Sara Bird. 'Choose woody stems and flowers that dry stylishly, with the odd preserved sprig for stability, and arrange in similar length cuttings. Watch them gradually dry and preserve, then gather them up and use them in a bunch to hang from ceilings afterward.

'Pop in paper flowers for more color and a stronger shape,' she adds.

13. Uplift your coffee table with a decorative centerpiece

Table centerpieces are not just for the dining room, coffee table decor ideas are really important for creating a stylish and alluring focal point in your living room.

'Place a seasonal arrangement in the center of the room to draw the eye – day or night,' says Sara Bird. 'Use a cake stand on which to raise and house a glass vase with a candle placed inside. Dress with seasonal foliage, flowers, berries and finds as the season changes.'

14. Display fall branches on an entryway table

Fall entryway decor sets a cozy and seasonal welcome when guests arrive. One quick and simple craft idea for the entryway is to arrange seasonal fall branches in a vase filled with water on an entryway table, much like this display by R. Higgins Interiors. This allows you to uplift your home's entrance with a fall color scheme, so for best results stick to branches of the most vivid and warm orange tones.

‘Bringing natural elements into the home ties your decor directly to the season,' says Alexandra Cooper, interior designer at Planner 5D. 'It’s also budget-friendly and easy to switch out as the season progresses from early to late fall.'

Just make sure to change the water in the vase every couple of days to keep your display fresh.

15. Fill lanterns on the porch with seasonal decor

Looking for a simple way to add interest to any lanterns you have displayed on your porch or in the garden? One seasonal way to elevate them is to fill them with fall foliage and other natural additions.

‘Leaves and pumpkins provide a seasonal touch that feels natural and warm,' explains Alexandra Cooper. 'If you want to DIY, fill a lantern with faux or dried leaves, small pumpkins, or pinecones, then place a battery-operated candle inside for a cozy glow.’

16. Decorate with oversized ribbon bows for an on-trend look

Are you on the hunt for an on-trend fall craft idea? Experiment with decorating with ribbon bows throughout your home – a simple yet effective way to add interest.

All you'll need for this is lengths of ribbon in your favorite fall-inspired color, which you can simply tie into a bow and secure in a number of places. As seen here, it makes a great addition to a fall wreath, but you could also add them to garlands.

In addition, ribbon bows make for an easy way to elevate your fall table decor ideas. One idea is to tie ribbons into bows and then secure them to the stems of wine glasses, making for a fun and stylish decor idea, guaranteed to boost your hosting game from Thanksgiving to Halloween.

Shop fall craft supplies

Which one of these fall craft ideas will you try this year? Whether you want to set yourself a challenge by crafting a garland or simply display natural elements to form a dining table centerpiece, these ideas are a great way to welcome the fall season with creative flair.