Creating a Cozy Autumn Home: Fall Decorating with DIY Touches & Thrifted Treasures

There’s just something about fall that makes home feel even more like home. The air cools, the days shorten, and I find myself craving the cozy comforts of candlelight, warm textures, and everything pumpkin. This year, (2024) my fall decorating focused on two things: soft, handcrafted touches and finding new beauty in old, repurposed pieces. What came together is a cozy autumn home filled with DIY pumpkins and thrifted finds—each corner styled with intention and warmth.

One of the main features throughout my home this season is my DIY drop cloth topiary pumpkins—simple, neutral, and endlessly charming. Let me show you how I styled them in different spaces to create an autumn home that feels warm, welcoming, and a little nostalgic.

🍁 In the Kitchen: Warmth Around the Heart of the Home

The kitchen is always the first place I start when decorating for the seasons. This fall, (2024) I kept things soft and cozy with a muted color palette—creams, browns, terra cottage tones, and soft green hues. You’ll find my topiary pumpkins tucked into baskets, perched on my old hoosier cabinet (just waiting to be made into a pantry), and even nestled on vintage milk glass light shades that catch the morning light beautifully.

Pinecones, Pumpkins & Tags, Oh My!

There’s a charming mix of thrifted pieces and pine cone DIY topiaries (tutorial to come) displayed in crackled, weathered urns that pair so well with the pumpkins. A few of my leaf and acorn resin tags are tucked in here and there for a final handcrafted touch. Small details, but they carry big warmth.

Fridge Gallery: Art That Brings Nostalgia

One of my favorite little details! Our DIY fridge gallery magnets! They’re not just magnets—they’ve become a display of tiny autumn art. Each one is a soft, seasonal snapshot, turning the fridge into a charming mini gallery wall right in the heart of the home.

To bring even more autumn charm into the kitchen, I created a few cozy vignettes with candlelight, printed art, birds  and roosters tucked here and there—each little scene telling its own story. I draped a fall towel over my KitchenAid bowl, added a mug tree to hold a mix of seasonal mugs, and styled the countertop with warm, comforting layers.

 

Roosters, Candlelight & Little Fall Vignettes

Up above the cupboards, I used wired, vintage-looking cloches filled with glass amber-colored candles, and a few old sewing machine drawers as risers to display crocheted doilies from the past and bits of fall greenery. A few painted pumpkins and rooster plates added pops of charm, while thrifted finds and layered florals gave the space a full, gathered look. One of my favorite finishing touches was leaning an old, weathered window frame against the wall and hanging a simple fall wreath from the side—perfectly imperfect and filled with heart.

In the Living Room: Layered Textures

The living room is where I love to layer textures and warmth—pillows, throws, pumpkins, and plenty of candlelight. This year, I grouped my DIY drop cloth pumpkins on candlesticks, urns and milk glass light shades of varying heights along the sofa table behind the sectional, and displayed others on weathered & crackled urns atop an antique hutch complimented with a hand painted piece of art I painted years ago, in a repurposed frame. The mix of heights and finishes creates a cozy, collected look that feels both curated and welcoming. Each pumpkin is adorned with my DIY resin leaf and acorn tags, adding texture and a handmade, seasonal touch that ties everything together.

A Gallery Wall That Welcomes You In

One of my favorite spots in the room is just above the piano—a gallery wall made from a mix of printed art from Etsy and thrifted treasures I’ve gathered over time. It’s the very first thing you see when you walk in the door, and it sets the tone for the whole home. In front of it, I placed an amber-colored jug filled with fall florals, which brings in a little contrast as well as soft color and texture. It’s warm, welcoming, and full of little pieces that tell a story.

To carry those handmade touches throughout the room, I added more of our DIY resin tags—tied onto pumpkins, layered into vignettes, or resting on the edge of a stack of books on the coffee table. They blend in beautifully with the rest of the decor, adding charm without fuss.

Coffee Table Vignettes with Handmade Touches

At the seating area, I created a cozy coffee table display that’s both simple and sweet. A white ceramic pitcher filled with faux hydrangeas sits atop a delicate thrifted crocheted doily, surrounded by stacked vintage books and two of my DIY twine pumpkins (tutorial coming soon)—each topped with miniature pinecones, florals, and printed tags. There’s also a tiny white swan creamer holding dried flowers, adding just the right touch of charm. It’s a small display, but one that captures the heart of the season.

A Touch of Fall Above the Entry Closet

At the front entrance, I styled the space above the closet with layered vintage pieces: an old window frame, iron scrollwork, and a cascading garland of fall leaves. A handmade sign that reads “Hello Pumpkin” hangs on the side, while a fox and thrifted goose sits beside my fabric and painted pumpkins nestle into an antique wooden box. It’s the kind of space that brings a smile when you walk through the door.

Pumpkins Turned Vases: A Fall Floral Favorite

In one cozy corner, I used a carved-out faux pumpkin as a vase for layered fall florals. The blend of creams, soft oranges, and rust-red leaves spills beautifully from the top, sitting on a stack of birding books that make me think of slow, quiet mornings. Nearby, a pair of fall-themed coasters and a tiny bird figurine complete the look.

Warm Layers & Cozy Corners

As you move through the space, I always love to create little nooks that feel thoughtful and lived in. A subtle touch is this blanket ladder, tucked near the living room seating, draped in soft fall-colored throws. I even hung a sweet little sign off the side—just a quiet way to say “you’re home” without saying a word.

On a side table, I styled a thrifted vintage “oil lamp”—which is actually electric, though you’d never know it. Its soft glow adds the perfect touch of warmth and charm, especially in the evenings.

Coming up from our sunken entrance, your eye is drawn to an old farmhouse window from my grandparents farm, I repurposed into a mirror. It’s layered behind a stool with a cozy fall floral arrangement—the perfect welcome as you step into the heart of the home.

Pillows for a Quick Seasonal Switch

And of course, one of the simplest ways I like to refresh a space for the season is by swapping out pillows. I added a soft sage green woven pillow, a burnt orange cable-knit one, and a couple of of my Autumn Blessing Pillow Covers featuring a little birdhouse and the word “Home.” Just a few changes like that can transform the whole room, making it feel instantly ready for the coziness of autumn.

Wrapping Up This Cozy Autumn Tour of DIYs & Thrifted Treasures

Fall decorating doesn’t have to mean buying all new things. In fact, some of the most meaningful pieces in my home were made by hand or found secondhand. There’s beauty in simplicity, in crafting something with your own two hands, and in giving old things new life.

This year’s fall home is layered with warmth, memory, and charm. From the handcrafted pumpkins to the thrifted treasures tucked into every corner. I hope it inspires you to slow down, create something beautiful, and make your own home feel like a cozy autumn retreat.

And there’s more to come! Be sure to watch for the next blog post. Where I’ll be sharing how I added seasonal touches to the bathroom and transformed an old china cabinet into a cozy hallway linen closet and style the dining Room. Complete with a few more of my favorite fall DIYs.

Until next time—light a candle, make something cozy, and enjoy the slow rhythm of autumn.

With grace,
Kimberly

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