The Best Sources for Affordable Fall Decor

So as it turns out, even as a former English teacher I am pretty terrible at citing my sources. Oops! I’ve gotten so many sourcing questions since Monday’s fall home tour that I decided to create a post sharing where I got everything I could possibly find links to or remember!

While I was putting together this post I realized: I am also cheap thrifty! 🙂 I love to find ways to save when it comes to decor, so I thought I’d sprinkle in some of my favorite tips and tricks throughout the post as well. Here we go!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

Table | Side Chairs | Upholstered Chairs | Tablecloth

1. Know when the big seasonal sales are coming.

I purchased all of my faux pumpkins and greenery during Michael’s huge seasonal sale when almost everything was 50% off! Woot! I have the Michael’s app on my phone (which also has coupons!) and get their emails so I can be alerted when they’re having their bigger events.

Pears- grocery store | Pumpkins- Michael’s | Acorns- Target Dollar Spot | White Berries- Michael’s | Runner- Target Dollar Spot | Pitcher | Eucalyptus- Trader Joe’s

Hutch- my grandmother’s | Hutch Paint Color | Pulls | Knobs | Chairs | Pillows

2. Stalk stores near the end of the season.

Yes I just said that. Stalk them. 🙂 I bought the darker blue bowl in my hutch and a few other serving pieces for $3 each (70% off!) at Target recently because they were making room for their new fall line. The cashier told me that with their new layout, they’ll be doing a new line each season, so the past season’s items will be deeply discounted. It’s the perfect time to stock up for next year or find ways to incorporate the last season’s pieces into this season’s decor like I did. (Who says navy is only for summer?!)

White Plates | Aqua Mugs & Plates- Kirklands, no longer available {similar} | Blue Bowl | Hydrangea Vases- Target Dollar Spot | Acorns- Michael’s | Big White Bowl- TJ Maxx | Feathers- Hobby Lobby | Small White Bowl- Target, old

3. It doesn’t have to be perfect right off the shelf– think creatively!

Sometimes places like Walmart and The Dollar Tree are my best friends. Everything might not be my style right off the shelf, but it’s nothing that a little bit of spray paint can’t fix! For example, I purchased the (once brightly colored) pumpkins on my coffee table at a ridiculously low price and with a little bit of paint, they fit my neutral decor perfectly.

Lamp | Sofa | Aqua Pillows | Feather Pillow | Gray Throw- HomeGoods | Pumpkins- Michael’s, Walmart (Originally other colors; I spray painted them white.) | Basket on Table- TJ Maxx

The clear vase holding the wheat on my shelves was also a dollar store find. I just wrapped some twine around it, and it was ready for fall!

Floating Shelves | Clear Vase- Dollar Tree, twine added | Wheat- Hobby Lobby | Large Frame | Small Frame- Old | Fall Arrows Print | Candle Stand- Michael’s | Crate- Wedding Gift | Lantern- TJ Maxx | Silver Pumpkin- TJ Maxx | Wreath- Target Dollar Spot | Pitcher

4. Invest in pillow inserts. Then just buy covers.

I love, love, love throw pillows! Some girls collect shoes. For me, it’s pillows. 🙂 But not only do throw pillows tend to take up a lot of storage space, buying pillow after pillow after pillow can also get pricey. So recently I changed my strategy. I purchased some down pillow inserts in various sizes and now I just buy the pillow covers whenever possible and use the inserts I already have. The gingham pillow covers on my bed were only $6 each!

Headboard | Bedding | Sheets | Gingham Pillows | Smaller Pillow | Blanket (Similar) | Tray | Mugs | Lamp Shades | Photo Frame

Now sometimes, admittedly, I still buy the full pillow when I just can’t resist (like the little pillow on my bed that I found on a Target end cap for $7!), but for the most part I’ve been sticking to my strategy and saving some money and storage space.

Mirror- Michael’s | Silver Pumpkin- TJ Maxx | Curtains | Dresser- Antique Store | Dresser Paint Color | Antler- found by my dad in the woods 🙂 | Vase- Target (I think)

5. Choose decor pieces that can work for multiple seasons.

Now clearly things like pumpkins are pretty fall-specific, but many of the other items I use to decorate like pillows, throws, vases, dishes, linens, and little tchotchkes can be used year round with a little tweaking and creativity. Once I settled into my style and knew what I really liked, I just began collecting pieces that worked with that style no matter what the season, which helps me to not use up all of my decor budget on things that will just be seen for a month or two out of the year.

Dresser- from my room growing up 🙂 | Dresser Paint Colors- Main Color, Gold Accents | Wheat- Hobby Lobby | Pumpkins- Michael’s | Mirror | Jewelry Stand

Wire Basket- Target Dollar Spot | Bench | Bench Fabric- Hobby Lobby | Olive Bucket | Pumpkins- Michael’s | Throw

Now clearly, I could probably save even more money if I didn’t decorate seasonally at all. I used to feel SO guilty (and sometimes still do) anytime I would spend money on something that was more pretty than practical.

But at the end of the day, we live in our home. We spend a lot of time here. We love to make it comfortable for our family and a place where everyone loves to be. So while you won’t see my thrifty self spending thousands and thousands of dollars on my decor each season, I do love to bring in some simple touches that help our house feel a little more festive and cheerful. Happy fall!

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This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.