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Thrifty Fall Patio and Porch Ideas with Everyday Items

By Rachel

published 10/03/2024

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Transform your outdoor space for fall on a dime using everyday items that you already have!

Are you looking to spruce up your outdoor space for the colorful and cozy season of fall but don’t want to spend hundreds? You are in luck! These thrifty patio and porch ideas, using everyday items, will help you revamp your space on a budget.

Budget Fall Patio Ideas

No need to spend a fortune on expensive seasonal decorations!

Table of Contents

The frugal ideas shared here will show you how to make the most out of what you already have. Get ready to learn how to turn ordinary objects into extraordinary pieces of autumn decor! With a little imagination, you can create a beautiful and inviting fall oasis right outside your doorstep.

Shop Fall Patio Decor

How to Decorate a Porch or Patio for Fall

Fall is my very favorite season and I love decorating for it. As such, styling each space in my home for the season has a cozy rhythm and routine to it that I spend quite a bit of time with.

For fall especially, I’m mindful of the items used in each space as well as how much money I’m willing to invest. Because, truly, simple and minimal living is at the heart of everything I do.

Fall Patio Decorating on a Dime: Tips and Tricks

Before styling a porch or patio space for fall, there are a number of factors that I weigh and think about.

Is it easy to implement? Like…can I accomplish the decorating task in an hour or less?
Sustainability. Are the items or methods that I’m using to decorate eco-friendly and helpful for the environment?
Versatility. Will the items in this display be able to be utilized elsewhere in my home for a different season or used somewhere else in a different way?
For fall outdoor decor, is the focal point a natural element? I like the main or overarching theme to be inspired by nature. It is outdoors, after all!
How can I make the outdoor display feel cozy, warm, and inviting?
And, finally, it must be frugal and budget-friendly. Using thrifted items, paired with things already found around the house, is a common sense way to decorate.

Thrifty Fall Patio and Porch Ideas with Everyday Items

The five tips and decorating insights below are a cumulative response to each of the questions above. My patio decor for fall is a mix of natural elements, thrifted decor items, and items that I already had around the house.

There is truly no need to over-complicate seasonal decorating, especially when it comes to a porch, patio, or any other outdoor space. In using what you have or thrifting a few accessories, you are showcasing your unique style and curating a home that is special to you.

Let’s get into it!

1. Lanterns and Candles: Setting a Cozy Mood for Autumn Evenings

Candles are, in my opinion, one of the coziest sights there is. With the flickering flames and magical glow, candles urge me to understand that everything is going to be okay.

I really wanted that peaceful feeling to come through in my fall patio display so I incorporated a variety of thrifted faux pillar candles differing in height and pattern.

I played around with the placement of each candle until I was happy with how it looked.

My tip for candles or lanterns on a patio is to use as many as you have and space them out amongst the entire space. This method will allow for each area to be filled with that cozy glow.

Ideas for styling faux candles in an outdoor fall display include:

placing in a lantern
line up a row of candles on a porch railing or lattice
put some on the ground
hang from the ceiling using a hanging lantern
place on a side table

For a super thrifty look, I only used candles and lighting accessories that I had around the house. All of the candles were thrifted for a few dollars and the black lantern was a gift years ago.

My advice for budget patio decor, or getting the look for free, is to get super creative with the items that you have.

Think about how you could use each thing in a brand new way to give it a whole new look!

2. Incorporate Fall Foliage for a Woodsy, Natural Feel

Foliage is a must when it comes to styling an outdoor space for fall. Natural elements make a patio or porch display come to life by bringing in texture and movement.

Mums are what most people think of when it comes to outdoor fall foliage, right? But. You guys. I get like zero sun on my patio. I tried mums once and they died within a week because it was way too shady!

However, for those of us who have shady yards, I have discovered a beautiful fall foliage alternative…coleous!

I can grow coleus out my ears with all the shade that they grow in all summer long.

At the end of summer, I usually take cuttings of my plants, place them in mason jars, and use them for fall displays. They make such lovely accents with the dark plum and red colors on the leaves! And, I think they look particularly lovely amongst white pumpkins 🙂

3. Pumpkins and Gourds: A Fall Classic with a Thrifty Twist

What would a fall patio or porch display be without pumpkins?!

I do love to go hunting for the perfect pumpkins…the right shape, color and size are all important elements when it comes to building out a cohesive outdoor vignette for autumn. For my fall patio, I ended up with a handful of white, olive green, and pinky-orange harvest pumpkins.

To stay within my thrifty budget for this seasonal display, I opted to purchase my pumpkins from Trader Joe’s. They have an amazing selection, literally thousands of pumpkins to choose from, for just the right price!

I took my time choosing the correct pumpkins for my patio space. My advice for this element is to consider the size of your outdoor space. Source pumpkins or gourds that aren’t too large that they take up valuable floor or walking space nor too small so that they look out of place.

When picking out pumpkins, consider the following questions:

How many do I need to fill out my display?
Which colors complement the decor I already have or am going to use?
What size(s) of pumpkins will suit my outdoor space?

This will help to eliminate over-buying and over-spending on decor that you won’t use or don’t actually need!

4. Re-Purpose Unexpected Items Such as Galvanized Tins, Enamelware, or Crocks.

Most of us probably have a plethora of tins, trays, bowls, crocks, and the like laying around the house.

Find one that speaks to you for fall and re-purpose it on your porch or patio. These items can be placed on an end table, patio table, bench, or even on the ground as a riser or vessel to hold items like pumpkins, plants, candles, and such.

I’ve had this vintage enamel tray for years and have used it for so many things. For fall, I turned it upside down, placed it on my end table, and set a fabric pumpkin on top!

Galvanized tin is one of my favorite metals to use for outdoor fall decor. My MIL gave me this Magnolia bucket years ago. I wanted to incorporate it for height in my fall patio vignette, so I simply set it on the ground and placed a large green pumpkin on top of it.

I could have taken it a step further and placed hay or something inside it to hide the gaps but I didn’t have any. Again, we’re talking budget decor here and didn’t want to spend any more money than I needed to. So, I opted to just leave the sides open and I don’t mind it one bit!

5. Utilize Ribbon for an Elegant and Classy Touch.

Finally, let’s talk ribbon.

Ribbon is my secret weapon and a decorating hack that I use for every season.

Literally, you can tie ribbon around anything and it instantly looks festive. My lantern felt a little flat in the display. So, I gave it some oomph by tying a rust colored fall ribbon around it!

Ribbon, for any season or holiday, is like the cherry on top of the sundae, helping to tie everything together…literally and figuratively 🙂

By using one or two ribbon bows in a seasonal vignette, you are creating a sense of cohesion and elegance without spending a ton of money.

Thrifty Fall Outdoor Decorating: Everyday Items with Big Impact

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; you truly don’t need to go overboard spend hundreds of dollars on seasonal decor. I hope that you can see how, with a few minor tweaks, you can turn everyday items into fall decor for a porch or patio.

Could I have done more, added more, or spent more? Of course! But, that’s not budget-friendly nor sustainable.

When styling or decorating any space in your home, it’s important to stay true to your values. Thrifty and eco-friendly decorating is at the heart of everything I do. So, my advice would be to do a quick check-in with yourself to be sure that the way you are decorating is aligning with what you believe in and stand for.

Closing Tidbits on Outdoor Decor for Fall

With a little creativity and a dash of resourcefulness, you can transform your patio or porch into a warm and inviting fall haven on a budget! Everyday items take on a whole new life when styled for the season and thrifted finds add a special touch that reflects your personal style.

What a treat it is to grab your favorite plaid blanket and enjoy the crisp autumn air from the comfort of your beautifully decorated outdoor space!

Be encouraged to enjoy the beauty that this season holds, letting go of what no longer serves, and finding peace along the way.

Leave me a comment! How do you like to decorate your outdoor space for fall? I love hearing from you!

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If you are new here, I’m Rachel, the writer and content creator here at The Antiqued Journey. I’m so happy to have you! I encourage you to stop by the ‘about me’ page to get to know me a little more.

Here on the blog, you will find loads of inspiration for decorating with vintage and antique decor, simple DIY crafts and many thrifting adventures. If that interests you, I invite you to sign up for my e-mail. You will receive a free digital download as a thank you!