17 Dollar Store Fall Decor Ideas That Look High-End
I will be honest with you: I used to walk past the dollar store fall aisle and assume everything there would look cheap. Then one October I challenged myself to decorate my whole living room for under twenty dollars, and the result fooled every single guest who walked in. These dollar store fall decor ideas look high-end because the trick is not where you buy it, it is how you style it. Save this list before you scroll on, and pair it with my (see also: dollar-store-fall-decor-ideas) and (see also: fall-decor-on-a-budget) posts for the full low-cost plan.
What this costs at a glance: Every idea here costs $1 to $8, takes under 30 minutes, and starts with a dollar store find plus a little styling.
Paint and Polish
1. Dollar Store Pumpkins Painted Matte White
Plain orange foam pumpkins from the dollar store look a little plastic, but a coat of matte white spray paint changes everything. I paint mine outside on a piece of cardboard, let them dry for an hour, and suddenly they look like ceramic pumpkins from a home store. I group three of different sizes on the mantel and everyone asks where I bought them. My first batch I rushed and the paint dripped, so use light coats and let each one dry. A can of paint covers about six pumpkins.
Cost: ~$5 | Time: 30 minutes
2. Faux Leaf Garland Over the Doorway
A faux leaf garland from the dollar store costs a dollar twenty-five and looks lovely draped over a doorway or a mirror. I buy two strands, twist them together so it looks fuller, and hang it with a couple of small hooks. The trick is doubling it up, because a single strand looks thin and sad. I learned that the hard way the first year when one strand just disappeared against the wall. Add a few pinecones tied on with twine and it looks like it cost ten times more.
Cost: ~$3 | Time: 15 minutes
3. Burlap Table Runner From the Craft Aisle
A roll of burlap from the dollar store craft aisle makes a table runner that looks rustic and expensive. I cut a length to fit my table, fray the edges slightly by pulling a few threads, and lay it down the middle. It instantly warms up the whole table. My first runner I cut too short and it looked like a placemat, so measure your table and add twelve inches for overhang. A few mini pumpkins on top finish the look for about two dollars total.
Cost: ~$2 | Time: 10 minutes
4. Mason Jars Filled With Acorns
Mason jars filled with acorns are the simplest fall decoration I have ever made, and they look like something from a farmhouse catalog. I collect acorns from the yard, rinse them, and fill two or three jars. A tea light on top of the acorns in one jar adds a warm glow. I once filled a jar with acorns that were still damp and they went moldy, so dry them on a towel overnight first. If you do not have oak trees nearby, the dollar store sells bags of faux acorns too.
Cost: ~$2 | Time: 15 minutes
5. Foam Pumpkins Stacked as a Topiary
Stacking three foam pumpkins into a topiary is the cutest porch decoration, and it costs about four dollars. I buy small, medium, and large foam pumpkins, stack them with a wooden skewer through the middle to hold them steady, and set the whole thing in a pot. A little moss around the base hides the skewer. My first attempt had no skewer and the top pumpkin rolled off in the wind, so do not skip that step. It looks like a boutique topiary for a fraction of the price.
Cost: ~$4 | Time: 20 minutes
6. Plaid Ribbon Wrapped Around Plain Vases
Wrapping plaid ribbon around a plain glass vase turns a boring dollar store vase into fall decor in two minutes. I tie a wide plaid ribbon around the middle and finish it with a small bow. Then I fill the vase with dried leaves or wheat. The contrast of the plaid against the glass is lovely. I made the mistake once of using hot glue on the ribbon and it left a sticky mess, so a simple knot and bow holds fine. Buy the ribbon in the fall aisle for a dollar a roll.
Cost: ~$2 | Time: 10 minutes
The Front Door and Porch
7. Faux Fall Wreath Built From Dollar Store Picks
Building a wreath from dollar store picks is my favorite fall craft because it looks custom and costs about six dollars. I buy a foam wreath form and three or four fall picks, then I stick the picks into the foam at an angle and fluff them out. A bow made from plaid ribbon finishes it. My first wreath looked sparse because I only used two picks, so three or four is the minimum. It takes about twenty minutes and lasts for years if you store it in a bag.
Cost: ~$6 | Time: 25 minutes
8. Candle Holders Made From Small Jars
Small jars wrapped in twine make candle holders that look handmade in the best way. I take a plain glass jar, wrap twine around the middle a few times, and tie it off with a knot. Then I drop in a tea light. The twine glows warmly when the candle is lit. I learned to keep the twine below the rim of the jar, because the first time I wrapped it too high it caught a spark. Three of these in a row on the mantel look wonderful.
Cost: ~$3 | Time: 15 minutes
9. Pinecones Spray-Painted Gold
Pinecones spray-painted gold are the easiest glamorous fall decoration, and they cost almost nothing. I collect pinecones, lay them on cardboard outside, and give them a light coat of gold spray paint. Once they are dry, I pile them in a bowl or scatter them on the mantel. The gold catches the light beautifully. My mistake the first year was painting them too heavily and they looked plastic, so one light coat is enough. A can of gold paint will cover dozens of pinecones.
Cost: ~$4 | Time: 20 minutes
10. Fall-Themed Chalkboard Sign
A small chalkboard sign with a fall message is the kind of decoration that makes a room feel personal. I buy a mini chalkboard for a dollar, write something simple like hello fall in a chalk marker, and lean it on the mantel. It takes five minutes and it looks charming. I tried regular chalk first and it smudged every time someone walked past, so a chalk marker is worth the extra dollar. Change the message every few weeks to keep it fresh.
Cost: ~$2 | Time: 10 minutes
11. Mesh Ribbon Bow on the Front Door
A big mesh ribbon bow on the front door makes the whole house look dressed for fall, and it costs about three dollars to make. I buy a roll of orange mesh ribbon, make a simple looped bow, and wire it to the wreath hanger on the door. It is full and cheerful and it holds up in the wind. My first bow was too small and it looked lost on the door, so go big. Two rolls twisted together make it look even fuller.
Cost: ~$3 | Time: 15 minutes
12. Mini Hay Bales as Porch Decor
Mini hay bales from the dollar store are the cutest porch decoration for fall, and they cost about a dollar each. I set two of them by the front door, top one with a small pumpkin, and lean a little sign against the other. It looks like a tiny farm stand. I learned to bring them inside when it rains, because wet hay bales fall apart fast. They last the whole season if you keep them dry, and they stack neatly in the garage afterward.
Cost: ~$2 | Time: 10 minutes
Table and Mantel
13. Autumn Leaf Place Cards for Dinner
Leaf-shaped place cards are a sweet touch for a fall dinner, and they cost pennies to make. I cut leaf shapes from cardstock in fall colors, write each guest’s name on one, and set it on their plate. It takes twenty minutes for a full table and it makes everyone feel special. My first batch I used plain paper and the cards curled up, so cardstock is the way to go. A gold pen on brown cardstock looks especially pretty.
Cost: ~$2 | Time: 20 minutes
14. Dollar Store Lanterns With Battery Candles
A dollar store lantern with a battery candle inside looks like a ten-dollar lantern once the candle is glowing. I buy two or three, set them on the porch steps or the mantel, and turn them on at dusk. The flicker is lovely and there is no fire risk. I made the mistake once of buying real candles for them and the wax dripped everywhere, so battery candles are the answer. Look for lanterns with glass panels, because the open ones look cheap.
Cost: ~$6 | Time: 5 minutes
15. Burlap-Wrapped Potted Mums
Wrapping a potted mum in burlap turns a three-dollar plant into a beautiful fall display. I buy a small mum from the grocery store, wrap the plastic pot in burlap, and tie it with twine. It sits on the porch or the kitchen table and looks like a farmhouse find. I killed my first mum by forgetting to water it, so check the soil every couple of days. The burlap also hides the ugly plastic pot, which is half the trick.
Cost: ~$5 | Time: 10 minutes
16. Faux Berry Picks in an Old Pitcher
Faux berry picks stuck in an old pitcher make a fall arrangement that looks like you bought it at a boutique. I use a pitcher I already owned, fill it with three or four red berry picks from the dollar store, and set it on the dining table. The red pops against the wood. My first arrangement had too many picks and it looked crowded, so three or four is the right number. Trim the stems with wire cutters so they sit at different heights.
Cost: ~$4 | Time: 10 minutes
17. Fall Garland Made From Paper Leaves
A garland made from paper leaves is the cheapest decoration on this list and one of the prettiest. I cut leaf shapes from colored paper, punch a hole in each one, and string them on twine. My kids help me cut them, which makes it a family project. I hang it across the mantel or a window. The trick is mixing three or four colors so it looks like real fall leaves. It takes about thirty minutes and costs a dollar in paper.
Cost: ~$1 | Time: 30 minutes
