5 tasteful fall decorations to add to your home, and 3 tacky ones to skip, according to an interior designer

Erin McDowellOct 7, 2024, 22:02 IST

Interior designer Ashley Childers told Business Insider that she "lets nature guide seasonal decor" by using naturally found colors and textures for fall.AdamJohnHurley/Shutterstock

Interior designer Ashley Childers shared her favorite fall decor pieces, and which ones to skip.
"I see people go overboard with the faux: faux pumpkins, faux plants, faux everything," she said.

The arrival of fall means pulling out the pumpkins, moody autumnal colors, and cozy throw pillows and blankets.

However, while some fall decorations can make your home feel warm, elevated, and inviting, others can drain your space of energy and border on tacky. Seasonal decor can also get expensive, so investing in a few timeless pieces that will last from year to year can end up saving you money in the long-run.

"A lot of times, I feel like the holiday decor is disjointed from what the aesthetic is of the actual home that you live in. It should be cohesive, in my opinion," Ashley Childers, an interior designer and home furnishings and accessories designer based in Arkansas, told Business Insider.

"On the opposite end of the spectrum, I see a lot of people that have very curated style who feel like they can't decorate for the holidays because they don't want it to be tacky or cheesy," she said. "If you want to decorate for the holidays, you can do it in a beautiful way."

Here are five tasteful fall decorations to add to your home, and three tacky ones to skip, according to Childers.

Let nature guide the colors you incorporate into your fall home decor.

A living room decorated with neutral decor accents.Ashley Childers

Switching up your fall decor with a wool throw blanket can add texture to your space.

A bed with a cozy knitted blanket and cushions.New Africa/Shutterstock

For an elevated look, use more natural, organic-looking florals inside the home.

A vase with naturals on a table.Ashley Childers

Textured pillows in organic materials are another tasteful addition to fall home decor.

A stack of fall pillows and blankets.Cavan Images/Getty Images

Using real pumpkins and gourds can also elevate your outdoor and indoor fall home decor.

Colorful pumpkins and flowers decorative display on the stairs leading up to an old brownstone home in New York City during autumn.James Andrews/Getty Images

Actually, the biggest mistake people make when decorating their home for fall is going overboard with faux pumpkins, leaves, and plants, Childers said.

A house decorated for Halloween.valentinrussanov/Getty Images

Busy patterns and bright colors can also lean towards being tacky, and they're not the most soothing options for your living space.

A plaid sign that says "Hello Fall" and an orange couch with a yellow pillow.Kristen Prahl/Shutterstock; Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

Colorful ribbon is another slightly dated trend that can make your fall decor look tacky.

A white pumpkin tied with a brown bow.Stephanie Frey/Shutterstock

However, Childers said there are no hard and fast rules about what does and doesn't work in a home, and that people should experiment with what brings them joy.

Decorative electric pumpkin lights hung up.Arman Zhenikeyev/Getty Images

Our luxurious vacation cost 1 million credit-card points and $12,000. We spent 14 days in Europe and never flew less than business class.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website