There is so much joy in decorating for fall, it's such a celebration of the change in season and a change in nature first and foremost. Fall decor is so influenced by the beautiful colors of nature, the leaves, the harvest and fall wreaths are the perfect nod to this annual display.
It's often the first piece of fall decor many of us put up to. Once Labor Day is done, it's not long before you will start to see beautiful fall foliage adorning doors. But fall wreaths aren't just for front doors, they make gorgeous decor all over the home. We've gathered together some of our favorite looks, plus the best fall wreaths to shop for 2024.
Explore our favorite wreath ideas for fall
Whether you like to make your own or shop some of the beautiful offers that come out each year, nothing marks the change in season like hanging a fall wreath on your front door (or mantle, or window, or entryway, or wherever works in your home).
1. Keep your fall wreath organic looking
Real or faux the best fall wreaths are ones that look a bit wild and natural. Leaves don't grow perfectly, nor do they all match so you want your wreath to reflect that. The more organic looking the better.
'A fall wreath is a lovely way to set the scene for the new season and add a fun pop of visual interest to your home's exterior,' explains designer Kathy Kuo. 'I personally like to go with an organic look that really plays off of the beauty of fall foliage. A rustic woven branch wreath with autumnal leaves and colors feels seasonal, understated, and effortlessly chic.'
2. Enhance a fall wreath with an autumnal hued ribbon
If you've decided to make your own fall wreath from foliage and flowers gathered from your yard or garden, an elegant piece of flowing ribbon can add the perfect finishing touch; effortlessly upgrading the wreath design from simple to stylish.
Whether you choose to tie one piece of floating ribbon at the bottom of your wreath, beautifully shown on the wreath above, or decorate your wreath design with multiple small ribbon bows, wreaths and ribbon go hand in hand – as we further explore in our dedicated piece, wreath ribbon ideas.
3. Opt for a simple fall wreath you can easily DIY
Once you know how to make a fall wreath, it's unlikely you'll go back to ready-made. We have a simple step-by-step that shows how easy and quick it is to make a fall wreath, but you may like to buy a basic base you can simply add to every season.
'The best fall wreath ideas are homemade with foliage found in your yard,' says Rachel Bull, our Head of Gardens. 'However, if you don't have time for fall craft ideas, you can copy what I do, which is to take a twig base (I like this twig wreath base from Amazon) and add your own foliage finds, real or faux, to it to update it for each season or celebration.'
4. Match your wreath to the colors outdoors
'Outdoor fall decor is most successful when it's matched to your yard's foliage, be that fall flowers for pots, plants for fall color that you have recently put in or even the trees for fall color you have further down the yard,' continues Rachel.
'Naturally, this means choosing fall color schemes for your wreaths, including rusty reds, burnished orange and gold. I like to add sprigs of berries and scented cones to the wreaths I hang on my front door. That way, guests get to enjoy a visual treat as well as the wonderful aromas of fall.'
5. Hang fall wreaths at the window
Hanging wreaths at your window can be just as impactful as hanging one on your door, more in fact since there's usually opportunity to hnag more than one. Plus this way they can be enjoyed by both you indoors and your neighbours out doors.
'I love this idea,' says Hebe Hatton our Head of Interiors. 'Something that always frustrates me about hanging a wreath on the door is that you only get to enjoy it a few times a day when you come back into the house. Hanging them at windows instead means you get far more enjoyment. I'll be doing both this year for sure. I like how here they are also part of the fall table decor too.'
6. Layer up texture with unexpected folliage
Think outside of the box when selecting or foraging for your fall mantel ideas. Add an unexpected, but still naturalistic, touch by incorporating seed heads into your fall wreaths and garlands.
'The sharp silhouettes of these dried teasels are gently softened with occasional sprays of delicate foliage. If you’re into the sphagnum moss bowls that have been populating Instagram, take things a step further and fill your hearth with a generous helping of foliage to continue the look throughout the whole vignette,' says Sarah Spiteri, Homes & Gardens' Editorial Director. 'Seed heads, when handled carefully, can be used for years, and opt for preserved moss if you want the entire scheme to be ready to go next fall, too.'
Shop our favorite fall wreaths
Shea McGee's autumn wreath mimics the welcoming natural detail of grapevine, statice, and winterberry branches. The high-quality faux greenery is a seasonal staple that you can bring out year upon year.
This wreath from Anthropologie has something of the unexpected to it we talked of earlier. The textures and shapes are more interesting than your usual fall wreath.
Nothing marks the return of fall like the changing leaves, and this wreath captures it perfectly. Created with plenty of fall-colored leaves, it feels like a foraged decor piece.
Magnolia leaves always makes a contemporary looking wreath, something about the structured look that gives it a modern feel. The mix of green and brown foliage is perfect for early fall.
Wayfair have some gorgeous fall wreaths this year, it's worth having a proper browse. They are all affordable too. For a faux wreath this silk option is super realistic with lots of depth and texture.
Slightly whimsical with the faux pumpkins but still tasteful, this Pottery Barn wreath has everything you want from fall decor. It's faux but hand arranged for a more organic look.
For a decorating idea similar to fall wreaths, why not get your home ready for fall by adorning each room with beautiful bouquets of dried flowers. Decorating with dried flowers of course can be done at any time of year, but they can be a great way to enhance your home with the beauty of nature when bright, summer blooms are no longer in season.
