21 Fun Fall Decor Ideas for College Students

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portrait of Marisa Upson
Marisa Upson
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Marisa Upson has 10 years of professional writing experience, specializing in higher education trends, business, hospitality, and health and wellness. On BestColleges, she writes articles to help students make informed education and career decisions....
Published on October 22, 2021
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One of the best seasons of the year has arrived. The leaves are changing, cozy sweaters are coming out of storage, and the smells of pumpkin lattes and apple-cinnamon fill the air.

Is your apartment or dorm room ready to join the festivities? Decorating for the season can be as easy as draping autumn throws over chairs and displaying autumn leaves, pinecones, gourds, and festive lights. We're here to help you make the most of the season with these easy and cheap fall decor ideas.

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The Best Fall Decorations You Need This Season

Fall Welcome Mat

Our Recommendation: Calloway Mills Fall Colors Doormat


Changing your welcome mat is one of the first steps to greeting a new season and friends at the same time. This fall doormat will help you get in the spirit and serve as a reminder to make the most of these three months that will soon give way to winter.

Artificial Pumpkins

Our Recommendation: Winlyn 7-Piece Assorted Decorative Orange Pumpkins


Fall without pumpkins is, well, really not fall at all. So bring these seven assorted-sized foam pumpkins out every year and create an instant realistic-looking display. Add pinecones, sunflowers, maple leaves, and scented candles to make fall pumpkin decor the centerpiece of your room.

Artificial Gourds and Leaves

Our Recommendation: DomeStar Artificial Gourds, Leaves, and Pinecone Decorations


This fall room decor set contains just about everything you need to bring this special season into your apartment or dorm. First, create an autumn garland or basket with these mini-pumpkins, pinecones, gourds, and acorns that bring lifelike beauty to your space. Then, add the 30 silk maple leaves to the display or place them throughout your room.

Maple Leaf Fall Lights

Our Recommendation: Camlinbo 3-Pack Maple Leaf Fall Lights 30 Feet


What's better than maple leaves and fairy lights for your fall room decor? String these autumn maple leaf garlands around windows, on mantels, across tables, and around doorways. Let your imagination soar. Lights can flash or remain steady, and battery-operated means no cords to mess with.

Orange String Lights

Our Recommendation: Brizled 100-Count Orange String Lights 21 Feet


Here's an interior decorator's secret, at least for those with a sense of whimsy: There's no such thing as too many fairy lights. The best news is that it's so easy to change the mood of your room by changing the color of your lights. These incandescent orange lights are perfect for fall and Halloween.

Fall Maple Leaf Garland

Our Recommendation: Tiny Land 2-Pack Fall Maple Leaf Garland


Made of delicate silk, these two 6-feet maple leaf garlands look like real fallen leaves. Connect the strands to create one long garland to frame your doorway, windows, and bed frame, or make shorter ones that can encircle bowls, baskets, and other fall room decor.

Autumn Candle

Our Recommendation: Yankee Candle Large Autumn Wreath Candle


Nothing says autumn more than a fall-colored candle that fills a room with the scent of cinnamon and apples. This Yankee candle is over 6-inches high and the glass jar is 100% recyclable. Use this candle as a table centerpiece or include it with your other fall displays.

Flameless LED Candles

Our Recommendation: Hanzim Flameless Flickering Ivory LED Candles 9-Pack


If you're living in the dorms, there's a good chance that lit candles are not allowed. You can, however, still create the ambiance candlelight brings. These flameless flickering LED pillar candles come in nine different sizes. Even better? They're battery-powered and remote-controlled.

Fall Wreath

Our Recommendation: YNYLCHMX Fall Wreath 18"


This farmhouse-style 18-inch front door wreath consists of lifelike fall foliage, miniature pumpkins, and berries. Like doormats, placing different wreaths on your front door with the changing seasons is a great way to celebrate the coming festivities that each stage brings. It's also fun to add your own designs.

Orange Knitted Blanket

Our Recommendation: Home Soft Things Orange Throw Knitted Blanket


Every season needs a cozy, decorative throw blanket. This 50-by-60-inch soft, burnt-orange throw goes perfectly with other fall colors and looks classic and inviting when draped over chairs or across the foot of your bed. The knitted-tweed design is made of plush, microfiber polyester.

Fall Dish Towel Set

Our Recommendation: DII Fall Collection Plaid Dishtowel Set 2-Piece


Add a touch of fall to the kitchen or next to the sink in your dorm room, with two 18-by-28-inch dish towels. Made of 100% cotton, their festive design of leaves and fall foliage alongside pumpkin-colored plaid reminds you it's the season of thanksgiving, despite needing to do the dishes.

Autumn Tree Mug

Our Recommendation: 3dRose Fall Tree With Leaves Multicolor Mug


Is there anything better than celebrating each season with a corresponding mug? As you're sipping your hot apple cider, pumpkin-spiced vanilla coffee, or cranberry and hibiscus tea, this mug will remind you that the falling leaves of autumn will soon give way to winter. So, celebrate each season while you can.

Autumn Throw Pillows

Our Recommendation: ZJHAI Fall Throw Pillows Set of 4


Pillow covers offer another excellent trick for changing a room's decor every season while staying within your budget. These four cotton linen 18-by-18-inch pillow covers easily slip on existing pillows on your bed, armchair, or couch. The covers show pumpkins, a classic farm truck, and falling autumn leaves.

Pumpkin Print Comforter

Our Recommendation: AMWAN Pumpkin Print Comforter


In many places, fall starts to bring a chill in the air, which means it's the perfect time to switch your bedding from a lightweight blanket to a cozy comforter. This 100% cotton twin-size duvet cover set can add a touch of fall bedroom decor with cute cartoon pumpkins splashed across your bed.

Autumn Checkered Rug

Our Recommendation: Unique Loom Autumn Collection Checkered Rug 5 x 8 Feet


Nothing makes a dorm room or college apartment look a little classier than an area rug that matches the season's colors. This 5-by-8-foot warm-toned rug brings a chic yet rustic look to any room. The power-loomed weave also makes it look soft and inviting.

Pumpkin Wall Art

Our Recommendation: Sunflower Pumpkin Wall Art 12x12 Inch 4 Panels


Fun fall wall decor adds more whimsy to your already striking autumn showcase. These four 12-by-12-inch panels can be displayed horizontally, vertically, or in a square, demonstrating your unique artistic flair. The canvas watercolor paintings feature sunflowers, pumpkins, and autumn foliage.

3D Moon Lamp

Our Recommendation: Mind-glowing 3D Moon Lamp 16 LED Colors


This beautiful and surprisingly realistic 4.7-inch moon nightlight can take you from fall into winter and beyond with 16 colors to choose from and five different brightness levels. It replicates the moon's surface while resting on a wooden stand and runs on rechargeable batteries. Pretty awesome.

'Drink Up, Witches' Kitchen Sign

Our Recommendation: ArogGeld Drink Up Witches Rustic Wall Sign


Did someone say fun? This 12-by-12-inch wooden sign is perfect for fall door decor or to hang on a wall or window. Black background with twinkling stars highlights a witch's hat and a toast, "Drink Up, Witches." It adds the perfect touch to the season of the witch.

Pumpkin Night Light

Our Recommendation: Roman 7" Pumpkin Night Light


Switching out your night lights is yet another trick in the art of seasonal interior design. This 7-inch glittering pumpkin night light can take the place of your summer surfer or sailboat night light before giving way to the snowflake that offers light in winter's darkness.

Fall Maple Leaf Table Runner

Our Recommendation: Besslly Fall Maple Leaf Table Runner


This beautiful 13-by-72-inch fall table runner provides rustic autumn leaves over lace-knitted craft with scalloped edges. If you're looking for classy elegance that reminds you of the holidays of the season yet aligns with a tight college budget, this is the perfect table runner for you.

Decorative Fall Books With Wooden Truck

Our Recommendation: ORIENTAL CHERRY Fall Decorative Books With Twine


You are, after all, in college, which means that fall room decor designed to resemble books is, well, kind of perfect. A wooden pumpkin truck sits atop three faux books in autumn colors tied together with twine. The books are aptly titled Pumpkin Spice, Apple Cider, and Falling Leaves.


Feature Image: Melissa Ross / Moment / Getty Images

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