Autumn Leaf Decorations: 22 Ideas to Bring Fall Indoors

Updated October 2026 · Home Project Resources

The best autumn leaf decorations use real leaves that you have pressed or preserved, mixed with a few store-bought faux leaves for the spots that need to last all season. Real leaves give color no print can match, and preserving them takes only an afternoon.

Below you will find 22 autumn leaf decorations for the front door, mantel, dining table, walls and windows. Each idea lists materials, effort, and where in the home it works. Before the ideas, there is a short section on gathering and preserving fall leaves for decoration, because that step decides how long everything else lasts.

Gathering Fall Leaves for Decoration

Pick leaves on a dry day, ideally soon after they drop or while they are just starting to turn. Leaves that have been lying wet on the ground for days tend to be brittle, spotted or moldy.

What to look for:

• Leaves with flat surfaces and no holes or dark spots
• A range of colors: green-gold, yellow, orange, red and deep burgundy
• Different shapes: maple, oak, sweetgum, birch and ginkgo all look different on a garland
• Stems still attached, which helps with wiring and hanging

Gather only from your own yard or with permission, and skip any plant you cannot identify. Poison ivy and poison oak turn beautiful colors in fall, so learn what they look like before you go.

Shake leaves gently and spread them on a towel to check for insects before bringing them indoors.

How to Preserve Leaves So Your Decorations Last

Fresh leaves curl and fade within a few days indoors. Choose one of these methods based on how you plan to use them.

Pressing

Lay leaves flat between sheets of paper towel or newsprint and stack heavy books on top. Check after a week. Thicker leaves may need two weeks.

Wax paper and iron

Place a leaf between two sheets of wax paper, cover with a thin towel, and press with a warm, dry iron for a few seconds per side. The wax seals the leaf. Trim around it, leaving a narrow border. An adult should handle the iron.

Glycerin soak

Mix about one part glycerin with two parts water in a shallow pan. Submerge the leaves and weigh them down with a plate. After two to five days, the leaves turn soft and leathery. Blot dry. This is the best method for leaves on a wreath or table, because they bend instead of cracking.

Dipped wax

Melt paraffin or candle wax in a double boiler (never directly on the burner), hold each leaf by the stem, dip quickly, let the drips fall back, and lay it on wax paper to set. This method is for adults only, and the pan should never be left unattended.

Autumn Leaf Decorations for the Front Door and Porch

1. Full leaf wreath

Materials: straw or foam wreath form, glycerin-preserved or faux leaves, floral pins, hot glue, ribbon. Effort: Moderate. Where: front door.

Start at the inside edge and pin leaves in overlapping rows, all facing the same direction, like shingles. Work around the circle until the form is hidden. Add a ribbon loop at the top. For tips on getting it up straight and secure, see how to hang a wreath on a door.

2. Leaf and pinecone wreath

Materials: grapevine wreath, pinecones, preserved leaves, wire, hot glue. Effort: Moderate. Where: front door, covered porch.

Cluster pinecones in three spots and fill between them with leaves. If you want a pinecone-heavy version, our guide on how to make a pinecone wreath walks through the base step by step and adapts easily for fall.

3. Porch post leaf swags

Materials: faux leaf garland, wired ribbon, zip ties or outdoor-safe hooks. Effort: Easy. Where: porch columns and railings.

Outdoors, faux leaves hold up better in wind and rain than real ones. Wrap garland up each post in a loose spiral and add a ribbon bow at the top.

4. Leaf-filled lanterns

Materials: lanterns with glass sides, preserved leaves, small acorns, battery candles. Effort: Easy. Where: porch steps, entry table.

Layer leaves around the base of each lantern and set a battery candle inside. Avoid real flame near dry leaves.

5. Doormat border

Materials: faux leaves, outdoor-safe glue or a tray. Effort: Easy. Where: front step.

Set a shallow tray beside the doormat and fill it with leaves, mini pumpkins and gourds. It reads as a seasonal welcome without blocking the walkway.

Autumn Leaf Decorations for the Mantel and Stairs

6. Classic leaf garland on the mantel

Materials: preserved or faux leaves, twine, a needle, removable mantel hooks. Effort: Moderate. Where: fireplace mantel.

Thread leaves through the stem end onto twine, alternating colors. Make it about one and a half times the width of the mantel so it can drape. Our guide on how to hang garland on a mantel covers hooks and draping without damaging the wood. If you also decorate for Halloween, our Halloween fireplace mantel decor ideas mix well with leaf garland.

7. Layered mantel with candlesticks

Materials: leaf garland, three or five candlesticks in mixed heights, small white pumpkins. Effort: Easy. Where: mantel.

Keep leaves away from the tops of candlesticks; use battery candles if leaves are close by.

8. Staircase leaf garland

Materials: long faux leaf garland, ribbon, clear zip ties or removable ties. Effort: Moderate. Where: stair banister.

Loosely wrap or swag garland down the rail, attaching at every few spindles. For hanging methods that will not scuff the finish, see how to hang garland on a staircase. Keep the top of the handrail clear so it can still be held.

9. Leaf bunting

Materials: large pressed leaves, wax paper, ribbon, small clips. Effort: Easy. Where: mantel front, kitchen window, kids' room.

Seal large leaves with the wax paper method, then clip them along a ribbon like a pennant banner.

Autumn Leaf Decorations for the Table

10. Leaf table runner

Materials: burlap or linen runner, preserved leaves, small gourds, tea lights in glass holders. Effort: Easy. Where: dining table.

Scatter leaves down the center of the runner, then add gourds and candles in a loose line. Keep the arrangement low so people can see each other across the table.

11. Leaf place cards

Materials: large flat pressed leaves, a white or metallic paint pen. Effort: Easy. Where: dining table.

Write each guest's name on a leaf and set it on their plate.

12. Glass cylinder centerpiece

Materials: tall glass vase, a smaller candle holder, fall leaves for decoration, acorns. Effort: Easy. Where: dining table, kitchen island.

Set the small holder inside the large vase and fill the space between with leaves and acorns. The candle glows through the leaves.

13. Leaf-wrapped candle holders

Materials: plain glass jars, pressed leaves, decoupage glue, a brush, battery tea lights. Effort: Easy. Where: table, side table, bathroom counter.

Brush glue onto the jar, press leaves on, and brush a thin layer over the top. When lit with a battery tea light, the leaf veins show through.

14. Dipped-wax leaf bowl filler

Materials: wax-dipped leaves, a wooden bowl. Effort: Easy once leaves are dipped. Where: coffee table, entry console.

Glossy wax-dipped leaves in a wide bowl make a quick seasonal piece.

Autumn Leaf Decorations for Walls and Windows

15. Framed pressed leaf collection

Materials: pressed leaves, a shadow box or float frame, glue dots. Effort: Easy. Where: hallway, living room, home office.

Arrange one leaf from each tree in your yard in a neat grid. Label them if you like.

16. Single oversized leaf in a float frame

Materials: one large pressed maple or sycamore leaf, glass float frame. Effort: Easy. Where: above a console or bed.

One perfect leaf framed in glass looks clean and modern.

17. Window leaf clings

Materials: wax-paper-sealed leaves, removable tape. Effort: Easy. Where: kitchen window, breakfast nook.

Tape sealed leaves to a sunny window. The light shows the colors and veins clearly.

18. Leaf mobile

Materials: a small branch, fishing line, preserved leaves. Effort: Moderate. Where: reading corner, nursery (out of reach), entry.

Tie leaves at different lengths from the branch so they turn in moving air.

19. Leaf garland on open shelves

Materials: short leaf garland, removable hooks. Effort: Easy. Where: kitchen or bookshelves.

Drape short sections across shelf fronts between plates or books.

Fall Leaves for Decoration Around the Rest of the Home

20. Bathroom leaf tray

Materials: a small tray, a few preserved leaves, a candle, a folded hand towel. Effort: Easy. Where: guest bathroom.

21. Headboard leaf garland

Materials: faux leaf garland, removable hooks or ties. Effort: Easy. Where: guest room or main bedroom.

Faux leaves are better than real ones here, since real leaves shed over time.

22. Leaf-filled apothecary jars

Materials: tall glass jars with lids, preserved leaves, acorns, cinnamon sticks. Effort: Easy. Where: kitchen counter, entry table.

Fill jars in layers and set them in a group of three different heights.

How to Choose and Plan Your Autumn Leaf Decorations

Start by picking one or two focal spots, such as the front door and the mantel, then add smaller touches. Spread effort over a few weekends:

1. Week 1: Gather leaves and start pressing and glycerin soaks.
2. Week 2: Make the wreath and the main garland.
3. Week 3: Add table pieces, frames and smaller accents.

Real or faux? Use real preserved leaves for indoor pieces you see up close, like frames and tables. Use faux leaves outdoors and anywhere the piece needs to stay up from early fall through Thanksgiving.

Color choice: A home with cool gray walls looks best with yellows and burgundies. Warm beige or wood-toned rooms suit oranges and deep reds. Mixing all colors is fine for a natural look.

Transition to the holidays: Many leaf pieces can stay through November. In late fall, swap the leaves in the lantern and glass cylinder for pinecones and greenery, and keep the wreath form for a winter version.

Caring for Your Leaf Decorations Through the Season

A little upkeep keeps autumn leaf decorations looking fresh from the first cool week to the end of November.

• Keep pieces out of direct sun. Strong afternoon light fades reds and oranges fastest. A garland on a sunny windowsill will look washed out within a few weeks, while the same garland on a shaded mantel holds its color much longer.
• Watch the humidity. Leaves near a steamy kitchen or bathroom can soften and curl. Glycerin-treated leaves handle humidity best; pressed leaves do better behind glass.
• Dust gently. Use a soft, dry paintbrush or a hair dryer on the cool setting to clear dust from wreaths and garlands. Avoid damp cloths.
• Replace as you go. Keep a small stash of spare preserved leaves in a flat box. When one cracks or fades, swap it out in seconds.
• Store for next year. Faux garlands and wreath forms can be wrapped loosely in tissue and stored in a box with a lid. Preserved real leaves rarely look good a second year, so plan to gather fresh ones each fall.

A quick weekly look around the house is enough. Most displays only need a leaf or two replaced over the whole season.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Using wet or moldy leaves. They spot and smell. Always dry them first.
• Skipping preservation. Fresh leaves curl within days indoors.
• Real flame near dry leaves. Use battery candles in any arrangement with leaves.
• Blocking handrails. Keep the top of a banister open to hold.
• Too many colors and items. A few strong pieces look better than covering every surface.
• Real leaves outdoors. Wind and rain destroy them quickly; use faux leaves outside.
• Damaging walls and wood. Use removable hooks rather than nails on mantels and finished trim.

FAQ

How do you keep fall leaves from crumbling?

Soak them in a glycerin and water mixture for a few days, or seal them between wax paper with an iron. Both methods keep leaves from drying out and cracking.

How long do preserved leaves last?

Glycerin-treated and wax-sealed leaves usually last through the season and often longer if kept out of direct sun. Pressed leaves fade gradually but stay flat for a long time behind glass.

What are the easiest autumn leaf decorations to make?

Leaf place cards, window leaf clings, a leaf table runner and leaf-filled lanterns are all easy and need only a few materials.

Can I use leaves outdoors?

Real leaves break down quickly outdoors. For porch decorations, faux leaf garlands and wreaths hold up much better.

Which leaves are best for decorating?

Maple, oak, sweetgum, ginkgo and birch leaves all work well. Choose flat, unblemished leaves in a range of colors and avoid any plant you cannot identify.

When should I put up autumn leaf decorations?

Many homeowners decorate in late September when leaves start to turn and leave the displays up through Thanksgiving, swapping a few pieces for winter greenery afterward.