4 Outdated Fall Decor Trends Designers Say To Skip

Just like with any holiday or season, fall decor can be timeless, but it also has its own micro-trends. Over the past few years, more and more designers have been leaning into natural textures, rich colors, and cozy accents—which means that they’ve been taking a step back from other elements. Before you put out your decorations this year, it might be time to do an audit for these outdated trends.

Harvest Overload

Social media may convince you that you need an entire pumpkin patch on your front porch, but Cheyenne Wilson, founder of Eldest Daughter Interiors in The Woodlands, Texas, insists that it’s unnecessary. “Hay bales stacked on porches, bundles of faux corn stalks, and gourds in every corner can leave a home feeling more staged than lived in,” she explains. “Most of us don’t live on a farm, and we don’t need to pretend we do.”

You can still make a statement without turning your home into a barn with more intentional accents. Think about it like this: If you have a room full of bright colors, you don’t know where to look, but if you just have pops of bright colors, then your eye is immediately drawn to them.

Faux Everything

Running to the craft store to pick up papier-mâché pumpkins and faux spiderwebs is always going to be an option, but the chances that they’ll end up in a landfill sooner rather than later are high. And in the age of minimalism, it’s worth asking whether or not you want to store this decor all year for a couple of months of use.

“When chatting with clients about transitioning the vibe of their home from summer to fall, I encourage them to think about what would be helpful and non-wasteful,” says Emily Davis, founder of Emily Davis Interiors in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Grabbing a branch of seasonal color from their yard, or swapping their dryer sheet holder for a tortoiseshell box, ensures that their homes continue to support their daily life while nodding to the changing season.”

Buffalo Check

“Buffalo check used to feel festive, but now it reads more like a costume,” Wilson claims. “When it shows up on every single pillow and blanket, it takes away from the texture and color that make a room feel lived in.”

In lieu of the bold, high-contrast pattern, Wilson recommends softer prints, like a muted plaid or feminine floral. Even solid throws in earthy shades can create the same coziness, she says. Chances are, these options will also match your everyday decor better, making your space more cohesive and intentional.

“Farmhouse Fall” Signs

Though they once felt charming, we don’t need signs reminding us to “gather” or “be thankful.” As the old saying goes, it’s usually more effective to show instead of tell. “A house doesn’t need a scripted reminder to feel welcoming,” Wilson says. “A framed, handwritten recipe or the smell of seasonal bakes cooling on the counter says it better than any sign ever could.”