10 Interior Design Ideas Best for Staying On Trend this Fall

Autumn is upon us, which means that hosting and entertaining season is kicking into high gear. If you have an upcoming dinner party or festive brunch, and you need inspiration and on trend interior design ideas for fall entertaining, look no further. Our correspondent Meredith Lepore has curated a list of 10 tabletop ideas and home décor buys to usher in the fall season.

What’s the best easy and on trend interior design refresh this fall?

Pumpkins for fall? Groundbreaking. But it depends on what color the pumpkins are. It is hard to believe that the season of fall entertaining is here (although we saw Candy Corn being sold at our local supermarket, so maybe its actually not so hard to believe.)

Like or not, when the Halloween candy shows up at the grocery store, it means you need to start thinking about your fall home décor, especially tabletop items. Nothing makes for a good dinner party like an imaginative and elegant tablescape.

While of course you’re free to go with the tried and true (leaves, pumpkins, gourds and mums), why not aim higher? We’re talking next level autumnal aesthetics, people.

If you have an upcoming dinner party or festive brunch on the calendar this fall – or you just love the season and want to surround yourself with all things autumn – we’re sharing inspiration and on trend interior design ideas. Don’t wait too long to get started, though. Those autumn winds are already beginning to blow.

10 on trend interior design ideas for upgrading your fall home décor and tabletop this year

1. Dried flower arrangements

Ok, maybe fall florals aren’t groundbreaking. But dried fall florals on a gorgeous autumn table are. You can definitely DIY a fall-hued bouquet (just make sure to combine different heights and colors to add texture and volume). Gather your own preserved flowers, grasses and branches, or opt to purchase a ready-made one. Like this Yellow & Orange Pampas Grass Dried Palm Spear Floral Vase Arrangment. Or this Wildflower Elopement Bouquet, which could easily be easily placed in a vase. 

BUY NOW – $33.08.

2. “Crustacean-core” for fall

Even though we associate the beach and all of its creatures with summer, it doesn’t mean we can’t bring them with us into fall.

Believe it or not, Etsy saw an uptick in searches for “Crustacean-core” throughout the fall last year. And people are searching Etsy for lobster prints 112% more right now than this time last year.

What??? If you have no idea what crustacean-core is, pull up a chair. It’s an aesthetic devoted to all things crustacean – pretty much any sea creature will do. Said another way, its basically how The Little Mermaid would decorate her house. Trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson labeled it “coastal grandma’s bolder, brighter younger sister.” 

So how do you bring this summery look into the fall? Try placing dried fall flowers or pumpkins and gourds in a giant seashell or clam-shaped bowl.

Or, for a beachy centerpiece, add in some faux or real crabs and lobsters with autumn flowers. “The crustacean trend compliments a variety of styles, making it easy to incorporate into existing décor,” Johnson adds. “Crustacean-core is all about adding moments of fun and playfulness to a space. Just enjoy using this trend to create a unique home that’s truly your own.”

For example, this Clam shell from Ballard Designs can be filled with faux fall leaves; assorted pumpkins and gourds; or even Candy Corn.

BUY NOW – $159.20.

Alternatively, you could serve drinks and appetizers on this The World is Your Oyster Lucite Tray from Katie Klime. Perfect for bringing that “Crustacean-core” vibe into the autumn.

BUY NOW – $108.

3. Hot pink Barbiecore

While we are on the “cores,” let’s embrace the most-talked about one this summer: Barbiecore.

You might think of Barbie as the quintessential Cali girl. But Barbie loves all seasons! We have it on good authority that she’s not just all about endless summer. And by the way, pink can be a fall color! Especially when you mix it with traditional fall colors like orange, red, and yellow. 

And yes, they do make hot pink pumpkins in velvet no less, like this one from Maisonette! Velvet pumpkins were all the rage last year and will continue to be a whimsical part of the season. Grab this bunch here from Amazon. 

BUY NOW – Pack of 6 for $19.99.

4. Light Green pumpkins

Speaking of  pumpkins of a different color, how about pale green? You probably don’t want to eat a light green pumpkin (or its seeds). But it could make for a super-elegant table centerpiece. Charleston Crafted asserts that an array of sage green pumpkins will give a chic modern look for a wide variety of fall tablescapes. After all, light green goes perfectly with the classic earth tones of autumn. 

Try these sage green pumpkins ones from West Elm. Or this stunning Herend Cinderella Pumpkin, which would be pretty to display any time of the year, really. 

BUY NOW – $36.

5. Candelabras

With the return of The Addams Family in which the devastatingly elegant Catherine Zeta-Jones takes on the iconic role of Morticia, there is no doubt that Gothic candelabras will be all the rage this fall. We hear the show will actually focus on Wednesday Addams, the most fascinating of the clan (and another fashion icon.) To channel her vibe, try this Scarlet Candelabra from Anthropologie.

BUY NOW – $58.

6. Mostly Ghostly.

Get a jump on Halloween with a table runner that is minimalist and fun. Don’t you think this one is boo-ti-ful?  Black and White Ghost Table Runner, Crate & Barrel.

BUY NOW – $49.95.

7. Bring Nature Indoors

Bringing nature indoors will be a big part of the fall aesthetic this season. Consider starting with a wreath that amplifies the dried flower trend. Like this Fall Harvest Wreath from Williams-Sonoma.

BUY NOW

8. Colored Glass pumpkins

Let’s turn our attention back to pumpkins! You can never have too many at this time of year, and these colored glass pumpkins are festive and fancy at the same time.  West Elm Glass Pumpkins

BUY NOW – $24 – 80.75.

9. All things Hocus Pocus

OK, enough with the elegance, let’s get campy! The weeks before Halloween are high season for campiness, after all. And with that Halloween classic movie, Hocus Pocus, finally getting a sequel, we need to celebrate the Sanderson sisters.

They’re returning to the screen accompanied by memorabilia that will look great on display at your home. From the infamous Boook to the Black Flame Candle (which may actually smell like the Sanderson sisters) you can get your witch on. Hmm. 

BUY NOW – $10.98.

10. Animal Skeletons – or Skeleton Animals.

Who doesn’t want to wake up to a bat skeleton in their living room? As long as it isn’t real, it could be fun. Skeletons are all the rage, according to Google and Etsy searches. And animals in particular seem to be a Thing this year. Like this Teacorn Unicorn Skeleton from Target.

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on trend interior design and home décor items for a fall refresh this year.

That’s our take on the best easy and on trend interior design refreshes for fall entertaining this year. What’s your favorite?

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This article contains affiliate links to products independently selected by our editors. As an Amazon Associate, Dandelion Chandelier receives a commission for qualifying purchases made through these links. 

Meredith Lepore is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist. Her work has appeared in Marie Claire Magazine, Women’s Health, InStyle, Architectural Digest, The Observer, and Travel & Leisure. She earned her Masters in journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Meredith resides in New York full time, and enjoys reading, jogging, spinning, and playing with her small dog, Otis.