Fall Bathroom Decor Ideas to Transform Your Space This Autumn

Fall is officially here and it’s the perfect time to make that warm and cozy bathroom makeover that you’ve been waiting for! I have been decorating bathrooms for years, and I can tell you, nothing can compare to walking into a bathroom that smells like cinnamon and is straight out of a Pinterest post.

What I have for you today are my favorite decorating on a budget tips and tricks that you can use to give your bathroom a cozy fall vibe. These tips are perfect no matter the size of your bathroom, from tiny to large, and, trust me, everyone will be talking about your newly decorated bathroom!

Why Decorate Your Bathroom for Fall?

You may be wondering why you should bother decorating your bathroom. Well, your bathroom is the most visited room in your house and it starts and ends your day. Bathroom decorations are usually easy to switch out and adding a seasonal touch or two will definitely up the vibe.

Design 1: The Classic Pumpkin Patch Bathroom

What fall design is complete without pumpkins? We don’t mean just the plain orange pumpkins you see everywhere.

Mix a variety of colors, including white, cream, and orange, to create a fall decor display with pumpkins of all sizes. Place some smaller pumpkins around the bathroom counters, and add a medium-sized pumpkin next to the bathtub. For a longer-lasting option, use velvet or ceramic pumpkins rather than real pumpkins. I got this idea from my neighbor Sarah. She decorates her bathroom with tiny white pumpkins in a wooden tray she bought at the dollar store, and the whole decor is under $15! One of the tricks I learned from Sarah is that real pumpkins get moldy in the bathroom from the humidity. Use fake pumpkins. If you go with the real pumpkins, use real good ventilation to make the mold go away.

Design 2: Warm and Cozy Towel Swap

The towel swap is a warm and cozy fall trend that is super easy to decorate with, but it has a huge impact. Some good fall color combinations are:

• Burnt orange and cream
• Deep burgundy and beige
• Mustard yellow and gray
• Terracotta and white
• Sage green and brown

I always bring out fall towels in September. Guests always notice, and it makes the whole bathroom feel refreshed. You can’t go wrong with new towels from Target! Fall towels are around $10-15! HomeGoods always has special finds. I found rusty Turkish Towels in HomeGoods last fall.

Design 3: Fall-Scented Candle Corner

Fall candles are a simple way to fill the bathroom with cozy scents!

My favorite scents of fall:

• Cinnamon apple
• Pumpkin spice
• Vanilla chai
• Maple bourbon
• Autumn leaves
• Warm cider
• Scented candles

Use three candles of varying heights. Arrange them on a small wooden tray with scattered miniature pine cones or acorns. Set the candles on the tray when taking a bath—your bathroom will become a spa in no time.

When displaying candles, remember that safety comes first! I know it sounds obvious, but leaving the room with lit candles burning is dangerous! I’ve seen too many close calls to count.

Design 4: Rustic Farmhouse Ladder

This wall decor is trendy for a reason. It’s beautiful and very functional.

Find an old wooden ladder and place it against your bathroom wall. Drape your fall color bath towels over the rungs. You can also hang small baskets over the rungs. Fill the baskets with washcloths.

My sister has a small bathroom and it made the space look larger. It is even a good small bathroom storage idea.

Money saving tip: Use a wooden chair or a sturdier branch from your yard if you can’t locate a wooden ladder.

Design 5: Autumn Shower Curtain Switcheroo

Shower curtains take up WAY too much space and are a dominant decor feature. Switching out a fall shower curtain will make your decor really pop!

Common Fall Trends:
Diagonal/Vertical Stripe Fabric Textiles
Harvest Wreaths
Rustic Wood Designs
Sunflowers
Neutral Color Stripes in Fall Colors
Leaves/Pumpkin and Gourd Patterns

I bought a rust and beige plaid shower curtain on Amazon for $23 and it totally changed the vibe of my bathroom. People think I completely renovated my bathroom!

Design 6: Cozy Bath Mat Refresh

Don’t forget your bath mat. This is seen as the least important part of your bathroom, but it actually carries great significance. You should look for bath mats in:

Color of Deep Orange
Brown, Light and Dark
Gray, Warm
Cream
Burnt Sienna

A shag style bath mat is great for pulling in a warm, cozy vibe, especially in the winter months, after a warm shower. I am completely serious. These little things are important to your self-care and consideration.

Design 7: Fall Foliage in Glass Vases

Fresh or Fake, Branches with Fall Leaves are Stunning.
These are lovely in a bathroom.

What people really like:
Leaves of Autumn Oak
Branches, Maple
Eucalyptus
Pampas Grass, Decoratively Dried
Pampas Grass

A tall, decorative glass vase with branches, either on your sink or a shelf is fabulous. If you decide to use the live branches, I make the water a little less full every few days, and they are great for two weeks.

Design 8: Wooden Accents Everywhere

I prefer to use the faux branches for my guest bath, because they are hassle free and no one will know.

Revamps are easy as a few wooden additions:

Soap Dispenser (Wooden)

Toothbrush Holder (Bamboo)

Mirror (Wood-framed)

Organizer Tray (Wooden)

Stump Stool (Tree Stump)

I scored a great wooden tray from a garage sale for $3. Now I use it as a holder for hand soap, lotion and a succulent. It adds a nice touch to a sink area and makes it more organized and less cluttered.

Design 9: The Gallery Wall of Autumn

Small gallery walls are fun for displaying themed art and are perfect for walls above the toilet or by the mirror.

Ideas for Prints:

“Give Thanks” (calligraphy)

Watercolor (Pumpkins)

Seasonal Quotes

Autumn Leaves (Botanical) Prints

Vintage Harvest (Signs)

I made these prints on Canva, which is a free app. I printed my designs for about $2 each at Staples. Now all you need are frames in black or wood, and you’re good to go.

Design 10: Cozy Lighting Updates

Lighting is really important when changing the mood of a room. Soft and warm lighting is perfect for fall.

Changes are easy with:

Replacement (Bulbs)

Small (Table) Lamp

LED Candles

Dimming (Switch)

Fairy Lights

My bathroom used to look like a hospital. It cost about $15 to make it a cozy cabin with warm lighting.

Design 11: Seasonal Storage Baskets

Woven baskets in fall colors are a fun way to store towels, toilet paper and more seasonal fall toiletries.

Best basket picks:

Wicker

Jute rope

Seagrass

Wire with fabric liner

Baskets can be labeled with cute tags that say “Fresh Towels” or “Guest Essentials”, creating organization, and adding seasonal flair.

I bought three baskets at HomeGoods for less than $30 that have lasted three years. They fit all the seasons depending on the seasonal decor.

Design 12: The Everything Tray

This is my secret trick to making every bathroom look expensive and put-together.

Buy a wood, marble, or ceramic tray and layout hand soap, hand lotion, a small candle, and a fresh rolled hand towel along with a seasonal small item (pumpkin, pine cones, etc.)

This can be placed on the bathroom counter or on the toilet and makes a styled display of layout items that would otherwise look random.

Colors That Make Your Bathroom Feel Like Fall

Not sure how to make a seasonal palette with bathroom colors? Here are a few examples:

Warm & Traditional:

Orange & Brown, Orange & Cream, Brown & Cream

Burgundy, Gold, & Beige

Rust, Mustard, & Tan

Modern & Neutral:

White, Beige, & Copper

Gray, Cream, & Orange

Black, White, & Burnt Sienna

Bold & Different:

Navy, Orange, & Gold

Forest Green, Rust, & Cream

Plum, Copper, & Gray

I take a neutral palette. They look very cozy yet sophisticated. My decor year-round is a mix of white and beige with rust and copper.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Let me tell you some things to watch out for after having some trial and error when starting to decorate for fall.

Do Not Overwhelm A Small Space

Don’t think if your bathroom is small you can throw in a bunch of decorations. Just a few fall decorations will do. One small area would look overwhelmed with a bunch of pumpkins.

Don’t Let Moisture Ruin Things For You

A bathroom and fall create a lot of moisture and can ruin fall decorations that are made out of paper and/or fabric. Those will get ruined and smell bad and musty. Choose decorations that will be moisture friendly.

Don’t Ignore The Style You Already Have

You can’t add a bunch of farmhouse decorations all of a sudden to a bathroom that is already modern and minimalist. Choose fall decorations that are in the same style.

Don’t Go Overboard With Spending

In the next few months you are going to want to change decorations and spend more. Do not drop a fortune now.

Don’t Forget The Purpose

The decorations you choose should make your bathroom pretty, but you can’t block a bathroom storage or counter space with decorations.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple and Cozy

Simple is Better. You don’t need to buy all of the decorations in stores. You can buy 3 to 5 decorations. Choose the ones that get you most excited, and add more if they feel good, but don’t do too much.

The purpose of decorating should be to feel excited and welcomed when seeing the bathroom, and feel the fall season without looking over the top.

After a long day, you want your bathroom to feel like a cozy retreat. Small touches like a burning cinnamon candle, rust colored towels, and a white pumpkin make the difference.

Your bathroom should feel like a cozy retreat where you can relax after a long day. The cinnamon candle burning, the soft rust-colored towels, the little white pumpkin on the counter – these small touches add up to something really special.