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Yesterday, I stood on my front porch as I waved goodbye to my mother. The wind was blowing, the temperature dropping, and I was barefoot without a coat. When I hurried inside, I was greeted with a serene peace—the house was clean, a candle lit, and the tone warm and inviting. It surprised me. Cozy doesn’t have to cost anything—it can come from simple touches, a little organization, and intention.
Oftentimes, while we can have the best of intentions in our homemaking, we struggle to find the peace through the clutter that lives in our homes. It’s one of the biggest challenges we face as homemakers. Clutter is more prevalent now than ever before, with consumerism at an all-time high.
Walking into a cluttered home leaves the mind cluttered. When you can’t find what you’re looking for or have no space to set things down, frustration follows. Taking time to organize and put away what you already own instantly makes your space feel calmer and more inviting.
If this sounds like you, then maybe it’s time to de-clutter. Here’s a post that can help you get started.
For those of you who have already decluttered and are ready to make your home cozy for fall on a budget, check out these tips below.
1 | Use What You Already Have
There are certain things from our childhood that always made home…home. My mother’s little touches made our house feel magical, even as we moved nearly 20 times! My mother is a crafter, and she was always doing crafts with me all year long, which meant we always had some homemade decorations.
Use what you already have in the home to make it feel cozy. Whether that’s old fabric or even old clothes or sheets made into new fall pillow cases. You could use old mason jars to decoupage them into votive candle holders.
You don’t have to buy a single thing to bring the season in. A few scraps of flannel can become a simple banner for your mantel. An old sweater that’s seen better days can be cut and tied into the sweetest little pumpkins for your coffee table. Even chipped mugs or mismatched teacups can hold tealights and cast a warm glow on your counters.
The truth is, coziness doesn’t have to come from a store. Often, the simplest things—the ones already tucked in the back of your cupboards—are the very things that make our homes feel warm, welcoming, and a little bit magical.
You can also check out this post for more ideas.
2 | Add Cozy and Warm Light
Having a warm glow can transform your home. Harsh, bright lights take away from the ambiance. Using soft lamp lighting or candles creates a cozy, inviting space—even without buying anything new.
Instead of using all the overhead lights all the time, use the lamps you already have. You can also pull out last year’s Christmas lights a little early and hang them around the windows. You can even get crazy and put a lamp on the counter in the kitchen, heck, even in the bathroom!
Making these spaces more calm with soft lighting will also help calm your family’s nervous systems and give them the chance to truly relax in this busy season with school starting, holidays coming, and busy schedules. It truly gives them a chance to relax and recharge.
3 | Bring the Outdoors In
Nature is another free gift if you’re willing to bring it inside. A simple walk outdoors can yield pinecones, branches, or even a handful of acorns that look beautiful tucked into a bowl or gathered in a basket for an instant centerpiece. If you’ve got apples or oranges on hand, you can dry a few slices in the oven and string them up as a rustic garland — the look (and scent!) is pure autumn charm.
Pressed leaves taped to a windowpane or framed between glass can create the sweetest seasonal artwork, casting warm colors when the light shines through. And for those who enjoy a hands-on project, try crafting your own wreath from sticks and twigs. It takes a bit of patience, but the finished piece is one-of-a-kind.
4 | Add Inviting Scents
If you’re craving that cozy fall scent, put those nearly-empty spice jars to work. Toss cinnamon sticks, cloves, or nutmeg into a simmer pot with apple peels or orange rinds, and before long, your whole home will smell like autumn.
Have old candles tucked away? Before you toss them, see if any can be repurposed for the season. Even the smallest remnants can be melted down into a fresh jar or mug for a simple, homemade touch. And let’s be honest—many of us still have essential oils lingering from the 2010s (or is that just me?). Dust off the diffuser and fill your home with those warm, spicy blends once again.
You can even add in cozy scents by baking a pie or some cinnamon cookies. A home filled with baked goods is always a home filled with coziness, warmth, and love.
5 | Small Touches Matter
Home isn’t just a place, it’s a feeling. It’s found in the little things we do each day. A lamp left on softly glowing, a warm drink in hand, a favorite blanket draped across the couch. These simple touches turn our houses into sanctuaries.
Add a few extra pillows to the couch or beds, or surprise the kids with a cozy reading fort strung with twinkle lights. Make hot chocolate or tea a nightly ritual as you gather to read your Bibles together. Shift your meal plan toward warm, filling foods, and if you can, start the day with a hearty breakfast. Those small choices wrap your family in the warmth of home, carrying it with them wherever they go.
Intentions matter, and even the smallest ones make a difference. A cozy home truly doesn’t require a big budget, just a willing heart and simple touches offered with love. When we remember that our greatest purpose within these walls is to serve God by serving our families, even the tasks that once felt overwhelming begin to feel lighter. Every candle lit, every meal prepared, every pillow fluffed becomes an act of worship as we honor Him in the way we keep our homes.
If this post has encouraged you, I’d love for you to find even more cozy, budget-friendly fall ideas over on our Pinterest. And if you’d like daily encouragement and real-time conversations with other homemakers walking this same journey, come join us in The Homemaker’s Corner on Facebook. We’d love to welcome you there.
Hello! I'm Amanda Elizabeth, creator of The Homemaker's Cottage. As a homemaker I have constantly felt the pull between old fashioned homemaking and the fast paced world we live in today. So I created The Homemaker's Cottage: a stress-free space between the old in the new, where there is no judgement and we can learn that homemaking can be relevant, easy and even enjoyable.
Join me on this journey to serve God, your family, and begin homemaking from where you are.
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