15 Pretty Ideas For Decorating Hay Bales For Fall

In this post, I want to share some cute ideas for decorating hay bales for fall with you! I would also like to share a few easy tips on how to style and create a charming fall porch or courtyard. I love decorating our courtyard for each season! Fall and Christmas decorations are my FAVORITES!!

This post is about decorating hay bales for fall and tips on styling a charming fall porch or courtyard.

Decorating hay bales for fall with white lanterns and orange pumpkins

The very first thing that I like to do is hop on Pinterest and look for some cute fall porch decor ideas. I save a bunch of cute pins on Pinterest and then create a fun “mood board” for myself! Once I create a mood board and know what I need, I start ordering each piece!

Fall wreath and garland on a black arched front door with hay bales, pumpkins and mums in our courtyard

Fall Decorating With Hay Bales

Our fall courtyard with pumpkins, mums and a wreath on the front door

If you are looking to add a touch of fall charm to your home this season, here are some tips on how to style a charming Fall porch or courtyard. First, think about the theme of your décor. If you want to go with a fall motif, then you might want to go for cozy and comfortable decorations like hay bales and pumpkin patches.

Large hay bale decorations with pumpkins and lanterns in our fall courtyard

You can also go for neutral colors like browns and neutrals or opt for brighter shades like oranges and reds. Finally, make sure to add some natural elements like leaves, branches, and acorns to really bring the season alive.

Boxwood topiary in a white urn with mini pumpkins and yellow mums

15 Pretty Ideas For Decorating Hay Bales For Fall

1. Start Decorating Your Front Door With Wreaths And Garlands

Fall wreaths on our double iron front doors with pumpkins

Fall wreath on an iron gate with pumpkins in our courtyard

Eye catching front door decorations are one of the first things you can do to welcome the fall season. There are a few easy and stylish ways to get started.

Personally, I love decorating our front door and gates with colorful fall wreaths and garlands! I have been using Balsam Hill products for several years! I love the Balsam Christmas wreaths, as well as their lovely fall and spring wreaths and garlands.

Fall wreath and garland on an arched iron gate

Besides their beautiful designs, I love the quality of their artificial flowers, topiaries, wreaths, and garlands. They last a long time, and they are very “low maintenance”, which I LOVE (LOL)!!!

When I first saw this beautiful 28″ Apple Spice Wreath and the 6′ Apple Spice Garlands, I fell in love with them right away! I love the two toned fall apples and cinnamon sticks attached to them!

Close up of a fall wreath with apples, hydrangeas and maple leaves

These wreaths and garlands include beautiful hydrangeas, maple leaves, and oak leaves with intertwining vines. These wreaths and garlands have gorgeous, rich fall colors and they give you the perfect “fall look” for your porch or courtyard!!!

Balsam Hill Apple Spice wreath on an iron gate

If you are looking for a beautiful fall door wreath, you will love this design! I think they look even nicer in person than what you see in the pictures! I also think this elegant Balsam Hill garland will look amazing on a fireplace mantel. You can add the matching wreath on top of your fireplace for a complete look!

Fall wreath and garland on our courtyard gate

We also love two of these beautiful Balsam Hill “Outdoor Boxwood Spiral Topiary” in our courtyard. We put them into our white flowerpots and placed some cute mini pumpkins around them! You can take a look at the entire Balsam Hill Topiary collection.

Boxwood spiral topiary with pumpkins and mums by the front door

2. Buy Different Size Hay Bales

I have to say…, I LOVE the big size hay bale in our courtyard this year! It helped to complete the look of our courtyard fall decor. I originally bought some medium and small size hay bales. When I brought them home, Matt said they looked “too small” for what we had in mind!

Fall decorating with hay bales, orange pumpkins, white lanterns and red mums

I thought about ordering some straw bales on Amazon first… then I realized most of those straw bales were too small. We looked up hay bale farms and ranches in Phoenix to find bigger size hay bales.

The ranch was about a 35 minute drive from our house. I’m so glad we made the trip to the ranch and got the perfect size hay bale for our courtyard.

Start by selecting the right hay bale. There are all sorts of different types of hay bales on the market, so it’s important that you find one that suits your specific needs.

Some people prefer straw hay bales because they give the impression of being rustic and cool, while others prefer soft hay bales that are more comfortable to sit on. It’s also important to consider the size and shape of your porch or courtyard when choosing which type of hay bale to buy.

Large hay bale decorations are a little easier as you have a wider surface to work on…however, you can still decorate your small hay bales if you have a smaller space to work with! Large or small hay bales will help you design a festive fall porch. Once you’ve bought your hay bale, it’s time to start decorating!

Fall decorating ideas with hay bales, mums, white and orange pumpkins and a lantern

Here are my favorite fall decorating ideas with hay bales:

Buy different size hay bales and place them together. This is a great way to create different heights and dimensions.
Place a few big and small size pumpkins on top and the bottom parts of your hay bale.
Mix and match your pumpkin colors
Place some colorful autumn flowers around in opposite corners of the hay bales.
Place one or two lanterns on top of the hay bales
Fill up your lanterns with mini pumpkins or place only one little pumpkin inside each lantern if your lantern is small.
Use natural materials like wood, bark, leaves, and twigs to create a rustic look. You can even hang pieces of branches from the bales to create an extra layer of texture and dimension.
Mix things up by incorporating different colors and textures throughout your design.

If you are looking for round hay bale decorating ideas, you can click here to get some ideas!

3. Stack Up Pumpkins In White, Orange Or Other Colors

One way to add some fall charm to your outdoor space is to stack up white pumpkins, orange pumpkins, or any other colors you have lying around. You can also use these pumpkins as a focal point for your decorating ideas.

You can either place them around your hay bales (like what I did), put them on the ground near a fire pit, or place them around the comfortable seating area. For a more rustic look, you can simply leave them stacked up on your porch or courtyard without any additional decorations.

Orange pumpkins on the courtyard floor for fall

And finally, don’t forget about the other colors of the pumpkin spectrum! You can experiment with all sorts of different shades and hues to come up with a unique look that’s right for your space. I bought our pumpkins from our local Whole Foods and a few other pumpkins from Trader Joe’s.

4. Use Corn Husks And Wheat Stalks

Pumpkins on landscape rocks with dried corn stalks in our courtyard

Decorative corn husks are another brilliant idea for creating a cozy porch during Fall. You can either buy decorative corn stalks or grab some fresh ones from your local store.

Indian corn in a woven basket on a hay bale

Once you choose your corn stalks, you can stick them into a cute woven basket (like mine). You can also create a fun arrangement on your hay bales with your corn stalks. Some people like to arrange them like a fun bouquet and place them in a vase. If that’s what you like to do, make sure to tie the stalks together firmly so they don’t blow away in the wind!

Some people love to create a fun centerpiece with corn stalks. To create a cornstalk centerpiece, start by gathering a few sturdy stalks of corn. Then, tie the stalks together using some twine or wire mesh to make a cute arch. You can also paint them any color you like and add a bit of detail with leaves and flowers.

5. Add Some Pinecones

Woven basket of pinecones and dried oranges on a hay bale

Pinecones are a beautiful way to add some autumnal character to your hay bale decor. Here are a few ideas on how you can style a porch or courtyard with pinecones:

Woven basket with pinecones and mini pumpkins on a hay bale

Find a cute woven or mesh basket and place your pinecones in the basket.
Place your pinecone basket on the hay bale next to your pumpkins.
You can also place your basket on the porch or courtyard for a rustic look.
You can add a few pinecones to each hay bale.
Put pinecones in a vase, add some flowers on top, and place the pinecone vase next to the hay bale.

6. Place Colorful Fall Mums Next To Hay Bales

Ahhhh! I LOVE fall mums!!! I don’t think your outdoor fall decor is complete without fall mums! They add the most beautiful splash of bright colors to your fall porch or courtyard. I think these beautiful flowers are the perfect element for adding a pop of brightness to any space!!

Orange mums with orange and white pumpkins

I love yellow and burgundy and white mums. Every year we stop at our local Home Depot to buy our fall mums. They are always bloomed and look perfect! For some reason, they were not bloomed this year! I bought them anyway… While we are waiting for them to bloom, we bought some other beautiful fall flowers to bring bright colors to our courtyard.

Once you’ve picked out your mum, it’s time to start decorating! You can scatter them around the edge of your hay bale (like mine), or simply place them next to your pumpkins or your lanterns.

7. Decorate With Fall Foliage

If you’re looking to add some Fall foliage to your porch or courtyard, here are a few ideas:

Faux fall foliage garland with apples and leaves

Add a few potted plants in bright colors like orange, yellow, and red.
Hang dried autumn leaves from the ceiling or doorways.
Install a lattice fence made out of dried fall leaves or branches.
Use faux fall foliage garland like our Balsam Hill Fall foliage garland or find something similar at your local store or Amazon.

Related Post: Capri Blue and White Thanksgiving Tablescape

Front door with a fall garland, wreath, pumpkins and mums

8. Add A Couple Of Woven Or Bamboo Baskets

Pinecone basket and pumpkins on a hay bale with orange mums

If you’re looking to add a bit of personality to your porch or courtyard during the fall season, consider using woven baskets as your decor. Woven baskets are simple but elegant pieces that can be used in a variety of ways.

Woven basket with pinecones next to white and orange pumpkins

Here are a few tips for styling a woven basket:

Add them to the corner of your porch or courtyard.
Fill them with leaves, acorns, ornaments, or any other fall decoration you like.
Hang them from the railing or support beams nearby to give them some extra height and a great visual.
Place battery operated candles inside the baskets if you want to create a cozy and romantic atmosphere.

Woven baskets with dried corn, pinecones and pumpkins

9. Fill A Lantern With Cute Pumpkins

Fill your lanterns with cute fresh or faux pumpkins. This is another cute idea you want to explore while decorating your front porch for Fall.

White lantern on a hay bale with mums and pumpkins

You’ll need a lantern and a couple of cute pumpkins of different colors to make this happen. You’ll also need small battery powered lights to provide lights in the lantern. The lights project the colors of the pumpkins, giving you a nice decor for your porch.

Lantern filled with white mini pumpkins on a hay bale

10. Place A Fall Doormat

Fall doormats are another great idea for your outdoor porch or courtyard decoration. With colorful pumpkins and foliage all over the place, you will want to make a welcome statement to your guest with your doormat.

Fall doormat by the front door with pumpkins and yellow mums

You could also put bright orange pumpkins around your doormat to make it look more charming and welcoming. You might decide to buy a doormat that says “welcome to fall” or other cute fall doormats.

11. Add A Wooden Ladder Next To Your Hay Bales

One of the best ways to add a touch of rustic charm to your fall porch or courtyard is by adding a wooden ladder. This can be done in a number of ways, but the best way to do it is by installing it against one of the walls and attaching it with brackets.

This will give you plenty of space to hang your baskets, wreaths, and other decorations. This simple addition will add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your outdoor space.

There are so many different styles of wooden ladders to choose from, so it’s up to you to find the one that suits your needs and tastes.

I love the vintage style ladders. Unfortunately, I was not able to find one from our local stores. You can add fall foliage to the side rails and decorate the ladder.

12. Hang Lights

I love hanging string lights in our courtyard and backyard! We usually hang these lights during the Christmas season. However, I love having these lights as part of our outdoor fall decorations. You do not need to have a large front porch to consider hanging the string lights.

I think they look so beautiful even on a small balcony or front yard. The idea is to make your front porch or courtyard welcoming throughout this season. I think this is one of those great fall decor ideas that you can’t miss!

13. Create A Cozy Corner

A cozy corner makes your front porch decor look so charming! You can decorate this by putting a simple chair with cozy throw blankets in a corner. You can have your fall foliage garland hanging over the chair. Or you can place a cute basket around the corner and add some pinecones or fall leaves. It is always a good idea to add a cute lantern next to the chair for a bit of a personal touch.

White urn with a topiary, mini pumpkins and mums in a cozy corner

14. Add A Splash Of Spooky

Porches and courtyards are the perfect places to inject a bit of “spooky” into your autumn decor. Here are some ideas for how to style a porch or courtyard that will bring the Halloween spirit alive:

Install some cobwebs and spider webs throughout the space.
Hang skeleton heads from the courtyard trees, ceiling or walls.
Create a Franken Forest out of fake leaves, branches, and logs.
Install a fall themed lighting scheme that includes fun glowing pumpkins.

15. Keep Your Hay Bales Up Through Thanksgiving

I never take our hay bales down right after Halloween. Once October is over, I just put the spooky stuff away and bring out more white and orange pumpkins, a few extra mums and some wheat stalks for Thanksgiving. It’s the same hay bales, but it feels like a whole new setup, and I get almost another month out of them.

Hay Bales Or Straw Bales: Which One Should You Buy?

A lot of people (me included!) use these two words like they mean the same thing. They’re actually a little different. Hay is dried grass that farmers feed to animals, so it’s softer and greener, and it still has seeds in it. Straw is the dry, golden stalk that’s left after grain is harvested. It’s lighter and holds its shape a lot better outside.

For decorating, I’d pick straw. I love that golden color, it doesn’t fall apart as fast, and since there are no seeds, it’s less likely to bring bugs and mice around. Most of the “hay bales” you see at garden centers and craft stores are really straw anyway.

How To Stack Hay Bales So They Look Full

Stacking them sounds easy, but it makes a big difference in how full everything looks. Here’s what I do:

I put the biggest bale in the back and the smaller ones in front or off to the side.
I like to set a smaller bale on top of a bigger one and push it a little to one side. Bales that are perfectly lined up look like a block.
I stick to two or three colors. Orange, white and a little burgundy is my favorite combo.
One big pumpkin on top goes a long way. Then I fill in around it with the smaller ones.
I always leave some straw showing. If you cover every inch, you lose the whole hay bale look!

How To Protect Hay Bales Outside

We don’t get a lot of rain in Arizona, but when a bale gets wet, it can start to break down and smell pretty fast. A few easy things help:

Set your bales on a wood pallet, pavers or a few bricks so they’re not sitting in water.
If you have a porch roof or overhang, tuck them under it.
Use faux pumpkins in any spot that gets wet. Real ones sitting on damp straw can rot from the bottom.
Skip real candles. Straw catches fire really fast, so I only use battery operated candles in our lanterns.
Keep bales away from fire pits and patio heaters, and please don’t use them as seats around a fire.

Bottom Line

Fall is an exciting season to get creative with your decorations. Your front porch or courtyard is a great place to start decorating for fall and bring the new season vibes and excitement into your home. If you are planning to decorate your porch or courtyard for fall, I hope this post was helpful to you! Comment below and let me know if you have any great tips to decorate your porch or courtyard!

Decorating Hay Bales For Fall FAQ

How Do I Decorate The Outside Of My House For Fall?

Start off by decorating your front door with wreaths and garlands.
Buy a few different size hay bales to create different heights.
Place your pumpkins on the top and bottom part of each hay bale.
Buy a few fall woven baskets and place a few pumpkins in the basket.
Buy some fall mums and fall flowers and place them by your front door or the pumpkins.
Buy cute outdoor lanterns and place them by the door.
Hang string lights.
Create a cozy corner on your porch.
Use a wooden ladder.
Place a fall doormat.
Add a splash of “spooky”.

How Long Do Hay Bales Last Outside For Decoration?

If you keep your bales out of moisture, they can last a long time (sometimes for over 1 to 2 years). However, if they get rained on, they will start breaking down.

Does Home Depot Sell Straw Bales?

Yes, you can buy decent size hay bales from Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, or a local farmers’ market or ranch.

What Do You Do With Decorative Hay Bales After Halloween And Fall?

You can use them for your porch decor after Halloween. You can place some beautiful flowerpots and outdoor decorations on the bale. If you don’t want to have the bales in your courtyard after the fall season is over, you can send them off to your local compost in your town/city. Every year we ask our landscaper to take our hay bales with him. That is another option to consider when you are trying to get rid of your bales.

How Do You Keep Decorative Hay Bales From Falling Apart?

To preserve fall hay bales wrap them tightly with net wrap or plastic twine. It’ll prevent the hay bale from sagging. The plastic twine also helps prevent weathering and insects.

Can You Leave Hay Bales Outside In The Rain?

A little rain is okay, but bales that stay wet will start to mold, smell and fall apart. Set them on a pallet or bricks, keep them under a porch roof if you can, and let them dry out after a storm.

Do Hay Bales Attract Bugs Or Mice?

Real hay can, because it still has seeds in it. Decorative straw bales are much less likely to bring pests around, and keeping them dry and off the ground helps a lot too.

Is It Safe To Put Candles On Hay Bales?

I wouldn’t use real candles anywhere near hay or straw, because it catches fire so easily. Battery operated candles and string lights are the safer way to add a little glow at night.

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Sherry, xoxo