Have a hutch? Ready to decorate? Here are 25 hutch decorating ideas for fall including a formula to decorate any hutch in five steps.
Remember this thrift store hutch in my family room?
It doesn’t look like this now.
The hutch has been “fallified.”
That’s the amazing thing about hutches. A few pumpkins and some fluffing and some leaves and you can transform a hutch in minutes.
If you happen to be on Instagram—I’m sharing the before and after video of this hutch today. You can follow along with me on Instagram for all the FALL IDEAS (including the CUTEST blue and white pumpkins I got in the mail yesterday.
But if you aren’t on Instagram and need ideas to decorate your hutch for fall? I’m going to share 25 hutch decorating ideas on the blog today.
I have so many hutch photos and so many ideas and so many ways to have any hutch learn to speak fall.
Starting with this thrift store hutch.
Which now looks like this.
Isn’t it the CUTEST?
Let’s unpack this idea and 24 more.
Fall decorating has never been more fun.
// wheat bundles (similar) // tall wheat bundles (similar) //
25 Fall Hutch Decorating Ideas
Remember that scene in Legally Blonde with the stop, drop and snap?
Decorating a hutch is a lot like that.
It’s the snap, drop and decorate.
There are basic principles with hutch decorating that are easy to follow and when you’re done, you’ll have a perfectly decorated fall hutch…
…or a date with the UPS man.
Take your pick.
//plate hangers //
1. Start with one basic element
When learning how to decorate a fall hutch—start with one shining star. I started with this colorful plate in the center of the display.
It came from Target several years ago.
It was the jumping-off point for hutch number one. I pulled out the blues and reds from the plate and everything else fell into place.
Here are some ideas for central elements:
- a vintage toolbox like this filled with apples and pumpkins
- an oversized white platter with a wreath on the front (just tuck the wreath into the plate rack)
- metal vases filled with leaves from the yard
//plate hangers //
//plate hangers //
//plate hangers //
2. Shop the house
You know when you go to the grocery store and you see the crackers shaped like stars with the cutest containers of dip next to them where the coffee display was last week and you think you yourself that you’ve never noticed them before and that you have to buy them because everyone needs star crackers?
The thing is, those crackers were there all along. The store just moved them where you could see them.
That’s a lot like shopping the house. These blue plates were stacked up in my living room with an acorn on top of them. No one visiting my house probably ever saw them.
But after I moved them to aisle 8?
You couldn’t help but notice them when you pushed your cart by.
Here are some ideas for shopping the house:
- shop the refrigerator for apples and artichokes to add to a centerpiece
- shop your cabinets for dishes you can create a collection with on the hutch
- shop your yard for leaves and pinecones and branches (one of my favorite tips is to glue acorns and mini pinecones onto branches like this)
3. Layer
You want to start with the display in the back.
That’s where the party happens.
Add a back layer to your shelves. You could choose picture frames or platters or cutting boards or a row of white plates like this.
Then add a second layer in front. You could choose vases or pumpkins or pedestals or cloches or milk glass or books or dishes.
You could even add a third layer with a wreath or artwork hung on the outside of the shelves of the hutch.
All those layers give the hutch a depth that makes it feel a little more finished.
Here are a few ideas for layers:
- Keep the color on the hutch the same like these orange pumpkins
- Add a patterned plate in front of a platter
- Group collections together—like this collection of white pitchers
4. Groups of three
I see you nodding. You get it. You understand. If you have watched HGTV for more than five minutes, you’ve already discovered this principle.
It bears repeating.
There’s something about odd number groupings that just makes the eye happy. Five works, too. But it’s so much easier to have three of something than five or seven or nine.
Or 913.
Here are some things to group together:
- groups of cloches
- groups of candlesticks
- groups of pitchers
- groups of acorns
- groups of pinecones
// (similar white houses) //
5. Symmetry
I love symmetry and its best friend, height.
After you’ve chosen your inspiration piece and shopped your house and layered in your pieces and grouped everything in threes, finish it off with a little symmetry on both sides.
In the first hutch, I added metal vases filled with flowers from the yard. In the second hutch, I didn’t have another lamp, so I tried to even it out with color and a grouping of three on the right side and with this hutch, I’ve added corn stalks.
The tall pieces on each side help to frame the hutch display and make it feel like you are a purposeful decorator.
Like you meant it to look just like this.
Because of course, you did.
// (similar white houses) //
// (similar white houses) //
// wheat bundles (similar) // tall wheat bundles (similar) //
6. Layer on top of the hutch
When you’ve decorated the front of the hutch—before you look around and accept your standing ovation?
Look at the top.
Sometimes it needs a little something to bring the eye up like the straw on the top of this hutch.
Here are a few ideas to top off your hutch masterpiece:
- woven corn stalks
- vintage baskets
- vintage tool boxes
- pumpkins
- hay bales
I’m all about hutches for fall.
Can you tell?
Maybe it’s the colors?
Maybe it’s the stop, drop, and decorate principles?
Maybe it’s the decorating opportunities?
All I know is my hutch and I are ready…
….to celebrate fall in style. 🙂
PS If you need any of the sources I used? Just drop a comment below. I’ll send you an email with the link and leave it in the comments here so we can all shop together.
Love all the versatility! and fun changes -- and yes, my favorites are shopping the house and foraging in the yard!!! One quick question: the blue and white saucers are mounted on the back somehow. I don't see the little metal fingers of traditional plate hangers. Will you please share your trickery?
Diane, Of course! There are the best suction hangers for the back of plates! You can find them here: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/VoQK You will LOVE them. But only use them once because they lose their stickiness after the first application! happy day! KariAnne
As always, your decorating ideas never disappoint. You surely have a gift. I loved everyone of the photos. Where did you get those cute little white houses?
Deborah, This is so much fun! I actually got those houses years ago and they are metal. I found some that are super similar but they are paper! You can see them here: https://bit.ly/3P2XdWC Let me know if you need me to source others! Happy day! KariAnne
I love all of your ideas.they are all colorful and easy to do. On another note , in one of your previous post you showed a duvet cover. I ordered the duvet. I love it! It's great quality.
That is my go-to duvet cover!!! It's so soft! I have it on the bed right now! It really washes up nicely! Happy day! KariAnne
It all looks so great! Perfect way to distract from the beastly weather! I too am wondering about hanging those sweet little saucers on the back of the hutch? This has my head spinning so many things I could be hanging up - vintage postcards come to mind.
Of course! There are the best suction hangers for the back of plates! You can find them here: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/VoQK You will LOVE them. But only use them once because they lose their stickiness after the first application! Happy day! KariAnne
Each design is different and I liked them all, but that brushy pumpkin and the stalks in tall vases really caught my eye. Where did you get those? Thanks for sharing so many ideas I'm going to pull some of these looks together, especially the white pumpkins love them.
Diana, You are so sweet! All the stuff you mentioned is super old! But I did some digging and found some that are similar! Here are the links: Long wheat bundles: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Vq5yTall wheat bundles: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/Ut3dWheat stalk: https://www.getgatherings.com/products/small-wheat-bundel?variant=43092913979639 And I'm so sorry! I couldn't find that other pumpkin! Let me know if you need me to source anything else! happy day!KariAnne
Its always so cute at KariAnne's house. Such great ideas and the decorations are so pretty. As much as I shake my fist at the thought of Fall (I'm talking to you September) It does have some vibrant/ bright pretty colors to share. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.
Would LOVE to get the link...thanks!!!
Thanks, these are all so pretty it's hard to pick just one idea.
All your ideas are wonderful. Back in the 90's, we purchased one of those big hutches for our TV. When my hubby broke his leg and was in the hospital, I decided to do something with that hutch/TV cabinet. It also came with 2 side cabinets. So I took it apart, painted it white and redid the shelving. I really like it now as I have quilts and antique toys plus, of course, the flat screen TV. The part where the TV is, I hung a piece of twine across the top and using those small clip on clothes pins, I hung pics, postcards and seasonal items. Most of my ideas come from your website. Time to start changing up for Fall!! Funny thing, it took my hubby a while until he realized there was something different about the TV cabinet!! Oh, if I ever came to visit, I would be unable to come in your front door as it appears you do not have any stair rails.
Then you'll have to come in the back door! There's just one little step! Back door friends are better! Happy day! KariAnne
I look forward to all your posts. You are amazing and talented young woman. Keep up the great work.
KariAnne, you never cease to amaze your readers!! Not only do you continue to inspire us with your gift of brining new ideas to the heart of decorating, your sweet spirit shines through in all you do! THANK YOU!!
We had cool-ish weather this past Friday, and I started to think, hmm, summer coming to an end isn't all bad. I love autumn--it's my favorite. The colorful plate you displayed pulls in a nice bridge of colors between late summer and early fall.
Hi. The link for the plate hangers took me to the old school wire spring and hook in the wall type. Are your the yellow stick on discs that have been around for some time, I don't remember the name. Or something new? Thanks.
Dee, I think these are the ones you are talking about: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/wyHF I like the other ones better because they are smaller and they aren't wire spring---they are suction!! But both work great! happy day! KariAnne
Hi KariAnne, I’ve always liked this hutch and how you always decorate it. Lots if good ideas. Although, the last two photos where the hutch is really “full”, I think there’s a bit too much there. I know it’s personal preference, as it is lovely, just crowded. I look at that hutch and want to incorporate that design into my small condo kitchen remodel that will happen some day! It will somehow connect with a counter coming in from the left side! But it will be lovely with the shelves for decorating & a little coffee station!
I get it for sure! I like the crowded and the not crowded look! It depends on my mood! LOL! Happy day! KariAnne
Oh Karianne, I can smell the crispness of fall here in SC just looking at your cute Fallified pics! Bring it on! We are so ready for it down here. I love how you tucked little pops of Fall color within your pretty neutrals. The fall leaves, apples, pumpkins and plates add just enough color to welcome Fall. Love your hutches!!! You worked your magic once again on your thrift store hutch. It's beautiful!!
Hi Karianne , Just to let you know even though I do not comment much I am always following and these are more of your great ideas. I did want you to know that I purchased two items at your recommendation on Amazon Prime Day. The Mattress Pad and the Hand Held Steamer and I am loving them both. A big hello to the whole Family especially the Two Denny's. Take care and keep, up the good work and thanks again for doing the shopping for me.
Love your fallification of your hutch plus a great new word. My spell check went 🤪. Still in the muggy 90s today in N.C but that does stop my fall decor planning. I painted some large faux pears yesterday and have the perfect place for them in our family room. Also worked on making some acorns and revamping a faux pumpkin from orange to white. Haven't dragged out the crates from the barn but did order some pretty new faux leafy branches to put in a rustic vase I have. Might use them on top of my kitchen hutch. After Labor day I will put away my coastal decor, clean everything then begin my autumn decorating. Thanks Karianne for all your inspiration. Your home is lovely, a true reflection of those who live there. Kathy
I love that you are starting with fall decorating. I'm so ready!!! It is truly my favorite season. Thank You for such gorgeous ideas. You are simply amazing! (Using one of your fave words)... Big Hugs
How do you get your heavy plates and platters to stay upright? Also, how do you hang your plates on the wall?
All beautiful! I don't live to far from you, and with it still in the 100's I can't get into the fall groove yet. Hopefully soon that will change.
To use a word you might use, it looks a lot more hutchy after you decorated it. Lol. I love it. And your new words.
KariAnne I love how it turned out. I’ll share a link on Sunday.
As always...GREAT IDEAS! Your noggin is so full of it! LOL 😍