Whether you think fall truly begins on the autumn equinox or the day after Labor Day, if you plan on decorating your home for the season, you’ll want to start shopping ASAP.
Target is beloved for its affordable seasonal decor and the retailer’s home finds tend to sell out fast. People frantically plan for their Halloween drops, with some starting their Halloween prep in the middle of the summer. In other words, now’s the time to add to your cart if you want an autumnal or spooky home this fall.
Luckily, Target continues to be a goldmine for this stuff, with plenty of adorable and elegant items. Say hello to spiced candles, pumpkins, ghosts and cozy fabrics galore: These are the best fall-themed home finds under $20 at Target, and they probably won’t last long.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Not only is this Spiced Pumpkin Yankee Candle a beautiful piece of decor, with its rust color showing through the 22-ounce (reusable!) jar, but it'll bring the scent of fall into your home, too. The candle includes notes of pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and brown sugar, has a natural fiber wick and can burn for around 110 hours.
Promising review: "this scent has always been my favorite for Fall. what's better than spiced pumpkin??! this price was the best anywhere." — bcplano
Don't want to have to buy new pumpkins every year (or deal with outdoor creatures coming up to your porch to nibble on them)? Try a faux pumpkin! And while there are plenty of fake Jack-o'-lanterns out there, these faux pumpkins are made of polyurethane and are carvable, meaning you can still get your craft on. The pumpkins come in orange, cream and teal, with 9-inch and 13-inch sizes available.
Promising review: "These pumpkins are a great price and a super easy craft. Plus, they are a great quality and will last for many years. If you need pumpkins for a space where real ones aren’t ideal, I highly recommend these. I have them in my classroom for fall/ October decor. My students love them just as much as I do! The only con about the pumpkin is the inside seem is very visible if you carve on it. Try to be aware of where you’re cutting so you can have the seem on the sides of the pumpkin." — Chronic Target Goer
How cute is that face? As some reviewers of this friendly ghost pillow have noted, this is likely to sell out fast, so don't wait to jump on purchasing this. Made with faux shearling, the pillow is 3 inches thick and 13-by-14 inches long and wide (the perfect size for snuggling).
Promising review: "This ghost pillow is an adorable addition to my Halloween collection. It's super soft and cuddley and looks adorable on my guest bed as an accent pillow. I may leave it out all year!" — Julie
These machine-washable, cotton dishcloths come in a set of four with different fall colors to add a warm and seasonal touch to your kitchen. They're made with a waffle knit texture and are 12-by-12 inches, perfect for drying dishes or other cleaning tasks (though you can also just keep them as cute decor).
Promising review: "Smaller than expected but I didn’t pay attention to the size. Love the fall colors and these are great quality. Dries dishes really well. Perfect" — Shelly Ro
This 16-ounce mug features a bunch of cute little ghosts saying "boo" all over it. It can hold hot or cold drinks and is dishwasher-safe. Also, unlike some other novelty mugs, it's a standard shape with a comfortable handle, so you don't have to sacrifice function for fun.
Promising review: "The design on this mug is so cute! It’s a perfect size and the handle is comfortable to hold. I love the hand painted look of the ghosts and it’s a great price!" — nikki85
Cozy up with this woven throw blanket that fits right in with a fall aesthetic, thanks to the burgundy and cream colors and plaid pattern. The fringe accents on the edges also serve to make this comfy throw look like a giant fall scarf. It's 60-by-50 inches, midweight and machine-washable.
Promising review: "Love !! So pretty for fall. Loving the burgundy! Looks exactly like the photo!" — Boymom
As fun as it is to shop for decor each season, the best finds are the versatile ones that can save you some money down the line. These black and cream bottle brush tree figurines work as both spooky and festive, and the neutral colors and evergreen shape lend well to both Halloween and the holidays. They're sold in packs of two 6-inch trees or four 4-inch trees.
Promising review: "Great product and price. Fun seasonal accents for my Halloween themed decor." — Peggy
This 6.8-ounce Glade candle has the limited edition scent Golden Pumpkin and Spice, with notes of pumpkin, star anise and cinnamon. It's smaller (and cheaper) than the Yankee Candle, with a burn time of 30 hours, so it's the perfect size if you're not an all-day, everyday candle burner but still want one to last you through the season.
Promising review: "I'm not a pumpkin spice fanatic, but just wanted to try something different. This candle far exceeded my expectations. It smells divine, has great throw, and is perfect for the season." — D2J8
Even your bathroom can use a little spooky fun. Like the mugs, this ghost-shaped soap pump is one of a set — you can also get a pumpkin-shaped pump or a pumpkin bath tray for bar soap. It's made with resin, can pump liquid soap or lotion and has a 12.1-fluid ounce capacity.
Promising review: "This ghost soap dispenser is much bigger than I thought it would be! It’s super cute & perfect for my Halloween bathroom! Tip: when first getting started, you need to pump about 15-20 times to get soap going. I used dial soap." — Garveynest
If you prefer your fall decor to skew a little less Halloween-y, Target has plenty of options for non-holiday autumnal decor, like this floral pumpkin throw pillow. The exterior is a cotton-linen blend, and the pillow is nice and plump with 11 inches of thickness. It's 9.5-by-9.5 inches, and will look right at home on a couch, bed or bench.
Promising review: "These were out of stock when I first saw them. Thankfully I was able to snag two of them when I got a message that they were back in stock. So glad I did...they're absolutely gorgeous and so well made! Love the little button detail on the bottom of the pumpkin. I know I'll enjoy them for a very long time 🙂" — JDP1964
For the crowd that prefers candles as decor over scents, these twisted taper candles are a great unscented option that can add some drama and elegance to your home. The box comes with four candles in a rust-like red and ivory, they're 10 inches tall and they have a burn time of about 6.5 hours. (Just a heads up that these don't come with a container, so if you don't have candle holders, you'll have to buy them separately.)
Promising review: "What beautiful taper candles! I bought them to go in the Target hurricane glass holder as shown on the box and they will be perfect for Autumn! Plus they are extremely well priced!" — TargetinWA
Okay, this round ceramic black vase technically isn't fall-themed... but Target included it among their fall decor, and I agree, because just imagine storing some dried, preserved fall plants in it and how beautiful it will look. Plus, its simple design means it's great for year-round decorating. With a textured, matte black finish and 7.25-inch height that can hold both short- and long-stem florals, this vase is versatile for so many different decor aesthetics.
Promising review: "This matte black ribbed ceramic vase is a must. The texture and design is beautiful, and can be styled so many ways. I love it as a stand alone piece, but plan to add dried florals. The base has protective pads to prevent scratching furniture. In love!" — Wendy O
One cute and practical thing you'll want to stock up on for fall if you don't have them already? Extra blankets. And while throw blankets are cute and cozy, it's worth it to have a blanket that actually fits your whole bed, like this Room Essentials sherpa blanket that's available in twin/twin XL and full/queen sizes. It's midweight, machine-washable and available in gray or white. It also has an average 4.6-star rating across over 1,300 reviews, so it's safe to say reviewers approve.
Promising review: "Best blanket for tv watching on the couch. Incredibly soft and stays soft even after numerous washings. Warm. I can’t wait to get under it at the end of a night. Our dog loves it for cuddling, too! I’ve already bought two others as gifts—that’s how confident I am others will love it. You won’t be disappointed." — Melissa S
This pitcher just looks like it belongs in a still life painting next to some fall fruits. It comes in this gorgeous color called "pumpkin brown," and the fluted design also feels like a subtle nod to a pumpkin's grooves. It's leakproof, has a 45-ounce capacity and can be used to hold both hot and cold drinks (or florals, if you prefer to use it as a vase).
Promising review: "I always found it unnecessary to have a pitcher to refill beverages sitting on the table until I saw this one. What a great addition to everyday meals or family gatherings. Well made. Color is beautiful and again the fluted detail is perfect." — Disappointed
It doesn't really get more whimsical than this stack of three attached light-up Jack-o'-lanterns. The prop is battery-powered (three AA batteries, not included) and is 19.75 inches tall. In addition to the on/off switch, it also has a timer, so you can set it and forget it. You can use it either indoors or outdoors (as long as it's sheltered, like on a porch).
Promising review: "Absolutely love this decoration, the quality is great and it lights up really bright. The look of it kind of reminds me of a vintage decoration, which I really like. Would recommend!" — Lizzie