Fall Door Decor: Hanging Wicker Door Basket DIY
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Create a welcoming impression to your home for the autumn season using a wicker door basket that can be created in under 10 minutes, fall door decor has never been easier.
No floral arranging or crafty skills needed! It’s 1… 2… 3 easy to make.
Using a hanging basket is the perfect fall home style alternative to use if you get bored of using a fall wreath every year.
Back in the 1980’s, I learned in an issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine that using only one type of flower in mass in a vase was ” a thing”. I liked the concept since I am not very good at flower arranging.
Another reason to use one type of flower or fall leaves in abundance for exterior door decoration is that with one mass of color, the color pops and looks impressive even from the street view of a house.
How to Easily Decorate Your Front Door For Fall
All you need to bring the glory of fall color to your front door for fall this year is a hanging door basket, fresh or faux foliage and a door hanger or ribbon.
I hung this hanging basket to the side door on my house that leads to the garden area. I had faux painted the door a few years ago to look like it was stained wood.
It was looking a little plain so I decided to hang the basketful of fall leaves to the door to bring it to life.
DIY Fall Door Decor Using a Wicker Door Basket
My hanging door basket’s measurements: 12″wide x 14″ long
If you don’t have a flat backed basket to use for the fall door basket, you can also use a straw tote bag.
- If using a tote bag, remove one handle or push one handle into the basket and use the other handle as the hanger that goes over a wreath hanger.
supplies needed:
- Wicker door basket that has a flat back
- Faux Maple leave branch bouquets, foliage or flowers – 3 – 4 bouquets
- Wreath hanger – see types you can use below
- Optional – plastic grocery bags
Time needed: 15 minutes.
Fall Door Decor: How to Make a Wicker Door Basket for Fall
- Gather Supplies
Once you have what you need to make the hanging wicker door basket, if your basket is long, place a few scrunched up plastic bags in the bottom of the basket to provide fill so the branches of leaves don’t fall deep into the basket.
If your basket is shorter in length you may not need to do this.
- Hang Basket on Wreath Hanger
Place a wreath hanger on the door or use ribbon to hang the basket – see directions below for how to do this.
If your basket has rope to hang, it may be too long for where you want the basket to fall on the door. Shorten it by tying it into a knot and then hang.
Once the fall leaves are placed in the basket, you will not see the rope or the knot. - Place the Leaves In the Basket
Use 3 – 4 faux leaf bouquets to fill the basket. I used 4.
Primp, bend and arrange the branches so they are spread out evenly and look as if they are falling slightly over the top edge of the basket.
Where to Buy Faux Foliage or Flowers to Put in a Door Basket
The best places to find fall leaves or flowers to place in a fall door basket is at the craft store. Hobby Lobby and Michaels both carry many different colors and types of fall leaf bouquets and stems.
You can also buy artificial Maple leaves like the ones I used online.
How to Use Fresh Foliage in a Wicker Door Basket
If your basket is wide enough, you can use fresh flowers by placing a container of water in the basket.
- To do this, first line the inside of the basket with a plastic bag.
- Use a plastic jar that has a plastic lid or use a take-out coffee cup with a lid to make a paper vase to hold the cut stems.
- Punch a few holes in the lid and place the cut ends of the foliage through the holes and into the cup. Using the cup with the lid will keep the water contained.
How Do You Hang a Basket on a Front Door?
There are a few options on how to hang a basket on a front door or any door in your home.
1. Use a Wreath Hanger
- If your basket has a rope or leather hanger, then you can simply use this and a metal wreath hanger made to go over the top edge of a door.
Wreath Hanger TIP: Spray paint the wreath hanger the same color as your door so it becomes invisible.
If the rope or leather on your door basket is too long, cut and re-tie or shorten it by tying one end into a knot.
2. Hang a Wicker Door Basket on a Door Using Ribbon
To hang baskets without an over-the-door wreath hanger, you can use a length of ribbon and a flat top thumb-tack.
- Measure the distance from the top of the door to where you want the top of your hanging door basket to be on the door.
- Add a few inches to this measurement so you can tie the ribbon to the basket.
2. Fold one end of the ribbon over about an inch and use a thumb-tack to attach the ribbon to the top of the door.
3. Tie the other end around the handle on the basket.
3. Use a Stick-On or Screw-In Hook
Command Brand makes damage free hooks that you can attach to a door to hold a basket securely on a door.
These are made so when you remove them, there will be no damage or glue residue on the door.
If you want a more permanent solution, you can use wood screws to attach a single prong coat hook to the door. If your door is metal, you will have to drill holes in the door first to attach this style of hook.
Where to Buy Hanging Wicker Door Baskets
You can find flat sided hanging basket at JoAnns Fabrics a few years ago. I did find a few different style of hanging baskets that you can use online.
You can also find baskets and straw totes to use at thrift stores. One reader, Gina mentioned doing this:
- You can also find old straw purses at Goodwill that will work, or cut a basket in half and use foam core board to make a flat back, spray sprinting the whole thing so no one is the wiser.
I rounded up a few that range in size, weave and color so that no matter your decorating style, if you like the idea of hanging a basket on your door instead of a wreath this year there may be one that you like.
And don’t forget you can even use a straw tote bag on the door as long as it is not a very wide one.
More Fall Decor DIY Ideas:
- Wicker Basket Side Table for My Living Room
- Decorating with Natural Elements for Fall
- Quick & Easy Comfy Cozy Fall Decorating Tips
Thank you for the great close up photos.
This is my kind of project. It is so simple but so beautiful. I have everything I need so my door will soon look like yours. Thank you and have a great day!
Hi Nancy – Hearing that makes me happy. :-) Enjoy your evening.
This is beautiful… Do you have any ready ideas for mailboxes?
Thanks Sheryl :-) I don’t have any posts or projects about decorating mailboxes. My mailbox is not one that can be decorated. It is in a brick structure. Have you done a Pinterest or Google search? I just did and a ton of photos and ideas came up. I put in decorating a mailbox for fall and fall mailbox decorating ideas. I am sure you will find any idea. :-)
Thank you, you were right, I went to Pinterest and was able to come up with some great mailbox ideas fairly quickly!
Thanks again..!
I like that look. You can also find old straw purses at Goodwill that will work, or cut a basket in half and use foam core board to make a flat back, spray sprinting the whole thing so no one is the wiser. I might have to make one of these soon, just to do something other than a wreath!
Hi Gina – What a great idea to look at thrift stores to find an inexpensive tote or basket. Thank you for sharing how you could transform them. I will add your idea to the post as I know other readers will like this idea as much as I do, :-)
Now that looks nice!!! (And you directions are so good!!!)
Thank you Donna. :-)
Who says you’re not good at arranging, Diane?
At least you’re a good “fluffer” – that’s what counts!
Lovely door basket.
Thanks Lori – Yes I can consider myself a go fluffer. I can do that well until I like what I see.
How do you keep your front door wreath from getting ruined with the elements? The basked rotting or getting water in it? I have an exposed front door as well and need some ideas that can withstand the weather! Thanks
I am envious of your basket with all those gorgeous leaves. You must have hit $tree when they first put out the good stuff. Your basket is so awesome. Love your blog Diane and enjoy every project you do.
By the time I get to go to $tree all the goodies I read about bloggers getting is gone. It’s nice to live out in country but not when you want the bargains or have to wait for SS payday.
Doesn’t look Dollar Store-ish at all!!! I love it! I’m following. : )♥
Hi Diann, I have your wreath featured on my blog post today!! I thought the leaves were real and Kim told me they were faux and from the dollar store!!! Great job and I love the way it turned out!!! Kathysue
hooray for dollar store decorating!! I never see such good looking florals at my dollar stores…just really cheesy and icky 80’s looking ones! I think it’s be super cute to add a monogram to the front of the basket too!
How beautiful your basket turned out! I just love it and its perfect!
Cheers!
Cyndy
That looks so great, Diane! I can almost picture a monogram on that basket- what do you think?
Thanks Bettsi-
That would be a nice added touch. No one ever comes to my front door. I add a wreath or in this case the basket so it looks nice from the street view. The Fed Ex and UPS guys don’t even come to the front. My side door is where people come and go – maybe I will add a monogram to the wreath that I have hanging there. I like the single letter ones. I have never made one, but have been tempted many times.
If you hadn’t mentioned the painted hanger I never would have seen it. Very clever idea! I guess you have learned a lot of secrets on doing displays doing your job. Happy Fall!!! It is just starting to cool down at night here which is great cause we had a heatwave for a few weeks.
Adorable Diane…. and that’s a good tip about painting your hanger the same color as your door.
I love the looks of the basket on the door. And I must add I love the crackle look to the door also. It looks like it belongs there.
My front door also does the same. We are looking for a new door for it and are having a hard time finding one. It goes onto a heated front porch room and the door is short due to a low ceiling slant. So we have to have a door that we can take a bit off the bottom for there. Solid wood for outside doors is hard to find. They seem to cover al the wood with steel nowdays.
Karan
Hi Karan-
It does look ok this time of year, but it is getting bubbled now too. Time to re-paint. I know if I paint the door a lighter color it would not conduct the heat as much and perhaps not crackle the finish.
You come up with the BEST stuff!
I’m going to go and paint my wreath hanger right now.
Looks fabulous Diane! Thanks for sharing.
Can’t say fall really ever arrives in San Diego, but I go with it and put out fall stuff anyways LOL I didn’t even notic the crackle until you pointed it out, isn’t that funny how we do that? The fall leaves in the basket are so pretty, great job and great price on the updated fall decor
This is hottest time of year for you in San Diego. I remember going to beach on New Years Day when we lived there, but inland in Santee. My son lives in ElCajon and he was complaining about how hot it is.Heck you don’t really have winter either.
I always felt bad for the kids in school as summer really arrives when they have to go back to school. Too much of the summer is ruined with the June gloom all summer depending on the year.
I was just in Dollar Tree buying florets for my fall wreath. Love them. Great idea to paint the hanger the same color as the door. Genius!
It looks great – reminds me to pull out my autumn door hanging! Have a great weekend!
-Shelley
So pretty. I am inspired to make one for our front door. I hope our local Dollar Tree has some pretty fall colors. You are welcome to post your project or any projects on my link up. I am going to follow along & look round at your lovely blog now.
It looks really great. You know I havee never really shopped the Dollar Stores here for florals…I get kid’s “junk” there all the time though…time to pay it a visit I guess! xo Diana
I love it! Thanks for sharing! I’ll be off to Joannes tomorrow!
This arrangement looks gorgeous aganist your dark door. No way does it look “Dollar Tree”. Great idea about painting the hanger to match the door. So simple yet I never would have thunk it.
Keep the great ideas coming Diane!
Hi Denise-
Sometimes the dollar store stuff looks pretty “cheap”, but other times you can find some great goodies to decorate with. The Dollar Tree I go to is quite popular and if you want to get the good stuff you have to get it as soon as they put it out.
Love how it turned out. I have a bunch of unused flowers at home, I might have to do something similar. Thanks for the inspiration. :)
I love the Dollar Tree! They have great stuff for so cheap. Your basket looks great. I like the idea of painting the hanger to match the door. I might have to do that if we have enough paint left!
HI Laura-
If you don’t have any paint leftover, see if you can closely match the color of your door with some enamel crafts paint. There are literally 100’s of color to choose from and it only cost a dollar or two. You only need a little bit. The enamel finish will hold up better in the long run.
I love the colors of fall. Great job ‘assembling’ that decor. It looks wonderful.
I love how it turned out Diane – I was just thinking about fall decor today – who knows why? What I really need to be doing is finishing unpacking :)
Have a great weekend
Ashlyn
That is beautiful! Now I’m wanting to run out to the dollar tree to get some fall foliage! Great tip too, with the painted wreath hanger on the door. I’ll have to remember that!
What a great idea to paint your wreath hanger to match the door. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that. My door is a burnt orange, so you can imagine how that brass wreath hanger stands out. Thanks so much for the tip. (I like how your leaf basket turned out also.)
I like it! What a great idea
I love the fall look for your door, Diane. Fall in PA is just the best. Our front door was black as well and exposed to the elements, hence why we decided to go yellow. But I think yours still looks great!
I’ve needed to use items like this with a slender profile on my front door, Diane, because of the storm door. I had found a pre-done “pocket” at Michaels one year and it worked great. A wreath sometimes just has too much bulkiness, especially where there is a storm door involved. I think, if I remember, the new place will have enough of an overhang that I can safely hang things outside the front door. That will be a refreshing change!