Autumn is here, and front doors all over New York are getting a seasonal makeover. Some decorations that used to feel fresh are starting to look a bit tired or outdated.
I’ve noticed a few styles that just don’t have the charm they once did. Let’s take a look at what’s falling out of favor this season and why.
1. Generic Burlap Wreaths
Remember when every New York brownstone sported a plain burlap wreath? Those days are fading faster than autumn sunlight. The unadorned, basic burlap look feels too predictable now.
Manhattan decorators are moving toward more personalized, textured options that make stronger statements. The simple burlap circle no longer captures the sophisticated seasonal vibe city dwellers crave.
2. Oversized Plastic Pumpkins
Giant plastic pumpkins guarding doorsteps have lost their charm in Brooklyn neighborhoods. Their artificial sheen and mass-produced appearance clash with the authentic fall atmosphere residents now prefer.
New Yorkers are embracing smaller, artisanal gourds or handcrafted alternatives instead. Those bulky orange sentinels from big box stores no longer fit the city’s evolving aesthetic sensibilities.
3. Monogrammed Door Signs
Hanging wooden initials on your door? Queens residents are quietly retiring this once-popular trend. The personalized letter plaques that dominated fall decorating now feel overly formulaic and predictable.
Family monograms have given way to more creative seasonal expressions. The cookie-cutter approach to door decor no longer resonates with New York’s fashion-forward homeowners seeking unique curb appeal.
4. Artificial Leaf Garlands
Plastic leaf garlands draped around door frames are fading from Staten Island entryways faster than you can say “autumn.” Their synthetic colors and textures simply can’t compete with natural alternatives gaining popularity.
The unmistakably fake appearance stands out for all the wrong reasons. Many New Yorkers now opt for preserved real leaves or other natural materials that bring authentic seasonal charm to their homes.
5. Chevron Pattern Anything
Zigzagging into obsolescence, chevron patterns on door hangings have lost their appeal across the Bronx. Once the darling of Pinterest boards, these geometric designs now signal a dated decorating approach rather than seasonal sophistication.
The distinctive zigzag pattern has become visual shorthand for “so last decade.” New York decorators are embracing more timeless patterns or abstract designs that won’t immediately timestamp their homes.
6. “Happy Fall Y’all” Signs
Southern-inspired sayings have worn out their welcome in Long Island communities. The cutesy “Happy Fall Y’all” wooden plaques once charmed visitors but now feel disconnected from New York’s distinct regional identity.
This borrowed dialect expression strikes many as inauthentic in northeastern settings. Homeowners are switching to more locally relevant messages or foregoing text altogether for more sophisticated visual statements.
7. Scarecrow Door Hangers
Those cartoonish scarecrow figures dangling from door knockers are vanishing from Manhattan apartments this season. Their childish appearance and country-fair aesthetic clash with the sophisticated urban vibe that defines New York living spaces.
The contrast between rustic farm characters and city architecture feels increasingly jarring. Modern New Yorkers are choosing more refined, artistic interpretations of fall that better complement their metropolitan surroundings.
8. Candy Corn Themed Decor
Candy corn motifs are melting away from Westchester County entryways this autumn. The orange, yellow, and white striped pattern that once dominated seasonal decorations now feels overly commercial and childlike to many homeowners.
The saccharine sweetness of this candy-inspired theme lacks the sophistication modern decorators seek. New Yorkers are gravitating toward more subtle color palettes that reflect the natural nuances of fall foliage.
9. Mass-Produced Mesh Wreaths
Factory-made deco mesh wreaths in neon fall colors are losing favor across Rochester neighborhoods. Their artificial poof and synthetic shine stand out as obviously mass-produced in an era that values craftsmanship and authenticity.
The excessive ribbons and plastic embellishments feel overdone and generic. New York homeowners increasingly prefer wreaths with natural materials that showcase individual style rather than big-box store uniformity.
10. Word Art Pumpkins
Pumpkins covered in inspirational phrases have lost their appeal in Buffalo homes. The trend of painting words like “blessed” or “grateful” on gourds now feels like an Instagram cliché rather than meaningful seasonal decor.
The social media-driven decorating approach has reached saturation point. New Yorkers are returning to simpler, more timeless pumpkin presentations that let the natural beauty of fall produce speak for itself.
11. Excessive Hay Bale Displays
Elaborate hay bale arrangements flanking doorways are disappearing from Hudson Valley entrances. The farm-inspired stacks with their inevitable mess and maintenance issues have fallen out of favor with homeowners tired of sweeping straw.
Urban and suburban New Yorkers recognize the disconnect between rural farm elements and their actual living environments. The hay fever-inducing displays are being replaced by cleaner, more sophisticated seasonal statements.
12. Glitter-Covered Everything
Sparkly pumpkins and glitter-drenched wreaths are losing their shine in Syracuse neighborhoods. The disco-ball effect these decorations create feels increasingly at odds with the natural, earthy essence of autumn that New Yorkers now prefer.
Beyond aesthetic concerns, the environmental impact of microplastic glitter has become a consideration. Homeowners are embracing more eco-conscious decorations with subtle metallic accents rather than all-over sparkle bombs.