Fall home decor doesn’t have to include pumpkins and faux stems. You can incorporate the warmth of the season with a few simple and elegant touches. It doesn’t matter if you’re working with a large space or a small one, these ideas will help you layer in the cozy feelings of fall without breaking the bank.
Incorporate Cozy Soft Textures
The first thing I like to do each season is swap out my throw pillow covers. For spring and summer I lean toward softer breathable fabrics like linen. As soon as the dappled morning light filters through the window and the cooler temperatures blow in, I replace the breezy fabrics of summer with cozier, warmer textures like velvet and chenille.
I have two favorites I’m loving right now. I have a brushed velvet (chenille) with a natural blanket stitch hem, and a similar black velvet with white piping. They are both stunning sets and I have one set on our bed, and the other set in our living room. The fabrics are soft and very snuggly. They’re not too precious and with down inserts, they are completely cozy for the fall.
Add in Natural Fall Elements
Home decor should blend easily throughout the seasons, but should also included elements of the specific season. For example, I love to decorate with moss bowls. Currently I have seven in our home. While they are beautiful stuffed with bright green moss for the spring and summer, when the cooler months begin to approach, I want to see the elements of fall expressed in this home decor item.
When the seasons begin to shift, my moss bowls shift with them. Instead of a bright solid green, I go for a more textural element that includes lichens, bark, and various autumn colors. I want to feel as if the seasons are changing indoors as I experience them changing outdoors.
Go for Autumnal Layers
For fall home decor, I love a good layered look. For this reason, I add in a soft rug underfoot to ward off the morning chill. Because our apartment has luxury vinyl flooring, the morning temperatures can leave the floor feeling cold. To counter the coolness under foot, a good rug is the way to go.
We like to add a bit of the unexpected, and purchased a leather hide rug. These rugs are available at IKEA, Amazon, and most local carpet outlets. We went with a dark brown to contrast with the lighter vinyl flooring, and we love the feel it lends to the room. It’s soft under foot, easy to clean, and adds a warmth and a bit of the unexpected.
Layering goes a long way in the dining area, as well. When the autumn starts to call, I like to add in texture to our dining space. While our dining table is an antique garden table, this process could be applied to any decor style.
First I layer on a woven textured placemat in a soft warm color palette, and then top it with a round woven mat that adds another layer of texture and depth of color. Having colors that contrast even a little is the key to adding interest and depth of texture to your fall home decor look.
I like to stack a black dinner plate, a cream colored salad plate, and a Crate and Barrel linen napkin to top off the textural look. Again, I mixed in a variety of textured moss for a bit of color and seasonal ambiance.
Change to Fall Florals
While I’m not a fan of faux floral stems in bright autumnal colors, I do like to swap out my summer branches for a dried floral, or a floral in a muted autumnal color. Because we live in a small space and I have to keep seasonal items to a minimum, I like to use items I can utilize for multiple purposes.
For my seasonal florals, I like the autumnal mosses, but I also like the look of a dried baby’s breath (or good look-alike). I tend to lean toward the creams, olives, and browns for the fall season. I swapped out the cream planter from summer for a blue gray one that reminds me of the gray autumn skies. It’s always amazing what a small swap can do.
To this entryway table scape, I stacked a couple of books that coordinate with the season, and also added in the magnifier with a bone handle. It adds an element of surprise, and a layer of warmth that gives a nod to autumn without an overload of pre-season pumpkins.
Early Fall Home Decor
Early fall home decor doesn’t have to include pumpkins and orange faux stems. There may be a place for those elements later on, but for now, let’s embrace the change of seasons as it comes; slowly, gradually, and gracefully.
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