Falling For Fall

I’m certainly falling for fall – are you? This time a year I get absolutely giddy. Why? Because autumn is on its way. Fall is my favorite season and I think that’s the case for many interior designers. It’s a season where we can make the most of both the indoor and outdoor living spaces, and the colors are so rich and vibrant.

How Can I Transition my Summer Interiors to Fall Decor?

Transitioning your summer interiors to fall decor is easy with a few simple updates. Swap out lightweight fabrics and bright colors for cozy textiles in warm tones, like burnt orange and deep burgundy. Add touches of fall style with throw pillows, blankets, and seasonal accessories, such as pumpkins and foliage-inspired accents. Embrace the change of seasons by incorporating rich textures and earthy hues into your home.

Fall Decorations For Every Living Space in Your Home

When I work with clients, transitioning their homes from summer to fall, I like to make it a tangible experience from start to finish – or from the front door to the patio– to be precise. Here is a glimpse into how I tackle the transition of seasons in just about every living space in the house.

Transform your porch into an autumnal ambassador

Start sharing your warm autumn glow by decorating the porch and front walkway. At the very simplest, an autumn wreath on the door will due. If you want to get more involved with fall-inspired porch design, use colorful dried corn cobs to create a fall garland. While pumpkins are nice, I like connecting with local farmers at the season’s farmer’s markets to find out who has the most interesting gourds – and then striking up a deal. There are some seriously crazy-looking heirloom gourds at there and you can get them for a song. Best of all, gourds last all season and can be used indoors and out.

Welcome guests in from a chilly fall evening with a warm, inviting entryway

Your entryway is the gateway to your home, and yet it’s so often overlooked these days. I think the penchant for attached garages, which we use as our family’s day-to-day entrance and exit, is part of the reason we forget what in impact entryways have on our family and friends. Your entryway a great place to house a few pumpkin-spiced candles, to hang seasonal hats and scarfs, or to adorn a hall tree mirror with a garland of autumn leaves – real and pressed or silk and reusable.

Create your dining table centerpiece

Why wait for the week before Thanksgiving to plan your holiday centerpiece? I prefer to use these months prior to the Big Day to get that fun task out of the way. In fact, it will truly be fun if you do it now – rather than becoming a last-minute stress during the week of Thanksgiving. Plus, creating a beautiful centerpiece now means you will enjoy it for a full month or so, rather than for a few short days, after which it’s all disassembled to make way for the winter holidays.

Cultivate a cozy ambiance in your living and family rooms

The first thing I do in my own home is to air out our family’s favorite afghans, wraps and throws. You just never know what a fall day will bring. Warm sunny days often turn into chilly afternoons and evenings, and late-fall predictably brings brisk winds and the first real rainy days. Make sure your living room and family room spaces are prepared for cozy fires, warm movie nights and weekend afternoons spent lounging about with a book and a mug of tea or hot cider. Again, you can’t go wrong with candles in pumpkins, spice, fig or other fall-oriented scents. Additions of crimson, brown and gold accents will further lend the essence of fall to your living spaces.

Prepare your patio spaces for the ‘tween months

When it comes to outdoor living and patio spaces, we consider these the ‘tween months because they are nestled right between the hot summer and the cold winter. Some days feel as if summer will never end – so keep your grilling equipment at the ready; others are on the brisker side, so decorate your patio along the same vein as you decorate your porch. I like to add a couple of well-placed outdoor heaters, stacked firewood for the fire pit, flower pots laden with fall colored blooms, and plenty of blankets and throws for star gazing.