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October heralds the true beginning of fall, and I for one, couldn’t be happier. We’ve officially entered cozy season, a time that inspires hunkering down for cozy nights in. October brings a natural inclination to gather at home, which is all the more reason to spend some time designing a space that makes you happy. So I wondered—how do interior designers welcome the season in their own homes? While you may think they fill their spaces with the season’s latest trends, the designers I chatted with take a simpler approach. Read on for a few fall home refresh ideas, straight from the pros. Their answers may surprise you!
Adorn With Fresh Flowers
Decorating with flowers is appropriate for any time of year, but Sarah West of Sarah West Interiors shares that it’s a special part of her fall routine. “Every Sunday, I make it a ritual to visit my local farmer’s market and pick up fresh flowers. It’s something I look forward to each week, and it’s such a simple yet impactful way to refresh my home for the fall season,” she explains. “Rather than following the latest fall decor trends, I prefer to keep things understated—using fresh florals and cozy scents to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.”
West suggests looking for florals in deeper colors during this time of year. “For fall, I gravitate toward flowers like amaranth, calla lilies, and dried allium. I love the richness of deep hues, like plum and burgundy, which bring a seasonal warmth to any room,” she shares.
If you’re lucky enough to have your own plantings, you don’t need to look anywhere but your backyard. “I love cutting a branch from the Japanese maple blooming in my yard that has begun to turn shades of red and orange,” Danielle Balanis of Danielle Balanis Design says. “It channels everything I love about fall. It’s not forced, it feels right in any room.”
Cozy Up Your Lighting
Lighting is one of a few fall home refresh ideas that’s often overlooked. The source, as well as the hue of your light, matters especially when you want to create a cozy atmosphere. And let’s face it, fall also wouldn’t be fall without candles. “Accentuating antiques and beautiful wood pieces in your space by adding taper candle stands is an old school way of creating a moody environment,” Devika Kanadé of The Itih?as Company says. “The yellow light of candle flames definitely adds a sense of warmth.”
Taper candles look gorgeous on any surface, from your wood pieces like Kanadé shares, to your mantle, and your coffee and dining tables. Another way to add warm lighting without candles? Swap out your bulbs. “If your space usually uses white light, swap it out for yellow bulbs in a lower watt, to create the same feeling. [It’s] a simple, inexpensive swap to change the colors and tones of your space,” Kanadé says.
Let Nature Be Your Guide
Mother Nature is the greatest designer there is, and Kanadé herself loves bringing the outdoors in. “Letting nature and earth tones take the lead can really help accent the jewel tones and rich colors of fall,” she says.
Kanadé suggests incorporating dry florals and foraged pieces into your home, as well as creating your own decor with natural materials. “An unusual shaped piece of wood can be used as a centerpiece if you melt taper candles all over to create a unique candle stand,” she suggests.
Add Warm Scents
Who doesn’t love the scent of pumpkin and cinnamon? Fall is one of the most incredible seasons for fragrance, especially for your home. “Scent plays a huge role in creating a cozy ambiance,” West gushes. “One of my favorites is Aesop’s Istros Aromatique Room Spray—it has a smoky, floral blend that’s just right for fall.”
Whether you opt to fill your fall home with candles, room spray, or diffuser reeds, reach for grounded, warm, and spicy scents for fall. “When it comes to candles, I adore Aesop’s Ptolemy Aromatique Candle for its earthy fragrance, as well as Jenni Kayne’s candles, which add a comforting touch to any space,” West continues.
Balanis keeps things simple in her home. “The Fresh Market puts out cinnamon broomsticks every year, for me they are a go-to and constant every fall,” she says. “I love the smell and the charm of having it leaned in the corner. It brings warmth and comfort to my breakfast room and livens up my kitchen.”
Incorporate Jewel Tones
Color is one fall home refresh idea that is perhaps most obvious. But don’t think you need to deck your home out in bright orange and red! “I love highlighting deep and rich colors, like jewel tones,” Kanadé shares. Sapphire, ruby and emerald green are wonderful colors to work with this time of year, and Balanis agrees. “Shades of saffron and mustard are a yearlong favorite of mine, but they really come alive in the fall,” she says. “They pair well with all fall color palette shades. From freshly pressed napkins to accents in floral arrangements, this tone just blends so perfectly with all things fall.”
Decorate With Shades Of Brown
Brown continues to have its moment in the spotlight this year, and it’s the perfect color to play with come fall. Kanadé has noticed this trend as well and loves working with different toned wood, as well as brown paint. Not sure where to start? Kanadé suggests looking up. “A fun, temporary way to add character to your space for fall can be to paint your ceiling a darker color like brown, cherry or burgundy,” she recommends. “It adds depth to your space without overwhelming it, adds moodiness and creates a stunning backdrop with simpler lighter tones on floor level.”
If you’re a bit nervous about having a dark ceiling year round, Kanadé is quick to share that paint is temporary. “You can always paint your ceiling back to a lighter color going into spring,” she says. “The beauty of paint!”
Layer and Mix Your Textures
A cozy fall home wouldn’t feel complete without soft, luxurious textures. “Fall is a great time for mixing textures and layering on dining tables and in living spaces,” Kanadé says. “Bringing out throws in velvets, tweed, and corduroy is a great way to play around with materials that add a lot of warmth.”
In addition to cozy throws, consider swapping curtains for something a little softer like velvet. There’s an art to layering throw pillows on your sofa, and including a mix of colors and textures will make it especially inviting. And if layering textures begins to feel complicated and fussy, take a step back. Remember to keep it simple. “For fall styling, my philosophy is to keep things simple—fresh flowers, warm scents, and a cozy blanket by the fire are all you need to embrace the season’s natural beauty,” she says.
Dust Off Your Seasonal Tableware
Fall home refresh ideas are great not only for autumn, but for preparing for the upcoming holiday season as well. If you’re on hosting duties this year, the time has come to dust off your seasonal serveware and tableware. Instead of keeping it hidden away for special occasions, Kanadé encourages using it as unexpected decor. “Bringing out fancier china and unique tableware, but using them as display pieces as opposed to functional pieces can change up the styling of your space to give it a refresh,” she encourages. “Glassware in darker colors is also simple but effective.”
