As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, it’s time to transition your home decor from summer to fall.
The living room is a great place to incorporate cozy elements that embrace the autumn season.
These simple tips and creative accents will add warmth and character to your space for the perfect hygge backdrop to cuddle up with a mug of tea or apple cider.
Read on for inspiration to make the most of the beautiful fall season in your home!
Update Throw Pillows and Blankets
One of the easiest ways to give your living room a seasonal refresh is by switching out lighter summer pillows and throws for ones with rich fall hues and textures.
Look for pillows in deep oranges, burgundies, and greens that reflect the changing leaves outside.
Plush chenille or velvet fabrics in these autumnal tones add another layer of cozy softness perfect for the fall and winter months.
Try arranging your new accent pillows on the sofa or chairs in front of the fireplace if you have one.
Make sure to incorporate different shapes, sizes, and patterns for visual interest.
Finish the look with a chunky knit throw blanket in a tonal color palette.
The warm, inviting textures you add will make your living room the perfect spot to watch the leaves fall or enjoy a cup of cider on a crisp day.
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Use Natural Elements
Bring the outdoors in by incorporating organic decor touches like dried leaves, acorns, pinecones, and flowers.
Look for beautiful fall floral arrangements featuring chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, and dried grasses.
Display these seasonal bouquets on your console or coffee table for an instant dose of autumn charm.
For more natural inspiration, collect fallen leaves during a weekend walk through your neighborhood or local park.
Place them in a glass bowl or vase, alternating colors and shapes for lots of texture.
Pinecones, acorns, and bare branches are also fantastic for giving your living room a woodsy, rustic vibe reminiscent of fall in the forest.
You can also use natural items to make simple DIY projects.
Try framing a collection of fallen leaves or spelling out “Hello Fall” on your mantel or wall with pinecones.
The options are endless when using organic materials sourced straight from your backyard or outdoors.
Let the beautiful sights and smells of fall guide your interior design.
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What better way to make your home feel cozy and inviting than with candles?
Sandalwood, cinnamon, apple, and pine scents are perfect for fall.
Arrange candles of different shapes, sizes, and scents throughout the living room to set a seasonal mood.
Group pillar candles on your coffee table, with leaf details carved into them for autumnal flair.
Place a few votive candles inside glass hurricane lanterns or vases and scatter them around end tables and the mantel.
Don’t forget to include taper candles in rich fall colors like orange, red, and brown.
Their warm glow will make your living room feel as cozy as your favorite sweater.
If you have a fireplace, use fire-safe candles or holders to decorate the mantle.
Dot pillar candles along the length or place lanterns at each corner to accent this focal feature.
When lit, the collection of candles will create beautiful pockets of light for an inviting fall scene.
Don’t forget to snuggle up with a blanket and your favorite book or movie once you have the living room aglow!
Display Fall Botanicals and Florals
Incorporating botanical and floral decor is a no-fail way to embrace the autumn season in your home.
Take inspiration from the colors and textures found outdoors this time of year.
Stalks of wheat and dried flowers in gorgeous fall hues can be used to create stunning arrangements.
For the coffee or side tables, place a bouquet of dried hydrangeas, mums, asters, and grasses in a ceramic vase for subtle pops of white, purple, orange and yellow.
Display branch cuttings in a tall jar or jug for organic texture.
Ferns, eucalyptus leaves, and curly willow branches work beautifully.
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💸 I bought a sofa way too big for my living room. Paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls.
For the mantel or shelves, lean wreaths and garlands made of dried flowers, pods, leaves, and vines against the wall for bold autumn style.
Try incorporating unexpected blooms like thistles or Amaranthus for unique texture and height.
The possibilities are endless when crafting collections inspired by fall foliage, fields, and gardens.
Let your mantel or tablespaces channel the season in fresh, natural ways.
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Warm Up Walls with Fall Color
Cool grays and blues can leave a living room feeling stark once autumn arrives.
Warm up your walls by incorporating texture and color reminiscent of the fall landscape.
An accent wall in a bold shade like burgundy, orange, mustard, or olive green adds striking visual interest.
For a more subtle approach, hang wall tapestries, blankets, or rugs in fall hues.
Try coverings with Southwestern motifs in tonal reds, tans, and browns.
You can also display intricate weavings or macrame wall hangings featuring organic shapes, leaves, and vines.
Finish the look with cozy textural elements like wood hangings, wreaths, antlers, and woven baskets.
Add warmth and a connection to nature with items displaying organic shapes, natural fibers, rich colors, and earthy textures.
Your walls will channel the colors, sights, and textures of autumn in a simple, stylish way.
Embrace Fall Scents
One of the best parts of fall is the smells – fresh air, cinnamon, apples, and pine.
Bring these seasonal scents into your home with candles, essential oils, simmer pots, plugins, and baked goods.
Display cinnamon brooms or sticks on your mantel or tabletops for a subtle spicy aroma.
You can also make DIY potpourri with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and orange peels.
Place in a bowl or hang in small muslin bags around the living room.
The possibilities are endless when embracing fall’s best scents.
Keep your kitchen smelling seasonal by baking apple pie, pumpkin bread, or chocolate chip cookies.
The smells will waft through your home, evoking cozy fall vibes.
For an instant scent-sational boost, fill a spray bottle with apple cider and spritz throw pillows or drape a fall scarf over a chair.
Plug in a simmer pot with mulled cider or pine scents in the corner of the living room.
The seasonal aromas will instantly make your home smell like autumn.
With a little creativity, you can infuse your home with scents inspired by fall for a sensational seasonal experience.
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Go for Fall Floral Prints
Florals aren’t just for spring and summer – they make a gorgeous statement in autumn as well.
Rich fall blooms and botanical prints in deep, moody hues are perfect for the new season.
Look for pillows, throws and armchair accents featuring flowers like chrysanthemums, anemones, dahlias and cosmos.
Drape a quilt or faux fur throw printed with darker blooms and foliage over your sofa or chair.
The bold patterns and colors make an eye-catching style statement.
For your pillows, choose a mix of solids, plaids, and darker floral prints in deep purple, magenta, olive and mustard yellow.
Finish the look with rug and curtains featuring oversized blooms, vines and leaves.
Embrace the bounty of autumn florals by displaying fresh flower arrangements around the living room.
Chrysanthemums, gourds, mini pumpkins, and dried grasses make stunning harvest-inspired bouquets for your coffee table or bookshelf.
Let gorgeous fall florals be your inspiration for creating a living room that celebrates the season in full bloom.
Incorporate Fall Produce & Botanicals
Decorate your living room with the fruits, vegetables, and plants that are ripe for picking in the fall.
Alliums like garlic and onions make an unexpected statement in ceramic vases and bowls.
Displaying gourds, mini pumpkins, pomegranates, and artichokes is another great way to nod to fall.
Create unique tablescapes by pairing seasonal produce with candles, books, and small decor items.
Try using actual pie pumpkins as candleholders or hollow out mini pumpkins to hold flowers.
Stack burlap ribbons, pinecones, and fresh apples in a galvanized tin or tray for a simple coffee table display.
Take inspiration from your fall farmers market or backyard bounty.
A bowl of fresh apples, organic nuts and colorful leaves instantly celebrates autumn’s arrival.
Your living room will capture the natural textures and colors that make this season so beautiful.
Layer Rug
As you transition your home from summer to fall, consider layering rugs for extra warmth and texture.
Start with a jute or sisal rug for great texture and durability.
Layer a sheepskin run on top for plush softness underfoot.
The organic texture and subtle pattern add cozy fall vibes.
Try a traditional oriental wool rug layered over a neutral sisal one as well.
Look for rich reds, deep greens and warm earth tones reminiscent of the changing fall foliage outside.
The dual layers create visual interest while insulating your floors.
For smaller spaces like sitting areas and reading nooks, lay a printed or plush throw rug on top of a larger neutral one.
Choose fall hues like mustard, olive and cinnamon that pop against an understated base.
Get creative with sizes, shapes, textures and colors.
Layering rugs adds eye-catching depth and extra coziness to any living room.
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Make a Statement with Plaid
Buffalo check and plaid instantly evoke thoughts of crisp fall days and cozycabin weekends.
Incorporate this classic pattern into your living room for bold autumnal style.
Drape plaid wool throws over the back and arms of your sofa or chairs.
The graphic black and white evokes chic rustic vibes and adds a fun pop of pattern.
Layer them over existing pillows or seating for enhanced texture and warmth.
For a splash of fall color, look for plaid accents in a rich orange, olive or purple.
Show off your favorite plaid pieces by framing them on the wall above your mantel or shelving unit.
Display a collection of rolled plaid blankets in baskets or wooden crates for a homey, cabin-like feel.
With endless colors and variations, plaid makes a quintessential addition to any fall living room.
💭 I Wrote a Book About My Biggest Decorating Mistakes!
When I decorated my first home, I thought I knew what I was doing. Spoiler: I didn't. 😅
💸 I bought a sofa way too big for my living room. Paint colors that looked amazing in the store but terrible on my walls.
Create an Autumnal Gallery Wall
Gallery walls are a great way to infuse personality and visual interest into your living room.
This fall, curate a collection of framed art and photos that embody the season’s natural beauty.
Look for prints showcasing falling leaves, woodlands, and harvest landscapes.
Black and white photos of bare trees and fallen foliage make a dramatic impact.
For pops of color, include images of fields, gardens, and close-ups of autumnal flowers and produce.
Incorporate orange and yellow leaf motifs into your gallery wall for literal representations of fall.
Paintings and photos of scenic mountains, lakes, and cabins evoke a sense of cozy wilderness.
Arrange items asymmetrically on the wall, mixing sizes, colors, frames, and imagery for lots of layered texture.
Your autumnal gallery will immerse guests in seasonal inspiration.
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Your living room coffee table provides the perfect opportunity to showcase fall decor.
Treat it like a chic seasonal vignette by styling with botanicals, candles, books, and accessories.
Create an organic autumn display with a simple glass vase or bowl filled with colorful fallen leaves, bittersweet, acorns, and twigs collected from outside.
Nestle pillar candles throughout for illumination.
Stack casually with design books, nature field guides, or coffee table reads with autumnal themes and cover images.
For a cohesive fall look, keep your palette warm and earthy.
Incorporate a jute rug, woolen throws, ceramic vessels, and rustic wood decor items like crates, bowls, and trays.
Finish with a delicious seasonal scent by placing a soy candle or simmering potpourri.
Your coffee table will become a festive fall focal point.
Use Warm, Cozy Textiles
One of the best parts of fall is cozying up with soft, textured fabrics that insulate and add hygge to your home.
Use textiles like wool, velvet, linen, chenille and cashmere to create an enveloping fall living room.
Cover your sofa and chairs in rich textured throws and pillows.
Layer natural fiber rugs in sisal, jute and wool for depth underfoot.
Hang thick velvet curtains or drape wool tapestries on the walls for sound dampening and warmth.
Cashmere and mohair are perfect for ultra-plush throw blankets.
Look for textiles in autumnal colors like cinnamon, ruby red, olive green and mustard yellow.
Play with different weights, weaves and fabrics for an inviting mix of textures.
Your living room will emanate cozy cabin vibes all season long when you incorporate sumptuous fall textiles.
With cooler weather and shorter days ahead, autumn is the perfect season for warming up your living room with inviting decor.
Hopefully these fall-inspired ideas sparked your creativity for embracing the natural beauty of autumn at home.
Add pops of fall foliage, seasonal scents, cozy textiles and rustic vibes to refresh your space.
Displaying botanicals, gourds, candles and plaids nods beautifully to the harvest season.
By incorporating inspiration from the outdoors, your living room will feel like a charming cabin retreat.
As you plan your fall living room refresh, have fun experimenting with different colors, materials and textures reminiscent of this special time of year.
With a few simple updates, your home will welcome guests like a cozy autumnal oasis.
So grab your favorite sweater and a pumpkin spiced latte, then get ready to deck your living room halls with fall!
