As the crisp autumn air arrives, it’s time to refresh your home with cozy fall decor!
The changing leaves and cooler temperatures inspire us to create a warm, inviting space perfect for the season.
Read on for an abundance of inspiring fall decorating tips and tricks to make your home feel straight out of a magazine this autumn!
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Pumpkin Spice Up Your Tablescapes
One of the best ways to infuse fall flair into your home is by sprucing up your tablescapes.
As the centerpiece of most rooms, an autumn-inspired table setting can establish a seasonal ambience for the entire space.
Plus, it’s an opportunity to break out festive dishware and linens reserved just for this time of year.
Start by using a classic orange and cream colored palette in your dishes, napkins and glassware.
Mix patterns like buffalo check, plaid and distressed wood for lots of homey texture.
Next, accessorize with on-theme touches: a lush runner of faux leaves and flowers, mini pumpkins, gourds, copper accents, clipped autumn foliage in a mason jar vase, pillar candles, and a homemade pinecone garland as a centerpiece.
Feel free to get creative with natural elements from outside woven throughout.
The finishing touch?
A sprinkle of cinnamon sticks, acorns, chestnuts and pinecones artfully placed atop the tablescape for a dash of autumn whimsy.
With the intoxicating scents and flavors of the season as your inspiration, your table will evoke the essence of fall in no time.
Warm Up With Cozy Throws and Pillows
As temperatures drop, there’s nothing quite like cozying up to watch a movie or read a book bundled under a soft throw or resting against plush pillows.
Take advantage of fall as an opportunity to make your furniture extra inviting with new seasonal accents designed to add comfort and warmth to any room.
Look for chunky knit throws in rich fall hues like crimson, amber, mustard and chocolate or handmade quilts in homespun plaids and patchwork perfect for snuggling.
Pair your throws with velvet, corduroy or faux fur pillows in deep autumn tones and varied shapes like tufted ottomans and floor pillows for lavish lounging.
Toss in extra heat-friendly accents like woolen pillows or a sheepskin rug draped over your sofa or armchair.
The natural textures and earthy color palette of these fall accessories will make your seating the ultimate haven for reading or napping on a chilly afternoon.
As the weather cools down, your home will feel cozier than ever.
Infuse Fall Fragrance with Simmering Candles and Potpourri
One of the best parts of autumn is its signature scents, from cinnamon-laced treats to the smoky smell of fire pits.
Bring the aromatic essence of fall inside your home with candles and potpourri that evoke the flavors, spices and sensations of the season.
For the quintessential autumn candle, look for woodsy notes like pine needless and cedar mixed with warmer smells of apple cider and maple.
You can also find seasonal scents featuring pumpkins, cranberries and pecan pie.
Arrange an array of soy candles, tea lights and wax melts throughout your home so you can bask in fall’s finest fragrances.
To make your space smell like autumn without the flames, whip up a batch of DIY potpourri.
Combine dried orange slices, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and pinecones with autumn plants like marigolds and sage.
Place your mixture in a bowl or small baskets around your home and let the delicious aroma infuse the air.
With just the right scents, your rooms will feel straight out of a crisp New England forest.
Embrace Autumnal Hues in Your Decor
The changing colors of the season are perfect inspiration for adding some fall flair to your interior design.
Warm saturated reds, brilliant oranges, sunny yellows, playful purples and every shade of brown become the palette that brings autumn alive inside your home.
Look for furniture, rugs, pillows, throws and artwork that incorporate rich harvest tones to fully embrace fall.
Distressed woods, plaids, neutrals like cream and burlap, metallic accents and textures like velvet help to balance out bold colors and tie everything together.
Don’t be afraid to go beyond ordinary orange; cranberries, violets, mustard and garnet can make for stunning statement pieces.
For a focal point, paint or stencil an accent wall in a burnt orange or deep red.
Finish off with touches of black for contrast, and decorate with botanical prints and natural objects like framed leaves or bare branches.
Your fall decor will radiate with the vibrant colors of the season.
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Spruce Up Staircases and Fireplaces
As centerpieces of most living spaces, fireplaces and staircases are the perfect places to showcase seasonal decor.
Adorn these beloved fall features with rustic embellishments that highlight their warmth and charm.
For fireplace mantels, start with a garland of greenery accented with pops of plaid ribbon.
Incorporate organic elements like dried leaves, seed pods, acorns, mini pumpkins and gourds woven throughout.
Add a scattering of tea light candles or a vase of wildflowers for the final flourish.
On stair railings, hang natural grapevine or twig garlands interspersed with faux colored leaves, wispy dried flowers and sprigs of fall foliage.
Line the stairs themselves with a runner rug in a rich shade like wine red or golden brown and finish with a pumpkin or two on each step.
With touches of nature, your fireplaces and staircases will become a beautiful backbone to any autumn-inspired look.
Welcome Visitors with Festive Front Porches
As one of the first spaces guests see when visiting your home, your front porch presents the perfect opportunity to showcase your fall spirit.
Deck out your porch with seasonal decorations and your home will give off an immediately inviting and homey autumn vibe right from the curb.
Start by lining your porch steps with mini pumpkins, gourds and pots of cheerful chrysanthemums.
Hang a vibrant fall wreath on the front door, like an arrangement of faux leaves, dried flowers, tiny pumpkins and a big plaid bow.
Include a cozy seating area with wood chairs, a quilted bench or swinging loveseat dressed in cushy pillows and a plaid throw.
Lastly, accent with charming touches like a cornhusk broom, an antique watering can overflowing with flowers or a wood crate acting as rustic side table.
With the right details, your front porch will be dressed to welcome autumn in splendid style.
Hang Fall-Themed Wreaths on Windows and Walls
A gorgeously crafted fall wreath is one of the quickest ways to infuse autumn ambience both indoors and out.
Hang wreaths made of seasonal elements on your front door, above the fireplace or on any blank wall space needing some character.
For outdoor areas like patios and back doors, opt for durable wreaths made from faux or dried materials that can withstand the elements.
Classic autumn wreath materials to look for include dried leaves, mini gourds, twigs, acorns, cedar sprigs, pinecones and clusters of berries.
Incorporate pops of color with the addition of plaid ribbon, painted leaves or paper flower rosettes.
For indoor wreaths, feel free to include real fruits and vegetables, like artfully sliced apples and mini pumpkins, dried corn husks or marigolds.
You can also shape wreaths into interesting silhouettes using grapevines, wire frames and decorations.
With a wreath on display, autumn makes its grand seasonal debut.
Decorate Your Dining Room with Fall Florals and Botanicals
Lend your dining room a taste of the season with fall-inspired floral and botanical accents.
Chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, dahlias and other autumn blooms in rich hues can be used as stunning table arrangements or mantel displays.
Balance flowers with organic elements like curved branches, sprigs of changing leaves, curly willow and dried seed heads floating in glass vases and jars.
For the buffet or sideboard, lay down a table runner that incorporates botanical motifs like leaves, branches or flowers.
Add more natural touches like a pair of acorn or chestnut “candelabras,” or a bowl of freshly picked apples, pears or mini pumpkins mixed with greens and flowers.
Vintage silver, glassware and ceramics that adorn the space should also reflect autumn colors and shapes.
With the right mix of florals, fruits, and natural accents, your dining room will feel both elegant and autumnal.
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Light Up Porch and Patios for Fall Gatherings
As the temperatures drop, gatherings tend to move outside to soak up the last warmth of the season.
Light up your outdoor living spaces with autumn accents to create a festive, inviting area for entertaining friends.
On porches and patios, hang strands of glowing amber lights, cupped candles or glass lanterns.
Arrange groupings of flickering luminaries along paths and steps to greet guests with a warm glow.
For cozy seating areas, place flameless candles inside glass jars or small pumpkins for tables and side tables.
Check that any outdoor electrical like outlets or extension cords are well-hidden before adding lights.
To illuminate food and beverage stations while entertaining, use a mix of LED candles, paper lanterns or solar pathway stakes.
Your outdoor lighting will make any fall get-together sparkle from dusk until dawn.
Display Your Collections of Fall Treasures
One of the simplest ways to welcome autumn is by decoratively displaying some of the season’s signature treasures, from gourds and leaves to pinecones and apples.
Use these collectibles to infuse fall charm into vignettes, centerpieces, mantels and shelves.
Create a rustic vignette on an entryway table or console by gathering pinecones, acorns, bark slices and fallen leaves in an antique metal basket alongside pottery crafted from earthy colors and textures.
For the mantel, display a long row of varying size gourds mixed with mini pumpkins and trailing ivy.
Make a centerpiece for your dining table by nestling candles inside natural wood rings draped with grapevines and delicate leaves.
Line your bookshelves with pumpkin shapes of different sizes and groupings of red crab apples.
With nature’s fall bounty creatively showcased, the essence of autumn shines through.
Repurpose Thrift Store Finds with Seasonal Paint Colors
Take thrift store furniture finds from drab to seasonal fab with a coat of trendy fall paint colors.
Look for wooden side tables, trays, picture frames and plant stands that can be revived with some DIY handiwork.
Sand and apply an all-over base coat of primer to create the perfect surface for your paint.
Then have fun testing out autumnal hues like amber, cinnamon, sage green, charcoal, eggplant, brick red and sunflower yellow with sample pots.
Once you’ve selected the perfect color, apply two to three thin layers allowing drying time between coats to achieve a smooth finish.
Add some weathered charm to your pieces with a few areas of intentionally exposed wood peaking through.
Finally, seal with a clear coat sealer and accessorize with decorative knobs, woven placemats or natural accents.
Your budget-friendly finds will look brand new and ready to shine among your fall decor.
Decorate with Foraged Fall Foliage
One of the simplest ways to infuse autumn ambience into your home is with foraged foliage from nature’s fall bounty.
Take a walk through your neighborhood or a nearby park to gather up fresh branches, leaves, seed pods and flowers showing off their seasonal colors.
Then use these natural found objects as affordable, eco-friendly decor.
Start by collecting an array of fallen leaves in brilliant hues of red, orange, yellow and brown.
Search for interesting leaf shapes and varieties beyond just maple leaves, like oak or sycamore.
Also gather leafy branches from trees and bushes, with leaves still attached to create delightful arrangements.
Look for pinecones, acorns, curled seed pods and spiky dried flower heads that add unique textures and shapes to displays.
Bring along garden clippers or pruners to carefully snip a few branches of shrubs with changing foliage, like sumac, euonymus or dogwood.
Once home, take time to carefully curate and artfully arrange your collected items.
Place your foraged finds in vintage bottles, pitchers, baskets or mason jars for an effortless autumn vignette.
Create a woodland centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table using gathered leaves, flowers and branches.
Display smaller selections of color-coordinated leaves or pinecones within glass cloches for shelf or side table accents.
You can also fill empty picture frames with pressed or freshly fallen leaves to make seasonal art for your walls.
And don’t forget outdoor spaces – a mix of collected acorns, seed pods and leaves makes a pretty welcome mat.
The best part of using foraged materials is that they are free!
Take a leisurely stroll through your neighborhood as the leaves turn each week to amass new pieces for stunning displays.
With the colors of autumn gathered at your fingertips, you’ll have endless options to infuse fall charm straight from nature into every room.
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Welcome Autumn with Farmhouse-Chic Accents
Rustic farmhouse style pairs perfectly with the autumn season, so look for decorative accents with a homespun vibe to enhance your fall look.
Vintage tin buckets, galvanized toolboxes and chippy wooden signs featuring cheeky seasonal sayings add folksy charm to shelf displays.
Drape handmade quilts in a patchwork of fall colors over chair backs, or display them decoratively like works of art.
For table settings, use aged-looking ceramicware, hammered copper mugs, and distressed wooden placemats.
Bring in touches of nature with wooden crates overflowing with mini pumpkins or gourds, and dried floral arrangements in mason jars or vintage bottles.
With the right mix of sentimental farmhouse finds and autumn’s favorite elements, you’ll create a cozy harvest-inspired haven.
The arrival of autumn is the perfect time to give your home an inviting update with seasonal decor.
Start small by accessorizing select spaces, or go all out by giving your entire home a complete autumnal transformation.
As you embark on fall decorating, remember to have fun and get creative in designing displays and vignettes that reflect your personal tastes.
With a lively color palette, cozy textures and touches from nature, you can craft a heartwarming home that’s straight out of your autumn dreams.
So embrace the inspiration that comes with the new season, and happy fall decorating!
