As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, it’s time to warm up your kitchen for fall!
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so making some seasonal updates can completely change the feel of your space.
With these tips on using pumpkins, fresh flowers, warm lighting and more, you’ll find plenty of inspiration to cozy up your culinary hub for the cooler months ahead.
Let’s get started!
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Display a Harvest of Pumpkins
Pumpkins are a quintessential symbol of fall, so start your decorating with a harvest display of these seasonal squash.
Look for a mix of mini white pumpkins, tall blue-gray Jarrahdale pumpkins, pale green-striped Cinderella pumpkins and the traditional orange variety for lots of variety.
You can leave some pumpkins whole and carve others for jack-o-lanterns.
Hollow out a large pumpkin to use as a rustic bowl filled with gourds or autumn flowers.
Don’t forget the pumpkin seeds when carving your jack-o-lanterns!
Roast them with olive oil and spices for a delicious fall treat.
Let your pumpkin display shine all season long as a perfect fall focal point in your kitchen.
Use Fall-Inspired Color Schemes
The colors of autumn leaves and harvest fruits make for gorgeous, inviting color palettes for fall kitchen decor.
Earthy hues like rusty red-orange, golden yellow, deep green and rich brown create a warm, cozy look.
For a more vibrant scheme, pair fall neutrals like cream and tan with jewel-toned purple, teal or navy accents.
Incorporate these fall color combinations into your kitchen decor in easy ways.
Display ripe red apples or lemons in a green glass bowl for a simple tabletop vignette.
Use a decorative rug or runner in rich fall hues to warm up the floor.
Switch out your everyday dishes and linens for ones in autumnal colors and patterns like plaid, stripes and floral prints featuring fall leaves and botanicals.
Hang up tea towels or curtains in deep orange or yellow to complement the season’s colors.
Even just a new batch of velvety fall pillows for barstools or a window bench can make your kitchen feel happily autumnal.
Embrace Cozy Textures
Beyond fall colors, focus on cozy textures that provide literal and visual warmth.
Soft, tactile textures create an inviting, comfy look perfect for autumn.
Cable knit, fuzzy throws, wood grain finishes, velvet pillows and nubby woven rugs all help achieve the comforting feel you want in your fall kitchen.
Display blankets, mesa runners or tablecloths in cable knit or chunky knits for irresistible texture.
Place fluffy pillows on breakfast nook benches or stools to curl up on.
Add baskets made from seagrass, rattan or woven wood.
Light a soy candle in a textured terracotta or crackled glass holder for ambiance.
Layer in touches of wood furniture, open shelving, cutting boards, bowls and utensils for natural grain texture.
Hang pots and pans from a wrought iron rack for an industrial touch.
Incorporate nubby linens like linen dishtowels and napkins for everyday warmth.
Soft, tactile textures everywhere will give your kitchen a cozy cabin feel.
Warm it Up with Fresh Flowers
Nothing perks up a space for fall like fresh flowers and botanicals.
Chrysanthemums, sunflowers, marigolds, flowering kale and other autumn blooms lend cheer.
Arrange loose flowers in a rustic tin pail, clear glass vase or colorful enameled pitcher.
For the warmest fall look, opt for a bouquet with deep autumnal hues like burgundy, orange, crimson or russet red.
Accent with sprigs of rosemary, hypericum berries and leaves from the yard.
Display your autumn arrangement as a festive centerpiece or in a bright window as a welcoming focal point.
Beyond cut flowers, bring the outdoors in with potted mums, pansies, asters or ornamental kale planted in a metal bucket, ceramic planter or galvanized tub.
A front porch pumpkin with flowers sprouting from the top makes a creative seasonal display.
Greenery like ivy, eucalyptus and olive branches provide liveliness too.
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Light it Up with Lanterns
As the days get shorter in fall, warm up your kitchen with strings of twinkle lights, candles and lanterns to provide cozy illumination.
Try these lighting ideas:
– Line windowsills and counters with rows of flickering votive candles or fill glass hurricanes for ambient light.
– Hang strings of Edison bulbs or soft white lights from overhead pipes or shelves for a twinkling glow.
– Place amber-hued glass votive holders along the center of the table or bar for a welcoming glow during meals and gatherings.
– Cluster glass terrarium-style lanterns filled with pebbles and battery tealights on side tables or open shelves for ambient lighting.
– Illuminate doorways and dark corners with metal filigree lanterns containing pillar candles for more focused light.
– Use battery-powered faux candles to create the look without the worry of open flames.
Experiment with lantern styles like metal, glass, and wire to accent your look.
The warm, intimate lighting lanterns and candles provide will make your kitchen a favorite fall gathering spot.
Style with Seasonal Serving Pieces
Bring out your autumnal dinnerware, serveware and linens for seasonal styling.
Swap out everyday dishes and glassware for ones featuring acorns, leaves, apples and rich fall hues.
Use wooden cutting boards, wood-handled utensils, and wood or wire bowl for natural appeal.
Drape tables with runners or tablecloths patterned with harvest motifs or in plaid flannel for cozy dining.
Fold casual cotton napkins in a wine color or use decorative ones with embroidered autumn designs.
Place maple leaf or pumpkin-shaped ramekins at each place setting.
Serve up hearty fall soups and stews in ceramic crocks and roasted veggies in rustic seasoned cast iron.
Arrange a cornucopia centerpiece with gourds, mini pumpkins, or nuts and berries from your backyard.
With seasonal serving pieces, you’ll feel the fall magic at every meal.
Style with Seasonal Produce
The autumn harvest offers inspiration for stylish seasonal decor.
Fill bowls, baskets, and glass jars with just-picked apples, pears, figs, and pomegranates for fresh fall style.
Create mini pumpkin and gourd vignettes tucked into galvanized buckets, wooden crates or bushel baskets.
Drape grapevines across your mantel or kitchen hood and use clothespins or twine to display persimmons, hot peppers, or wreaths of rosemary and sage bundles.
Stand lidded glass jars of maple syrup, honey, jams and chutneys together for a tempting display.
Leave out wicker baskets of nuts like pecans or walnuts to snack on.
The natural colors, shapes and textures of fall produce make amazing arrangements to enjoy all season long.
And you can always cook up what you decorate with later on!
Layer Cozy Fabrics and Textiles
Layering textiles and fabrics creates visual depth and texture for a comfy, collected fall look.
Try these tips for incorporating cozy textiles into your autumn kitchen decor:
– Toss wool blankets or quilts over the back of sofas or tuck into baskets under console tables for handy warmth.
– Drape honeycomb knit blankets or linen throws over the backs of chairs and barstools for casual style.
– Wrap plush chenille or velvet pillows around dining chairs and benches for luxe softness.
– Stack baskets or bowls and line them with cotton napkins or tea towels for everyday storage.
– Place plush rugs underneath dining tables or kitchen sinks for cold weather comfort underfoot.
– Hang thick curtains in textured fabrics like boucle, corduroy or flannel to insulate windows.
Layering tactile textiles throughout the kitchen adds comfort and visual richness perfect for fall.
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Incorporate Natural Wood Pieces
Wood furniture, accents and finishes help create a cozy cabin vibe.
Swap out cold metal and plastic pieces for warmer wooden alternatives.
Use a wooden spoon rest or cutting board instead of stainless steel.
Display chilled beverages in a rattan cooler lined with ice packs rather than the metal fridge.
Serve snacks in woven wood bowls or on a rustic wood tray instead of glass or ceramic bowls.
Store staples like onions and baking supplies in woven baskets or galvanized tubs rather than plastic bins.
Add wood details with chopping block islands, open wood shelving, crossback chairs and handcrafted spoons and spatulas.
Distressed wood, reclaimed barn boards and oak add earthy character.
For a modern but warm look, try stained walnut or polished live edge details.
Natural wood provides a welcoming, grounded look perfect for fall.
Embrace Plaid Everything
Buffalo check, tartan, and traditional plaid prints make charming additions to fall kitchen decor.
To work plaid into your autumn kitchen style:
– Drape a buffalo check cloth over a small round dining table for rustic charm.
– Layer plaid throw pillows over neutral chairs or benches for cozy pattern mixing.
– Use a black and white buffalo check rug as a graphic floor covering.
– Display ceramic canisters or glass jars tied with plaid fabric ribbons.
– Roll and tie plaid napkins with twine or raffia for an autumnal place setting.
– Hang a plaid valance over the kitchen window for a pop of pattern.
– Use plaid dish towels for drying dishes and glassware after meals.
– Toss tartan blankets into a basket or across chair arms for chilly weather.
Subtle plaids and buffalo check prints pair nicely with solids to create warmth and pattern without going overboard.
Warm Up with Woodsy Scents
Fill your kitchen with woodsy, aromatic scents that evoke the essence of fall.
Scented candles like pine needle, cedarwood, and birch bark capture the fresh crisp smell of autumn.
or classic fall aroma, burn candles scented like baked apples, cinnamon, clove, and pumpkin pie spice.
Simmer a potpourri mix of orange slices, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and pinecones on the stovetop to gently scent the whole kitchen.
Bake up apple pies, pumpkin breads, and ginger cookies for homemade aroma right from the oven.
Display fresh potted herbs like rosemary, thyme and sage so you can release their robust, herbal scents simply by brushing against them.
Essential oil diffusers containing fall-inspired essential oils like bergamot, patchouli, and spruce are a flameless option too.
Infuse your kitchen with those comforting, quintessential scents of fall.
Craft Paper and Fabric Garlands
Handmade garlands using paper and fabric add charming fall flair.
Simple paper garlands made from strung together maple leaves or cut-out kraft pumpkins look adorable strung above windows and doorways.
Or make them from pages of old books for a literary fall look.
For fabric garlands, cut out leaf or pumpkin shapes from burlap, calico or plaid flannel and stitch or glue them together into a garland.
You can also string together colorful felt or wool pom poms, or cut out fabric leaves using the outlines of your kids’ hands traced onto fabric.
Hang garlands over your kitchen mantel or island, swag them above cabinets or drape them on stair railings.
Paper and fabric autumn garlands are a crafty way to infuse more DIY personality into your fall decor.
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Style with Seasonal Scented Candles
Nothing sets the mood for fall like the ambiance of seasonal scented candles.
Spice-scented candles evoke cozy thoughts of the holiday season ahead with scents like:
– Apple Cider – Captures the tangy sweetness of fresh pressed cider
– Pumpkin Pie – Aromatic nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla like mom’s homemade pie
– Spiced Chestnut – Warm and woodsy with notes of toasted chestnuts
– Maple Pecan Waffle – Rich maple sweetness with nuttiness
– Cranberry Chutney – Fruity blend of cranberry, orange and clove
– Gingerbread – Delicious ginger, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla
Place taper candles in holders down the center of the table, or cluster an assortment of autumnal candles together on the countertop, coffee station or windowsill.
Light your favorite fall scented candle while cooking and relaxing to infuse your kitchen with seasonal coziness all autumn long.
With an abundance of ideas like displaying pumpkins and gourds, embracing cozy fabrics and fall colors, and warming up with candles and lighting, you can easily transform your kitchen into a comfortable, inviting space for fall.
Start with just a few of these seasonal touches, then keep adding more as fall deepens and winter approaches.
Before you know it, your kitchen will feel like a snug, welcoming respite filled with the sights, scents and flavors of autumn.
So break out the pumpkins, forage for blooms from the garden, unroll the wool blankets, and get stirring those cinnamon-spiced apple ciders.
With these fun and inspiring fall kitchen decorating tips, you’ll be ready to fully celebrate the coziness of autumn in your warm, welcoming culinary space.
