I’ve been enjoying a wonderful Indian Summer, however, in addition to the gorgeous color of the vineyards and orchards, I’ve noticed the warm golden days starting to turn crisp, definitely cooler nights, and the sun setting earlier each week.  It’s time to cozy up my home for fall.
In today’s post I offer some easy and inexpensive tips for bringing the beauty and bounty of fall into your home decorating and creating a warm, inviting retreat for family and friends.

Start at the Entry

Have your home say “Welcome” before even stepping into the house.  Decorate your porch or your front door with fall’s bounty.

Photo southernliving.com

Pots of colorful mums help transition from summer to fall while adding warm color to a front porch.  Tuck in favorite items like the rooster shown above, a lantern with a candle, a galvanized bucket, an interesting box or crate or some other item that fits your personal interpretation of fall.

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A colorful wreath of fall leaves casually dresses an entry bench or hang it on the front door for a more traditional use.

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A swag of dried corn and a casual ribbon ready the door for fall.

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Fill an empty window box or big baskets with apples and fall leaves.

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Summer’s dried flowers paired with fall’s berries, leaves and vine, transition a front door from summer to fall.

Rearrange  & Warm-up Furnishings

If you had furniture under the windows so you could sit in the summer sun, rearrange things for fall.  Pull the furniture into cozy groupings and add touches of fall color.

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Draw comfy chairs up to the fireplace – perfect for an intimate chat or reading a good book.

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Add a warm, colorful throw across the back of a chair or sofa or toss it across an ottoman.  Add a fall motif to a plain pillow, like the maple leaf above, or slipcover cotton summer toss pillows in snuggly fabric like corduroy, fleece, knitted or crocheted covers, and wool.

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Use a heavier table topper – try a quilt or an afghan instead of a cotton table cloth to help warm up the space.  Notice how the addition of the afghan over the back of a chair and toss pillows help transition the lightweight chairs into a cold weather season?

Light Up the Night

With fall’s longer nights you’ll be using the lights more. Top your lamps with a pine cone for a fall finial  – the topper can take you right into winter too.  Or consider changing the lampshade to a more textured version.

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The warm glow of candles adds a wonderful ambiance to cozy nights at home.  Adding simple, natural items to plain candles enhances the autumnal  feel of a room.

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Use Seasonal Art and Accessories

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Whether real or photographed, natural items in brilliant fall colors or earth tones help bring autumn into your rooms.

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Items from your yard (or grocery store!) become fabulous accessories when simply showcased.  Colorful leaves, berries and seed pods are elevated to accessory status when purposefully showcased.  Even the dried fern from looks fabulous.  If you don’t have a yard to raid, look to the kitchen – apples and garlic are shown in these photos but a line of golden pears, a bowl of mixed nuts, or a tray of gourds and squash might add the perfect touch.

Transitioning Your Home

What will you do (or have done!) to welcome fall into your home?  Share your favorite trick to cozy up your home at summer’s end.  Leave a note by clicking the comment link below – I’d love to hear your colorful story!

P.S. Fall is a time many folks turn their attention back indoors and realize they need to paint and start sprucing up for the fast approaching holidays.  If you’re considering a change to your decor, don’t do a thing until you read our e-book “How to Successfully Use Color in Home Decorating.”  It will save you time, frustration and, for less than the cost of a can of paint, it will help you take the mystery out of color.  To learn more, click here.

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