Making your space more inviting for fall can be as easy as apple pie — an apple-pie-scented candle, that is. From autumn colors that will warm you to scents that will make your mouth water, discover some easy ways to refresh your space and revitalize your outlook without breaking the bank.
Fashion-forward with color
If your fall decor is wearing last year’s colors, simply update with a few accent pieces in new hues. Adding just a hint of the latest and greatest fall colors will make your pieces look fashionable for a fraction of the cost of a makeover.
Some of this season’s best choices are russet, copper, pomegranate, chocolate brown, pumpkin and asparagus. Introduce these shades in pillar candles, pillow accents, lampshades, tablescapes, picture frames, bath towels and bath accessories.
Add layering for cozy decor
Layering is a time-honored way to adjust to cooler temps and add warmth to your home. Add an area rug to your existing wall-to-wall carpeting to create a focal point or anchor a furniture grouping. Enhance an existing window treatment with a valance, or go all-out and install a bolster. Drape a decorative throw across a chair, on the end of a bed or fold one casually on an ottoman. Layering is a fast, easy and versatile way to add snuggle power to your space.
- Patch woodpecker lamp (Target, $60)
- Importers’ champagne lace jeweled frame (Pier 1, $20)
- Studio faux mohair throws (JC Penney, $25)
- Red and purple paisley Jacquard woven pillow (World Market, $30)
- Gold gilt acorn vase filler (Pottery Barn, $15)
- Ceramic owls ($9 to $16, West Elm)
Adorn with autumn aromas
Using scented aerosol sprays to freshen up your room isn’t the only way to create inviting aromas in your home. Instead, add a few dessert-themed scented candles. We love Yankee Candle’s scrumptious fall collection — especially the creamy caramel, cinnamon roll and maple pancake candles.
Go floral for fall
Your garden may be heading into hibernation, but you can certainly indulge in some fresh blooms or refreshing greenery. An artfully displayed vase of fresh flowers can last up to a week in your home and cost as little as a few dollars, courtesy of your neighborhood market.
For something more permanent, try an iron plant, Chinese evergreen or pothos. This plant trifecta is super-hardy and needs little light. You can even invest in a couple of faux plants to mix in with the real ones.
- Wood twig branch (Z-Gallerie, $16)
- Artichoke flower in lemon, set of three (Z-Gallerie, $51)
- Burgundy velvet plum blossoms, set of two (World Market, $16)
Put the spotlight on lighting
Cooler weather usually means shorter, darker days — and one way to brighten everyone’s spirits with fall decorating is with cheerful task lighting. If your existing lamps look tired, you can inexpensively update them with bright new shades that have a bit of fringe or a subtle pattern.
If you have a more generous budget, stained-glass lamps and other specialty lamp designs don’t just add illumination — they transform light into art. Adding a stained-glass lamp to a neglected corner can literally make it glow. You can also place one of these beauties in front of a window for nuanced light day and night.
Build a tabletop trio
If your tables and countertops are beginning to look boring, add dimension and height with a trio of related objects — candles, jars or vases, for example — with variations in size and color. These collections — especially in groups of three — add drama and interest, update the look of a room and give you a chance to micro-decorate in a fun and inexpensive way. Mix it up, but always have a unifying element — like a color, shape or finish.
- Bell-jar and saucer (Crate & Barrel, $10 to $15)
- Natural shola ball fillers, 12-piece bag (World Market, $7)
- Manchester three-tier stand (Pottery Barn, $129)
- Log vases (West Elm, $19 to $29)
Refresh with fruit
There’s no better way to refresh a kitchen table or countertop than with a big, shiny bowl of autumn fruit. Colorful apples, pears and oranges are bountiful jewels in an autumn kitchen — and they’re good to eat too. Display fruit in pedestal bowls, apothecary jars, wicker baskets and even peeking out of burlap sacks for inventive fall decorating ideas.
More home decorating tips for fall
10 timeless home decor trends
How to create and outdoor kitchen space
How to make your guest room comfortable
Leave a Comment