With fall incoming, there's a need to make our homes feel cozier and turn them into spaces you want to hunker down in. It doesn't need to be a huge transformation — all you need are a few easy fall decor ideas that can bring the spirit of the season to life. Think harvest colors, layered textures, beautiful dry floral arrangements, decorated porches with florals and plaid, and lots of candles on the mantel. We're not completey adverse to a pumpkin or two either. Simple, easy, joyful!
If you want to change up your interiors, then these decorating ideas for fall will help you update your space into the perfect autumnal escape.
1. Introduce fall colors into your paint scheme
A refresh of your room's paint can feed into the fall feeling, while stil being an on-trend design year round. In fact, this is a good budget bedroom or living room fall decor idea. To add a seasonal palette, consider tones of mulberry, burgundy, orange, and terracotta. "We have also noticed a transition to brown shades which are now delicately paired with beige and natural tones," add Jen and Mar, co-founders of Interior Fox. "Accents of brown are noticeably being highlighted through upholstery and tiles particularly."
But if you want to go in for ones that feel slightly more subtle and long-lasting without having a season-specific vibe you could go in for unexpected fall colors like black & white, lilacs, mint, or sage.
2. Bring fall flowers and foliage indoors
There are certain flower trends for fall that bring the season to life, and consider including anemones, chrysanthemums, bouvardias, cymbidiums, and more. But these aside, you could even include the season's harvest as part of your fall decor ideas — a bowl of bright red pomegranates, berries, or a basket of spare branches and leaves.
"I always bring natural elements into my spaces; it’s the perfect finishing touch," suggests Leanne Ford, founder of Leanne Ford Interiors. "I'll go scavenge the yard and cut some branches (dead or alive) and bring them in and put them in a pretty vase. It immediately makes your room feel special and happy. I think it’s an easy but big move anyone can do to change up their space."
3. Embrace the tiny pumpkin
It's not for everyone, but the tiny pumpkin is the symbol of fall decorating, and doesn't have to feel like Halloween decor. Consider this fall trend to dress up the dining table or mantel — bring in pumpkin-shaped bowls and plates, or even cutlery. But if you want the real deal, you could strategically stack pumpkins in an empty fireplace, or on your porch. You could also paint a pumpkin to bring in the spirit of the season.
"You can choose colors that tie in with your existing decor, adding a subtle hint of fall or Halloween to your house," says Jade Lisa, interior designer at Jade Lisa Interiors.
4. Choose cozy fabrics
For a cozy bedroom or living room, consider blankets and sheets that will keep you warm, and are in colors of the season.
"I like to swap out my throw blankets and pillows that are lighter in weight and color, for something richer, like wool or cashmere in fall," says Alex Epstein, lead designer at Purple Cherry Architects.
5. Decorate the porch with fall elements
One of the simple ways to increase your curb appeal in fall is by adding interesting seasonal-decor ideas to the space.
A good wreath and cozy-feeling outdoor lighting are the stalwarts of porch decor ideas for fall. "String lights are an easy way to set a laid-back, festive tone and set a boundary for an outdoor space," says Ellie Mroz, founder of Ellie Mroz Design. "They keep spaces open while simultaneously making areas more intimate."
6. Dress up the mantel
With the arrival of the chilly months, your living room fireplace is sure to become the focal point of the home. This is the time to switch up mantel decor ideas to cozy elements.
"My go-to is saving all of our fresh hydrangea arrangements well after they have dried up and use them for fall arrangements," says Lance Thomas, founder of Thomas Guy Interiors. "Dried florals are the perfect decor for getting in the fall spirit when it still feels like summer outside. Avoid overworking arrangements and decor. It should look effortless. Simply cut a branch, for example, and stick it in a vase of water. Show the intention, not the labor."
7. Translate the fall palette into the furniture
While classic neutral hues are usually considered the more 'safe' colors for living room furniture, to make you indoors feel warmer, you could opt for deeper shades to up the cozy factor. A few splashes of an autumnal palette can lift your spaces without making them feel theme-y. For your living room color ideas, think of rust tones, terracottas, and olive greens.
"While a neutral, scandi-inspired palette remains popular, we are noticing a shift to more saturated earthy tones for fall," say Jen & Mar.
8. Add warmth with wood
Paints and colorful upholstery aren't the only key fall decorations. Wood is timeless, charming, and has an inherent coziness to it. No need to go in for a big rehaul if you aren't planning for one. You could consider bringing in a small touch with a new piece of furniture or decor, or try the trend for exposed wood wall paneling that looks both grand and snug.
"Light, white-washed wood or natural wood tones through vintage furniture, paneling, or dark-colored cabinetry can add all the warmth you need in your interiors," say Jen & Mar.
9. Go for a warm lighting scheme
Whether it's the bedroom, bathroom, or living room lighting ideas, the key to creating a cozy, comfortable space is combining different lighting sources to complement the vibe of the room without making it overly bright, or too under-lit.
"To create a cozy aesthetic in the home, ambient lighting or mood lighting as its also known, can transform an interior or indeed space, and the key to this is all about layering," says Angela Murray of Hadeland Glassverk. "Go for a combination of accent and task lighting, using a mix of floor, table, and pendant to impact the mood of a room. One of the most beautiful materials to diffuse light is glass. Use sandblasted, tinted, or clear glass to create varying degrees of diffusion. It’s also worth remembering the controls on lighting output will allow you to determine degrees of luminaire within the space."
To make the home feel cozy for fall, layer lighting in the scheme. "Bring in an assortment of lamps as this will create an autumnal ambiance within the home," says David Amos, CEO at Amos Lighting + Home. "Using lamps in the evening, as opposed to spotlights and ceiling lights, creates a softer lighting look which will affect the overall mood of the home. For a comforting environment choose warm lighting, with soft tactile shades."
10. Opt for textured walls
Wall color is a key decorating decision in interiors; an element that can completely change the mood of a room. But a simple, flat paint job isn't always the best bet when it comes to giving your design movement and dynamism. Enter textured paint finishes — from high gloss enamel, Venetian plaster, decorative finishes, and more, the choices are endless
"Textured and colored wall surfaces are our areas of focus," says Yasmine Saleh Ghoniem, founder of YSG Studio. "This also includes tiled feature walls (ideally hand-crafted elements that have an undulating surface and gentle sheen such as Moroccan Zellige tiles). Venetian and limewash walls are also gaining traction. Venetian plaster creates an instantly worn-in, beautiful sheen that allows feature lighting and natural sunlight to pool across it, whilst lime wash surfaces have a matte depth like crushed velvet if you’re seeking a cocooning feeling in a room."
11. Color drench to create an enveloping space
While speaking of paint and color, a great way of creating an enveloping feeling, a warm embrace and more is with color drenching — a technique of painting walls and ceilings the same color. You could even consider drenching the joinery in the same hue. Choosing warmer colors will create an illusion of the walls closing in (but in a good way), making even a large space feel comforting and cozy. Go for colors such as red, orange, yellow, mustard, and green for a fall-inspired palette.
"Color drenching, especially when using darker colors, works best in small spaces like a hallway, a corridor or small bathroom," says Livingetc's interiors editor Emma Breislin. "By enveloping a small space in a color, the focus shifts from noticing the size of that space to just appreciation of the shades that surround us."
12. Curved furniture pieces create a feeling of cocooning
Curved sofas are useful for defining a space. This piece can also be a boon when arranging living room furniture to create space for circulation. But apart from its functional aspects, this shape is the epitome of comfort and snugness. It invites you to curl up, relax and sleep.
"Furniture design is taking on more curved and architectural forms (though avoiding sharp angles), so expect to see a lot more sculptural exhibitions," says Yasmine. "Homewares stores are increasingly stocking pieces by ceramicists too, offering affordable access to collecting, with local Australian and Japanese talents feeding our interests lately. Retro stores are also great places to visit for cozy, bargain-priced ‘one-offs."
13. Choose earthy, woody home fragrances
If you want to make a room smell cozier, consider fall scents like bergamot, cinnamon, amber, fig, ginger, apple cinnamon, maple and more — all fragrances that remind you of warm things, and the outdoors. From candles, and diffusers to sprays, shift the scent of your home with the seasons.
"Every year, I change my candle and diffuser to earthy scents to match the mood of the changing seasons; it instantly transforms the atmosphere of the space," says Alex of Purple Cherry Architects.
14. Design cozy corners
Have an empty or awkward bedroom, kitchen, hallway, or living room corner? Use it as an opportunity to create cozy moments in your home. Use it to add a bookcase here, along with a sofa with a throw, and you have yourself a lovely reading spot. You could also add a chaise lounge or a daybed for quick afternoon naps. Utilize an empty window by inserting a bench or a swing here; the perfect perching place to watch the world go by.
If nothing else works, a lovely gallery wall with personal family pictures could be the perfect, charming touch to your interiors.
"Combining the avant-garde, through playful artwork and by painting areas and corners that are often unexpected, this season will allow us to express our creativity and explore unconventional ideas into interiors in a fun and creative way," says Justyna.
What are some fall decor ideas that can be easily introduced?
Apart from the usual fall decor trends that include elements like pumpkins, wreaths, gourds, or pampas grass, you could also paint your home in fall tones (wall or even furniture), add warmth with season-appropriate bedding and sheets, layer in more throws and pillows, and create a specific tablescape and mantel decor.
What is new in fall decor?
This year, there's a newfound love for earth tones, honeyed colors, moss, and warm mint greens. Limewash is going to be a big paint finish, and will continue to charm next year as well.
Everything that connotes warmth, coziness, and a feeling of being enveloped is going to be a fall decor mainstay. Woven materials, earthy textures, and curves will take over interiors. So will a mix of vintage and modern textured fabrics.
What are the most popular decorations for the fall?
For years now, the most popular staple for fall decor has been pumpkins, autumnal leaves and wreaths — all elements that can add a touch of warmth to the centre table, mantel and entryway. This year, designers are also promoting vivid fall flower arrangements and focusing on warm lighting fixtures that give the home a subtle but elevated feel.
Are there any free fall deocrations to try?
Decorations for the fall don't have to mean big bucks. You can add a seasonal touch for free. Look at nature and bring home outdoor elements that signal fall. You could collect the orange/yellow leaves and pinecones to fill vases and baskets. You could make a centrepiece with dried flowers and twigs. Enhance this arrangement with tealights and candles.
