With fall officially upon us, we're all thinking of ways to enhance the cozy feeling within our homes. From decorating with richer colors to layering textiles, there are lots of ways to welcome fall, but what does interior design maestro Shea McGee have to say on the matter?
We spoke to the designer herself, who told us all about her favorite ways to decorate for fall, and it's as sophisticated as you'd imagine. Placing focus on switching out the light and airy neutrals of summer with warmer, richer hues and incorporating plenty of textures, there's much to love about this approach.
Below, we've rounded up Shea's fall decor ideas to give you some inspiration – guaranteed to have your home ready for the cozy season in no time.
Style natural elements
When decorating for fall, Shea takes inspiration from the outdoors to incorporate natural elements inside the home. For example, arranging fall branches is a quick and simple way to welcome fall.
'We all have things that are natural, organic elements that we decorate with or are surrounding us in nature that we can easily bring into our homes to just transform them,' Shea tells H&G. 'So whether that's just clipping branches from the season to add that style... it's a lot about weight in the fall and winter months.'
Beyond fall branches, this idea can extend to fall wreath ideas for your front door, or even foliage garlands to elevate your fall mantel ideas.
These eucalyptus stems bring a natural feel to your home, and can be styled beyond fall too.
For more of an instantly autumnal look, style bunches of these faux oak stems in vases around the home.
Looking for fall front door decor? This faux grapevine wreath is a go-to choice with its stunning wine-red hues.
Embrace textural accents
Secondly, Shea recommends switching out textiles for the fall months to boost cozy appeal and create a more texturally-rich scheme.
'When I think about weight, I'm thinking of visual weight, taking that really thin throw that you had over the edge of your sofa and swapping it out for a really chunky, heavy one; then all of a sudden it's feeling cozy or it feels like you should have the fire on. Those are the things that can add that seasonal shift to your home. So I'm really about adding that through accents.'
'I don't think that we should be changing out our sofa for the season,' Shea continues. 'And so focusing on those areas to bring in rich texture, heavy textures, and deep, warm hues.'
From switching out living room sofa pillows to opting for heavier bedding for fall bedroom decor, there are plenty of ways to incorporate richer textures for fall. And as Shea explains, this approach means you're not overhauling your existing decor, but rather making small tweaks that can be changed again when spring comes around.
If you love decorating with neutrals, this throw is a great way to elevate your schemes with its rich yet subtle tones.
Decorating with brown is so popular right now, and this waffle throw allows you to tap into this color trend while adding texture to your space.
With its textural pattern detail, this chocolate brown pillow cover is a simple yet effective way to add interest to your home this fall.
Decorate with rich, earthy colors
Lastly, fall color schemes are an important part of the decorating process for Shea, who favors warm and earthy hues. 'I love golden brown browns and rust tones,' the designer tells us.
These colors, such as browns, greens, and oranges are some of the best for this time of year. They don't feel too distant from lighter neutrals and yet add so much interest to the home – instantly reminiscent of fall in a timeless and sophisticated way.
In her own home, Shea recently switched out her bed to a praline-colored one in a velvet fabric. 'In my own bedroom, I recently changed my bed to this praline velvet color, and it's so, so rich. It transformed my room to put a really rich velvet in the center of the room.'
You can easily create a similar look by swapping out your bedding for a richer color and adding throw pillows and blankets in a similar hue for a cozy, layered scheme.
Switch out your bedding for fall with this warm brown duvet cover, made from 100% cotton.
Green is another stylish hue for this time of year, and this velvet pillow is muted enough for an understated look.
Looking to incorporate some patterns into your fall color schemes? Opt for this velvet pillow cover in earthy autumnal hues.
By following a similar approach to Shea, you'll be able to welcome the cozy season in a way that feels sophisticated, natural, and full of texture.
If you're looking for more ways to style your home for fall, Shea's fall porch decor is just as stylish, setting a welcoming and cozy feel to the home's entrance.
