How Amber Lewis Crafts a Timeless Fall Atmosphere That Never Feels Cliché
Interior designer Amber Lewis shares her fall decorating secrets – and how she layers every room for cozy season and beyond
If one person knows how to make a room feel cozy but still effortlessly chic, it's Amber Lewis. Best known for her richly layered schemes, Amber's designs evoke comforting familiarity while retaining an elevated, timeless feel.
While cozy schemes aren't just for the cozy season, Amber's approach to decorating every room for fall is the ultimate method to make your home feel a little more inviting in the colder months. From layering your home with organic textures to embracing saturated neutral tones, Amber's formula ensures interiors are as comforting as they can be come fall.
'I live in L.A., where it never really gets cold, so I’m a little addicted to what I call my “fall feeling",' Amber tells Homes & Gardens. 'Any chill in the air is my excuse to pull out the sweaters and light a fire. At home, that feeling comes from layers. I add throws you can actually reach for, pillows in a mix of textures, and a comfortable seat everywhere you look.'
Amber's schemes are inspired by nature. 'I always look outside first,' she says. 'Nature guides the palette and the tone, and it does the heavy lifting for me.'
Before layering begins, Amber always starts by pulling inspiration from her surroundings, letting the tones and textures outside guide her decorating decisions. Starting with fall color schemes, Amber nods to the natural shift outside without straying into the stereotypical or 'themed', embracing tones that feel grounding and calming in line with the season. Organic textures like marbles, soft linens, and plush shearling follow suit.
'I always look outside first. Nature guides the palette and the tone, and it does the heavy lifting for me,' she explains. 'In the fall, that means greens of every shade (my forever favorite), deep forest tones with a little olive in them, and hits of rust and saffron. For materials, I want things that feel good to touch: linen, wool, shearling, patinaed leather, plaster walls and natural stone. I also love a washed-out plaid in an earthy tone. It’s a quiet nod to the season, not a costume.'
When asked her go-to materials for this time of year, Amber replied, 'Stone and wood, always. The ruggedness of stone next to the warmth of timeworn wood is one of my favorite pairings. Chosen with intention, they don’t compete with each other; they complete each other. I also love a limestone fireplace against warm-toned plaster walls. For metals, my go-to is unlacquered brass fixtures with antiqued brass hardware, but I’m also happy to mix in polished nickel or oil-rubbed bronze so nothing looks too matchy-matchy. Then there are my constants: reclaimed oak, honed marble, patinated leather, and lots of linen. They’re all materials that wear in, not out.'
Finding common ground through color and texture ensures each layer feels harmonious and balanced.
The cozy-maxxing trend is all about layering, mixing covetable textures with traditional patterns and curved, cocooning shapes. It's a similar method to Amber's approach, where she combines nostalgic patterns with comforting textures and a splash of artisanal decor.
'Mixing and layering is my ultimate design belief,' Amber explains. 'It’s patterns on patterns on textures on more patterns. What makes it work is keeping the colors and tones in line, so you can go as wild as you want with everything else. My trick is to lay all the fabrics next to and on top of each other, step back, and look at them together. If the tones clash, swap one out and try again. I apply the same idea to objects. Roughhewn wood, a dented vintage metal piece, handmade pottery, and something green on a shelf will give you more depth than any single “statement” piece. It’s the small details that do it: a wooden button on a pillow, the slub of a linen throw.'
Finding common ground through color makes a scheme feel cohesive and harmonious. For fall, Amber relies on organic tones to create harmony within her schemes, layering patterns, fabrics, and decor according to the palettes she creates. 'I’m drawn to earthy, grounded palettes in the fall. That means mossy and forest greens, warm rusts, a little saffron, and creamy warm whites to balance it all out. You don’t need to repaint to bring them in. Let textiles do the work. Stay in the same color story so it all feels connected. Keep the bones of the room timeless, and let the layers be what changes with the season.'
The small details are what make a scheme feel layered and personal, Amber says.
Once the layering is complete, it's time to embrace the details that take a scheme from pretty to personal. From filling vignettes with vintage treasures to introducing warm, soft lighting, the small details tie the look together and create that truly cozy ambiance we crave during fall.
Amber says small styling details are what make the biggest difference when preparing a home for fall. 'Vintage vessels and bowls,' Amber says. 'Fill them with branches or something seasonal, but not literal. Stacked books and one object with a story. This makes a room feel personal, not styled.'
Vintage quilts make all the difference to a bed. They bring an element of story and nostalgia to bedrooms. 'Throws and quilts. Use them generously, and put them where people will actually use them. Bed layers, too. Crisp sheets, a duvet in the same color story, then throws and pillows on top. A bed is the easiest place to make a room feel cozy.'
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Layering is the secret to a comforting scheme that feels balanced and timeless. 'For me, warmth is the whole point of a room,' Amber says. 'I’d always choose something that feels a little imperfect and worn-in over something sterile and overly polished.'
And with the launch of Amber's newest collection with Loloi and Four Hands that's filled with characterful, time-worn pieces, creating a warm and luxurious scheme couldn't be easier.
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