The Easy Bedroom Swaps Interior Designers Always Make Before Fall

a classic bedroom with striped walls, an ornate bed frame, matching end tables, two sconces, and frilly pillows — (Image credit: Ruth Maria Murphy. Designed by Studio Portobello)

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The Fall Bedroom Edit

Retreating to the comfort of our abodes in the colder months is all the more enjoyable when they reflect the change in season. As the days grow crisper and darker, the need for a cozy, cocooning, and comforting sleep space becomes more apparent.

Creating a restful place to relax in during fall starts with swapping lighter, brighter summer decor with richer, more luxurious choices. And that doesn't mean all the usual fall bedroom decor either; keeping things simple by replacing a linen throw with something thicker or swapping a citrus candle for a spiced and headier scent can make your bedroom feel remarkably more aligned with the season.

These five tweaks might be simple, but they make all the difference to a bedroom during the fall months.

1. Swap Fresh Scents For Something Spiced

Autumnal bedroom with beige plaster walls, beige bed with a dark orange throw, a burl wood nightstand, a large brown Persian-style rug, and a side table with a candle on top. — A cozy scent will bring lasting ambience to your bedroom for the entire season.

The beauty of fragrance is that it can transport you to a place of the utmost calm; that's why transitioning your bedroom from late summer to fall should always start with a seasonal scent. It's a quick fix that conjures up instant feelings of coziness and warmth, providing comfort as the weather turns crisper.

A reliable fall candle is a no-brainer on your bedside table for evening ambience, and a good reed diffuser will waft a comforting scent throughout your bedroom at every hour of the day. 'Because we love to use all of our senses, smell is another great way to change things up,' says Janie Hungerford of Hungerford Interior Design. 'If you love candles or diffusers, switching out your scent for something that feels more like fall is a great way to immerse your senses in the season.'

'Cedar, spice, fig, or something that simply reminds you of falling leaves can instantly change the feeling of a room,' Janie adds. 'For those who like to have foliage or flowers inside, adding seasonal branches or flowers is another way to engage your senses of smell and sight, while connecting your bedroom to what’s happening outside.'

2. Create Pockets of Warm Light

Bedroom with pale sage walls, a dark upholstered velvet bed, white bedding, a blue wool throw, and a tapestry cushion, with a wooden scalloped nightstand beside it decorated with books and a vase. — Create an atmospheric glow with low-level lighting beside your bedside.

Natural light floods our sleep spaces in the summer months, so bedroom lighting isn't typically our main focus. Come fall, however, pockets of warmth are exactly what our bedrooms need to aid the darker evenings.

'Lighting is a crucial element in adding warmth to a space and shifting the mood as the days become shorter,' says Janie. 'Introduce warmer, softer layers of lighting beside the bed or in other corners of the room, whether it’s in the form of candles, bedside lamps or sconces. Being able to dim your lighting and using warm bulbs is key.'

'There are also so many great options for small portable lamps that don’t require any electrical wiring. Companies like Pooky have great options that can really help personalize your space. Their portable lamps have interchangeable lampshades, making it quick and affordable to change the shade depending on the season.'

3. Replace Linen Shams With Textured Pillows

neutral bedroom with a striped ochre upholstered bed, dark brown nightstand, mustard armchairs with fringed trim — Swap out ditsy florals or linen pillows for richer tones and textures.

'Every fall, I make a few small, irresistibly simple changes to my bedroom,' says interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'I start with decorative pillows, swapping out the light linen covers that carried me through spring and summer and replacing them with rich velvet versions. Velvet is one of those undeniably warm, inviting fabrics that’s a natural fit for the cold-weather seasons. Opt for pillows with contrast piping or fringe trim if you want to add a little extra oomph to the look.'

Fall throw pillows don't have to feel stereotypically autumnal. 'I’m a white sheet person, especially when they’re really crisp, but I love to bring in color through a quilt, a throw and some decorative scatter or bolster cushions,' says Tabitha Organ, founder of Tabitha Isobel. 'I’d swap lightweight summer blankets for a heavier bedspread or quilt, and lighter neutral or pastel cushions for richer, earthier tones such as deep terracotta, tobacco brown or a rich, moody green, depending on the room’s palette.'

4. Drape a Wool Throw At the End Of Your Bed

neutral bedroom with a curtain hung behind the bed, a floral headboard and neutral linens with a dark red painted nightstand styled with a lamp, vase, and books — A cozy throw draped at the foot of a bed is a quick way to make your bedroom feel more inviting.

'The other swap comes at the foot of the bed,' says Kathy. 'Out goes the breezy cotton blanket, and in its place I add a thick, warm throw in wool, faux fur, or cashmere. I especially love a throw blanket in quintessential fall tones like olive green, burnt umber, or ochre; it’s an easy way to play with color without making a permanent commitment.'

Richly woven tapestry bedding or heavy jacquard fabrics can add texture to your 'bedscape' and create a beautiful contrast with softer, smoother velvets or cottons.

'As the temps cool, it's nice to give your bed an extra layer,' says designer Alexa Harris-Ralff, founder of AHR Designs. 'When making the bed, I like to add a quilt or coverlet to a bed and then fold the duvet at the bottom for a layered look. If our clients only sleep with a duvet cover and insert, then oftentimes they will swap the insert for a heavier version for the cooler temps. A chunky throw blanket is also a nice addition in the fall.'

5. Bring In Rich, Moody Tones

Moody bedroom with dark teal painted walls, an upholstered burnt orange bed, a mahogany wood bedside table, white bedding and a blue throw with a striped cushion in the centre. — Go all out with a moody teal for your walls, or keep it simple with an indigo wool throw.

Now is the time to really embrace fall color schemes. While a deep plum paint (Farrow & Ball's Brinjal is a cult favorite) will make your room feel like a cocooning retreat, you needn't commit to a whole new paint job for your bedroom to feel inviting.

Take inspiration from color trends and introduce them in small, but intentional doses. Think a rich glazed vase, a striking piece of wall art, or a soft rug underfoot. 'Fall is all about adding layers and comfort to really mimic that feeling of retreat and sanctuary at home,' says James Montgomery-Castle, bedding expert and buyer at Soak&Sleep. 'On color, the obvious move is quintessential fall colors like burnt orange and rust; however, if this feels too on the nose, an unexpected option is blue.'

'Atlantic blue and rich teal are extremely calming, don’t feel overly themed, and still offer you that ‘cave-like’ feel you want in a bedroom. If you do want to go warm, look to deep earthy tones like mocha and chocolate. All these sit really well next to neutrals, so you’re adding to your summer bedding rather than replacing everything.'

The Fall Bedroom Edit

'An autumnal bedroom is a touch darker, more layered, and very inviting,' says Kathy. 'The palette shifts toward deeper jewel tones. The textures get thicker and softer. There's nothing seasonal on display in the pumpkin sense; it should simply feel like the room has put on a cozy sweater.'

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