Shea McGee Says You’re Overcomplicating Fall Decorating – These Are the Only 5 Changes She Makes Each Autumn

If anyone knows how to make a room feel like fall without feeling like 'fall,' it's Shea McGee. They aren’t the spaces with tricolor maple leaves emblazoned across every surface or coffee tables crowded with pumpkin-scented candles. But they are cozy, and they are layered. Which is why her new fall 2026 collection might be one of the most un-fall lineups of the season.

Corny corn bundles, begone. Instead, Shea scratches the seasonal itch with familiar elements: future heirlooms (think bone china tableware, etched glassware, and artisan quilts), pieces that slip seamlessly into family rituals (the Octavia Sofa is roomy enough to play second host), and unexpected grandma-coded pattern pairings to capture the spirit of the season (Greek key with gingham, anyone?). Good fall decorating, according to Shea, should never feel like an overhaul.

‘I never think about it as starting over. It’s really about layering a few thoughtful pieces into the home you already love. A handful of small changes can completely shift how a room feels without changing its character,’ she says.

Step one starts with textiles. ‘The first thing I update each season is textiles,’ Shea continues. ‘Throws and pillows do so much of the heavy lifting. I’ll trade lightweight linens for richer textures like velvet or alpaca because you feel the difference right away. Sometimes it’s as simple as swapping in velvet pillows; other times it’s introducing an olive or brown accent chair. Those richer textures instantly make a room feel warmer and more inviting.’

Step two takes her to the surfaces throughout the room, retiring the last traces of summer. ‘Coffee tables, consoles, shelves – I’ll put away lighter summer accessories and bring out pieces with a little more weight and character. Marble, wood, woven baskets, ceramics. I want those surfaces to feel layered with objects that look like they’ve been collected over time, not styled all at once.’

Step three is all about lighting – and for fall, Shea says the more analogue, the better. ‘I always say a home should follow the light of the season, and fall is when I start layering in taper candles and warmer ambient light. It’s a small shift, but it completely changes how a room feels at the end of the day.’ Whenever possible, opt for aged finishes like her new verdigris candleholders. ‘They already feel like they have a history,’ says Shea.

Step four: don’t sleep on the bedroom. ‘A beautifully layered bed is one of the easiest ways to make your home feel ready for fall,’ she adds. ‘I’ll add a quilt, mix in patterned bedding with velvet or embroidered pillows, and finish with a throw at the foot of the bed. It doesn’t take much – just a few extra layers to make the room feel softer, cozier, and more inviting.’

And for the fifth and final flourish? The table. ‘I always dress the table – even before I’m entertaining,’ Shea muses. ‘Setting the table with beautiful dinnerware, a tablecloth, and candlelight is my way of welcoming a new season. This fall I’m loving our floral bone china layered with the Lachlan plaid tablecloth, etched glassware, and warm copper serving pieces. To me, a home doesn’t really feel like fall until the table does.’

That’s only five moves. Chances are, you’ve been overcomplicating the seasonal transition all along. A fabulous skirted ottoman here, a woven urn vase there – Shea’s secret isn’t decorating for fall, it’s decorating through fall. Ahead, the pieces you’d have bought anyway.

No seasonal clichés, no obvious motifs, yet this McGee & Co. collection whispers 'fall' all the same.

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