Living room fall decor – 17 ideas to decorate for the season

Living room fall decor ideas – that are warm, cozy and inviting – are pretty much at the top of our list of must-haves at the moment. And for obvious reasons, when you consider that the most used room in a home is the living space.

From effortlessly elegant color schemes to quiet rooms to retreat to, these examples of living room fall decor will help you to create functional and, above all, comfortable spaces – particularly if all you crave is a soothing room to retreat to.

There are plenty of big – and small – updates you can make to your fall living room to make the space feel more seasonal; these are our favorites. 

Living room fall decor

Read on to discover our favorite living room ideas and fall decor ideas – combined so that you can create living room fall decor that invites warmth, coziness and lustrous layers into your home.

1. Update living room fall decor instantly

Living room fall decor can be really comforting when it has a craft-appeal. 

'If you love the idea of fall craft ideas but simply don't have the time or space, why not use paint tricks to update your living space for fall?' suggests Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief of Homes & Gardens. 'The paint effect in the living room above has been created with stencils, but you could paint free-hand to introduce a living room feature wall idea that's not only unique but easy to update or replace when the next season approaches. 

'Use warm colors to introduce fall color schemes to otherwise neutral rooms, and look forward to painting over them in spring colors come March when you want to introduce spring decor ideas instead.'

2. Dress a fall fireplace with yard finds

Fall wreath ideas and fall mantel ideas are two living room fall decor basics that can instantly lend a cheery feel, and they're always at their most charming when they have been created with seasonal finds from your flowerbeds (or a florists'). 

'This is the perfect time to scavenge in your yard for outdoor fall decor ideas that can come inside: seedheads, flowerheads that are spent but still shapely, and even ornamental grasses,' says Homes & Gardens' Gardens Editor Rachel Crow. 'It's easy to make a fall wreath around a ready-made base (my favorite is this artificial fall wreath from Amazon because you only have to add a few sprigs to it for it to look really full); and you can make a mantel garland to match.'

3. Choose fall flowers to complement furnishings

Snuggle up and get comfy with warming fall color schemes: a palette of pinks and an eclectic, elegant union of patterns, shapes and materials to create a cozy and comforting fall living room space. Here, florals in the fabrics and colors in the artwork have been cleverly matched to the fall flowers for pots, which can be dried and kept indoors to lend color and texture to your scheme right through winter.

Room design by OKA.

4. Display fall foliage and finds on shelves

One must-have living room fall decor element is the pumpkin. If you are looking for easy, no-carve pumpkin ideas, the simplest is to paint your pumpkins in seasonal shades – or cool white for minimalists.

You can then use these, along with other foliage of the season, to dress shelves, mantelpieces and as fall table decor ideas. 

'Pine cone Christmas craft ideas can start being useful from September onwards,' says stylist and Homes & Gardens' Deputy Editor Jo Bailey. 'Display them singly or piled into bowls or use them as one of your Mason jar crafts.'

5. Rethinking your decor? Choose a naturalistic mural

Wondering how long you leave fall decorations up? The answer can be: year round. 

'Scenic landscape wall mural ideas are the biggest story in decorating today – wonderfully atmospheric and evocative, a statement design will transform a space and capture the imagination,' says H&G's decorating editor Emma Thomas. 'This Upper Brook St. in Night Garden by Little Greene is ideal for a year-round interest.'

6. Magic up the scent of fall in your living room

There's nothing better than taking a walk in a forest in fall and breathing in all those seasonal scents, from pine to late summer blooms, all while enjoying fabulous plants for fall color. 

'You can recreate the scents and colors of fall indoors with foliage and flowers pretty easily,' says H&G's gardens expert Rachel Crow. 'A few small branches from pine trees, a pile of pumpkins, seasonal flowers, whether real or faux, can all create a riot of color and scent. Choosing the best luxury candles that can heighten these scents and cast a soft glow to your fall living room can only improve nature's bounty.'

7. Add warmth to cool schemes with layering

Grey living room ideas are perennially popular but while they feel fabulously serene in summer, they can feel a little cool in fall/winter. If warm colors aren't your thing, you can quickly make a living room feel fall-ready with layering.

'The simple addition of blankets, throws, cushions and rugs in a living room can make it feel instantly more welcoming. I tend to follow my grandmother's example, which is to store away these items in summer, and bring them back out in fall when the temperatures dip. It's got to be the simplest fall living room decor idea ever.'

8. Bring the outdoors in 

While we might miss the time we spent outdoors in summer, you can extend your exposure to nature by bringing botanicals indoors in furnishings. This can be through upholstery, cushions, living room curtain ideas, rugs, artwork, as on the walls here, and even on living room lighting ideas.

Botany collection, David Hunt Lighting.

9. Go for a dynamic scheme with neutrals

If you thought neutral living room ideas weren't a wise choice for fall, think again. Even a light living room that's lacking in color can still be bursting with visual appeal. 'In fact, I love working with a neutral color working with a neutral color palette because it can really translate to any design style,' says interior designer and TV personality Bobby Berk. 'But the key to doing it successfully is to embrace a variety of elements that will add interest.' 

'Think about pieces that draw the eye, like sculptural vases, patterned cushions or a graphic living room rug for warmth and interest. Layering these items will make a room come to life, even when using only neutral shades. These elements can also bring in an array of tones and patterns that will make the space much more dynamic, too.'

10. Achieve a cozy living room with upholstered furniture

Upholstered furniture is another way of varying your living room fall decor, by pairing smoother fabrics (like velvet or leather) with chunkier, woven knits. And anything natural – plants, dried branches, woven baskets – will add an organic feel. 

Delicate grasses, dried seedbeds and textures thatch also inspire a soft toned fall look that cossets and soothes.

11. Introduce warmth with texture

Texture in interior design is vital, and is often used to great effect when planning a cozy living room for fall. 

'Texture and layering is all about creating tactile moments that invite touch,' says Tiffany Leigh, of Tiffany Leigh Design. 'It refers to the feel, appearance or consistency of a surface or material. Textures help to keep a space from feeling flat or one dimensional, making them optimal for fall and winter living rooms.'

For a multi-layered look, tactile weaves like bouclé look beautiful when layered against the luxurious feel of faux shagreen or rough-hewn timber to give a room some depth and sense of history.

12. Create warmth and ambience 

Texture and pattern are your friends when it comes to living room fall decor. Use them on walls and floors to add vibrant impact as well as bold contrast against warming blocks of mustard and terracotta. 

‘Tactile textures and dried grasses in earthy tones continue to be popular decorative accessories,’ says Claire Hornby, Head of Creative at Barker and Stonehouse.

‘They not only have a visual design function, they are also great to touch and feel,’ she says. ‘In addition, using woven baskets continues to add artisanal interest to this scheme as well as provide much needed storage solutions.’

13. Mix and match modern and rustic materials 

Combining the warmth of a rural retreat with the opulence of a Georgian townhouse, this living room fall decor look is perfect for those looking to create a seasonal hibernation spot for winter. 

‘Accessories with texture and a visual point of difference create layers of interest in a room,’ says Claire Hornby. ‘A velvet cushion or throw for example, provides both decorative opulence as well as adding a comforting tactile element that further enhances a homely, inviting feel.’

14. Modernize a bohemian living room

Don't automatically assume that the color white will make a room feel cold. White, teamed with plenty of texture and natural fabrics and surfaces, can look instantly appealing, like in this modern bohemian living room idea above – while dark shades on walls will make a room feel cozy, not small.

'Boho is one of those styles that is completely unique and able to be interpreted in so many ways,' says Bobby Berk. 'And for us, the most interesting and unexpected take is combining boho with more modern elements for a truly 21st-century twist.'

At the heart of boho style is an eclectic mix of materials, patterns and eras. Limiting color palette to tone-on-tone is a good place to start, whether its going with warmer shades for fall or cooler shades for spring. And bringing in white, black and wood tones will also help to amp up the modern feel. 

15. Amp up the cozy factor 

Aside from installing a living room fireplace, a woodburning stove or adding more radiators, there are plenty of cozy living room ideas that will add visual warmth to a space through decor.  

Add cosseting fabrics and accessories for instant warmth, and if you're worried your living room may look too warm or dark in spring and summertime, you can always switch out some of your decor – swap dark, heavy drapes for lighter, brighter versions, and scale back the use of throws and pillows.

16. Go for a deeper shade of blue

If you're looking for living room ideas that are calming, even in the busiest of households, then blue is the living room color scheme to choose.

‘Blue is a surprisingly versatile color that can work all around the house’, says Kathryn Lloyd, color specialist at Crown Design Studio. ‘All the different tones of blue have the power to convey a variety of moods, from tranquil to vibrant, so they can be easily introduced in any type of living room, no matter the size or style.’

‘Darker colors can imbue a magical quality in your living room, maximizing its coziness’, says Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. With blue being one of the world’s longest standing most popular colors, it’s safe to say it’s been added to the timeless palette. It’s hard to go wrong with this elegant, rich color. 

17. Decorate in a palette of primary colors

Decorating with primary colors may have fallen out of fashion in recent years in favor of paler, neutral living room color schemes, but adding bold brights can be done in a way that's sophisticated and refined, if the primaries are included in subtle additions rather than swathes of color.

When choosing primaries for your living room fall decor – and their derivations – bear in mind that cool colors recede meaning they are exceptional choices for bright spaces that you want to feel calm and spacious; warmer colors advance, making them ideal for creating cozy, lively spaces in winter. 

How can I decorate my living room in the fall?

The best way to decorate your living room in the fall is to update you space with a shot of fresh color. Fall puts everyone in the mood for change, especially when it comes to living room fall decor. One of the simplest and most effective ways to update your space and express your personality is through color. 

Modern paint companies offer a broad range of shades that are constantly innovating, offering new opportunities to create something unique. For this fall, the color trends to watch out for are all about creating a rich, dark mood using inky blues, berry reds and occasional shots of dusky greys that bring a sense of mystery and grandeur to a living room. 

For those who need more energy, look out for earthy shades of the season – burnt oranges, forest greens, intense blues – but mix them in bold, invigorating combinations. 

Finally, aim to curate a scheme that presents a gentle, painterly atmosphere that takes its inspiration from soft watercolors and bleached linens for a palette of chalky, muted tones of chocolate, sage and mauve. The overall effect is soothing and reflective, ideal for winter living rooms.