How do I start decorating for fall? Designers share 9 ways you can fashion your home for fall

With cozy season just around the corner, many of us are wondering how to start decorating our homes for fall.

Fall decor ideas are centered on making a space feel more cozy, inviting and homey; providing a restful and snug escape from the cooler days and darker nights.

Once you have established when you should start decorating for fall, it is a time to be creative with color schemes, seasonal decorations, outdoor fall decor ideas and much more. Here, some of Homes & Garden's favorite designers and experts have explained where they start when it comes to decorating for fall so that you can do the same.

Learn from the experts on how best to decorate your home for fall

From cozy, layered lighting schemes, to enriching a room with plenty of warming, tactile textures, this is how to begin your fall decorating through both smaller home additions and larger-scale projects.

1. Refresh your throw pillows

'One way to start decorating for fall is by re-doing your throw pillow covers with a new color palette. If you have lighter tones, try swapping all of them out with a richer palette of fabrics. I'm currently showing a space with navy pillow covers that immediately make the room feel layered and warmer for the upcoming season,' says interior designer, Brooke Spreckman, founder of Design Hutch.

You can also refresh your blankets and throws in a complementary palette too – or if you already have plenty collected over the years ensure they are draped across your seating areas and bed for an enriched feeling of texture, warmth and coziness.

Brooke Spreckman

Principal and Owner of Design Hutch Interior Design, Brooke Spreckman has been practicing Interior Design since 2013 in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and beyond; and has a diverse background in residential and commercial design.

2. Create a cozy, layered lighting scheme

Of course, having layered lighting schemes throughout the rooms in your home is important no matter what time of year, but during fall and winter when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, ensuring your home feels cozy and well-lit is key for a more warm and inviting atmosphere.

From a mix of lamps, pendants and wall lights, to lit fires and glimmering candles, having multiple pools of light around a room will only help to make your spaces feel more snug and welcoming.

3. Favor fall colors

If you are looking for a larger project for the fall months, adding warm-toned fall color schemes is a great place to start - especially for those who want to evoke this snug season all year round. 

‘The sense of wellbeing that we gain from time outside in the natural world has resulted in a desire to re-create this sense of connection and positivity in our homes, driving a renewed love for decorating with greens of all hues, as well as biophilic design. Leaf wallpaper prints, dense foliage-based patterns, rich deep woodland hues, and earthy, natural shades are being used alongside a myriad of green colors to really bring a sense of the outdoors in,’ explains Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene.

‘Recently, dark greens have displaced dark blues as our most-loved colors. Although the muted Sage Green has been a staple of the Little Greene collection for many years, stronger tones have come to the fore, including the lively ‘Jewel Beetle’ and bold ‘Puck’.

‘It has been fascinating to see how customers have embraced color and pattern over the past few years,’ Ruth adds, ‘with many recognizing the importance of both times spent in the natural world and how transforming the home environment can lift our mood and have a positive effect on how we feel.’

Alongside deep, forest-like greens, introducing more autumnal shades such as terracotta decor and decorating with orange is great for emulating fall leaves year-round says Rebecca Drury, co-founder of MissPrint. ‘Terracottas, burnt oranges and warm brown colorways are symbolic of the fall season and its themes. When paired collectively using layers and textures, these shades are reminiscent of the browning tree leaves and the world’s natural environment during this particular period,’ Rebecca explains. 

‘One of MissPrint’s original and most popular patterns, Little Trees in Top Coat, a dusky rose shade, can complement rich colors and bold materials. The print adds subtle interest whilst injecting character and quirk to any room.’ 

Ruth Mottershead

Ruth Mottershead is the creative director of the family-run paint and wallpaper businesses Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, which specialize in creating luxurious paint and wallpaper that represent 300 years of decorative history.

4. Introduce harvest motifs

With fall being a wonderful time to invite friends and family into your home, consider fall table decor ideas to spruce up your dining room and celebrate the fall harvest season.

‘Change up your dining tablescape to have a harvest feel – decorate the tabletop with dried floral arrangements along with votives and candles to illuminate the space and bring a warm and inviting glow to the room,’ suggests Caitlin O’Keeffe, merchandise field manager at Serena & Lily.  

5. Create a comforting space

Cozy room ideas are a staple of fall decorating with these welcoming spaces seen as a must by many designers. ‘I always start by thinking how am I going to use my spaces differently as the winter draws in. Where will I be sitting when I'm holding a hot mug of tea after being out in the rain or snuggled up reading a good book?’ begins Kelly Collins, interior designer and head of creative at Swyft. 

‘I recommend creating a cozy space in your home, be it moving a comfy armchair like Model 06 from Swyft by the fireplace or under a window so you can watch the rain and then add a warm throw and a side table to place some candles on and you’re ready for fall.’ 

6. Switch out fresher summer pieces for fall decor

When looking for items to start decorating for fall, look within your home before running out to buy new things,’ says Judy Pickett of Design Lines Signature. ‘Start with items that have warm tones and cozy textures – could you perhaps swap out easy items like pillows, throws, and bedding? We always recommend keeping the seasonal changes subtle so as to not shake up your overall interior design too drastically!’ 

‘Make the home feel like a cozy fall haven with effortless transitions – switch out crisp, cool summer decor items with pillow coverings or bedding that have warmer color palettes, incorporate fall aromas like sandalwood or spiced apple, and bring in a lovely fall wreath to tie everything together,’ says Caitlin.  

Judy Pickett

Judy started her design journey with a design degree from Florida State University. She then went on to set-up her interior design firm, Design Lines, in 1979. Judy has completed hundreds of interior projects and received numerous awards for her work.

7. Add fall florals and foliage

‘An easy way to begin transitioning to a fall aesthetic is through florals and foliage’, says Eleanor Trepte of Dekay & Tate. ‘Think about changing the flowers on your kitchen countertops or dining table centerpieces. This is an easy and very natural way to bring some of that outside crispness in’ 

Consider using festive fall wreath ideas to introduce seasonal or dried flowers both in your fall porch ideas as well as within your home. Outside your home, think about incorporating plants for fall color into your garden ideas to maintain some life and blooms in your yard as many other plants begin to fade away for winter.  

Eleanor Tate Trepte

As a graduate from New York Institute of Art & Design, Ellie knows all of the ins and outs of the design industry. After founding Dekay & Tate in Palm Beach, she has since led the company’s expansion, spearheading projects out of the Denver office.

8. Use festive themed decor tastefully

With fall harkening the Halloween and harvest periods, there is often an onslaught of themed decor items that can quickly cheapen the look of a home. 

When using themed decorations, consider using more timeless, concept items such as fresh pumpkins in different varieties such as white and green to add a festive holiday touch or introduce themes of candles for ambiance. For fall mantle decorations consider leaf garlands or wreaths.  

9. Consider warmer textures

With the end of summer, start decorating for fall by using texture in interior design. thicker, heavier materials such as wool and cashmere, velvet, furs, and cords can help make your home look and feel lush and luxurious.  

‘Fall decor doesn't have to be cliche. Instead of focusing on adding a ton of, say, decorative pumpkins into your home, think instead about color. Incorporating warm fall colors like neutral browns, earthy greens, burnt oranges, and complimentary beiges and taupes is an easy way to change the mood in a space. Also, consider textures,’ Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions adds, ‘perhaps you can move away from materials like rattan or wicker and instead start to incorporate leathers, suede, approachable velvets, and even faux fur if it fits in the space.’ 

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