Autumn-ize Your Home

I can hardly believe it but autumn has officially arrived.  All the usual yet ever amazing seasonal changes will occur.  The leaves will fade and fall.  The air will become crisp and waft a new fragrance combining ground roots, cinnamon and tobacco.  The sun will ease off and allow the moon to work longer hours.  Our farmer’s markets will boast root vegetables and rich, warming spices.  We will be reacquainted with our loyal wardrobe that has been patiently waiting to come out and play, and we will begin to spend more time at home cozying up next to the fireplace.

It seems you can find tips everywhere on how to transition your wardrobe, make-up and diet to welcome this special season but I fear our homes might be feeling a little neglected.  Being that our surroundings have the power to influence and inspire your mood, I’ve laid out a few ways that, with just a few tweeks and only a few dollars, you can make your home more Fall friendly.  Here’s to a creative, charming and cozy autumn!

ACCESSORY ALTERATIONS
Sometime just re-styling your existing décor is all you need to autumn-ize your home.  Start by bringing in fall flowers, leaves and twigs.  Textured fabrics scream autumn, so switch out the light and airy for rich and substantial.  Drape metal and plastic furniture with fabrics to warm them up, and think about adding a hat rack, umbrella stand and boot bin to your entryway.

For an autumn transition with more impact, below are some design ideas that pack a powerful punch.

Throw Pillows are an inexpensive way to bring autumn to your couch and bed.  Swap out bright colors and smooth, silky pillows with new covers made of velvet, wool, felt, shearling, mohair, leather and bulky knits.  By simply buying new covers and using the same pillows, inter-seasonal storage is a breeze and the expense is minimal.

Rugs – If you have the budget and storage space, consider going all the way by completely changing out your area rugs with plush pile weaves designed with warm colors.  Even if you don’t have the extra cash, you can get the same updated feeling by simply swapping rugs from one room to another as the seasons change.  Another way to go is to layer several small rugs of different patterns and piles in opportune spots.

Window Treatments – By swapping out your light colored and shear summer drapes with warm tones and textured fabrics you can turn any room into a place worthy of lounging.

Blankets – We all snuggle up in them during the fall and they are a permanent fixture on the couch, so choose your colors and fabrics according to the season.  For fall, opt for rich shades and a luxurious hand.  This is a great place to bring in cable knits, faux fur and even animal prints if you dare.

Bathing Room – Give your bathroom a total makeover by simply swapping your towels and bath mats for darker shades.  Changing a linen shower curtain to a heavier canvass or waffle knit in a richer tone will warm up the space with impact.  Odds are you’ll be spending more time soaking in the tub on those chilly autumn nights, so add plenty of textured and colored votives to add life and warmth to an otherwise cold room made of porcelain and tile.

Sleeping Room – Bring out your flannel sheets and replace your crisp white duvet cover with something that invites you to snuggle up for a long winter’s nap.  Maybe add a knobby throw at the foot of the bed for that extra layer of texture.

LIGHT IT UP
Lighting is perhaps the most important element to a home and it has an amazing power to influence and create moody ambiance.  To add designer worthy depth, accent each room with a variety of light sources with different qualities.

Think up-lighting in corners, sconces on the walls, interesting lamps on tables combined with floor lights that throw a blanket of light.

Dimming bulbs are an absolute must as they enable you to control the room’s atmosphere, and therefore the mood, throughout the day.

And of course, fall requires the romantic flickering of candles.

PLAY WITH COLOR
Though it requires a bit of work, paint can make a light and summery room instantly warm and cozy.  If the thought of taping and painting a full wall is daunting, opt instead to paint large canvasses, available at any art store, and hang them wherever a touch of color is needed.  You can always paint over them when spring comes or simply replace them altogether.