CNN
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While some people thrive in the summer, others look forward to the season of sweaters, pumpkin spice and apple, and the joys of adding fall decor and textures to every corner of their home. space.
Luckily, since fall has a massive fan base, there are plenty of clever and stylish ways to incorporate pumpkins, candles, chunky knits, dried flowers, and wreaths into your interior and living spaces. The key is to keep it simple by choosing pieces that give off the vibe you’re looking for without cluttering up your living room, front door, and dining room table.
From the inside out, here’s our ultimate guide to fall decorating, straight from design experts who’ve mastered the perfect balance.
Classic Potted Honeysuckle Planter for Home and Garden
Think outdoor flowers are just for summer? Think again, says Rainey Richardson, director of Rainey Richardson Interiors. She recommends planting chrysanthemums, a vigorous flowering plant that blooms in the fall. “Choose the color yellow, orange, red or even purple and plant it in a large pot,” she says. “With little care, these plants should last all fall and make your porch look inviting.”
Hearth & Hand with faux rusty magnolia eucalyptus plant wreath
If you want to spruce up your home with a nod to fall but are short on time, a fall-inspired wreath will add character to your front door. Depending on your style, says Richardson, you can keep it simple with a twist or fall leaf swag or go lavish, with various textures, dried flowers and even a burlap bow.
The spookiest season of the year calls for mood lighting — even if you focus more on ambient ambiance than spookiness, says Cynthia Montoya, lead designer and founder of Urban Gypsy: Styled. Rather than the super-bright bulbs you usually turn on, consider a dimmable option or one that changes color with Wi-Fi or using Alexa. You can also add a bright accent with an outdoor lantern or two that gives you the same functionality.
Whether you go for the team pumpkin or choose a clever fall-inspired saying, a seasonal doormat goes a long way in updating your front door. Along with following your overall theme, Montoya says, it also keeps your porch looking fresh and festive.
$14.95 at Crate&Barrel
Richardson says chargers are a quick and easy way to create a drop-in feel on your table. “Choose natural wicker or even plastic chargers in a gorgeous fall color and place them under your regular dinner plates to bring warmth and weight to the table,” she recommends.
Pour Toi Home Set of 3 Ceramic Donut Stick Candle Holders
Etsy can be a great place to find new home decor, like fun candles and candle holders, especially if you’re tired of what you see in department stores. As Richardson says, this season is the perfect time to gather all your candle holders and place them in the center of your table. “Different types, heights and types of supports will add more interest,” she continues. “Fill with varying heights of colorful fall flowers to add both color and ambiance to your table.”
Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Large Wooden Paddle Serving Board with Handles
One of the biggest design trends of 2021 has been bringing natural elements and textures into your home, and fall offers plenty of opportunities to experiment, Montoya says.
“Clinging to nature, comfort and earth tones, we use fresh and dried greenery and flowers to add natural pops of seasonal color throughout the home and especially as centerpieces in handcrafted pottery,” says -she.
To achieve this, she recommends adding hand-woven cotton sheets to your table mix as the first layer. Then pair it with round leather placemats and complete with a rich marble or wood top to rest your vase on.
“To create a focal point, tilt a large mirror over your mantel and layer a framed photo of friends or family in front of the mirror on the right or left to make it off-center,” recommends Richardson. This draws attention to the heart (i.e. the focus) of your space.
bouquet of dried flowers hitomigift
Dried flowers are commonly found in fall-inspired bouquets and wreaths, but they can be just as strong on their own. Richardson recommends finding an old favorite jar or vase and placing it at one end of the mantle. Then, fill it with dried fall flowers and use fall-colored ribbon to add a decorative bow around the container to finish off the space.
Fresh Bouquet Garland
Montoya says this season is all about oversized greenery. You can do this with a large garland that wraps around your fireplace. Or, you can collect vases that mix ceramic, terracotta and woven rattan to fill with dried or fresh flowers. “Seasonal colors can make a big impact with lots of color, or you can keep fall neutral with dried okra, wheat, and pampas branches,” she adds.
Autumn Stroll Candle
Like every season, says Richardson, scent is one of the best ways to evoke the feeling of falling in your home. “Choose pumpkin spice, clove or cinnamon candles and light them in your family room. Lighting more than one will fill the whole house with the unmistakable scent of fall,” she says.
And if you want to take it a step further, try this festive tealight holder, which includes an LED tealight and creates an orange, toasty vibe.
Your sofa may already have a cushion or two, but now is the time to adapt it to the season. Replace your everyday outfits with orange, red, brown, yellow, dark green and other fall colors. Play around with the textures and sizes, too, because they’ll all make your fall nap more cozy, adds Richardson.
Grab a chunky knit blanket in olive, clay or putty colors to further incorporate those fall tones into your current decor, recommends Montoya.
“For an upgraded look, finish with rich cotton or velvet curtains in shades of copper and dusty rose to really lean into those fall and winter months and give your home the warm and cozy vibe whatever you want,” she adds.
Nothing says fall like a pile of pumpkins. And the options are endless – from real to faux, colorful or classic orange, textured or smooth. Have fun with this part of the decoration and experiment with different groupings. “Pile the pumpkins near a tree, along a sidewalk, or use hay bales to provide a variable display level,” says Richardson.
Richardson recommends placing a bench in your front or back yard and adding outdoor pillows in fall colors or with cute sayings like “Hello Fall” or “Happy Fall Y’all.”
“If the bench is covered, you can drape a cozy blanket over the back to make it even more inviting,” she adds.
Endless Summer Steel Wood Fire Pit
Depending on what zip code you call home, you may need to add a small fire in your backyard if you want to comfortably spend time outdoors. Montoya says you can easily do this with decorative freestanding heaters and/or freestanding fire pits installed on the patio or around the yard.
“Either way, make sure your outdoor furniture is comfortably positioned around it so you can enjoy the yard while staying warm,” she adds.