CNN
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While some people thrive in summer, others look forward to the season of sweaters, pumpkin spice, and apples, and the joys of adding fall decorations and textures to every corner of your space.
Fortunately, since fall has a huge following, there are plenty of smart and stylish ways to incorporate pumpkins, candles, chunky fabrics, dried flowers and wreaths into your indoor and living areas. The key is to keep it simple by choosing pieces that exude the vibe you’re after without cluttering 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 honeysuckle planter for home and garden
Think outdoor flowers are just for summer? Think again, says Rainey Richardson, principal of Rainey Richardson Interiors. She recommends planting chrysanthemums, an abundant, flowering plant that blooms in the fall. “Choose yellow, orange, red or even purple and plant in a large pot,” she says. “With a little care, these plants should last through the fall season and make your porch cozy.”
Home and hand with wreath of artificial magnolia eucalyptus plants
If you want to spruce up your home with a nod to fall, but have 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 plaster of fall leaves or go fancy, with various textures, dried flowers and even a bow made of burlap.
The spookiest season of the year calls for a little mood lighting, even if you’re focusing more on an ambient vibe than a scary one, says Cynthia Montoya, lead designer and founder of Urban Gypsy: Styled. Instead of the super bright bulbs you usually turn on, consider a dimmable option or one that changes color with Wi-Fi or Alexa. You can also add some light with an outdoor lantern or two that provide the same functionality.
Whether you go team pumpkin or choose a clever fall-inspired saying, a seasonal doormat goes a long way in updating your front door. In addition to keeping up with your overall theme, Montoya says, it also keeps your porch fresh and festive.
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Richardson says chargers are a quick and easy way to create a fall feel to your table. “Choose natural wicker or even plastic chargers in a wonderful fall color and place them under your regular plates to add warmth and weight to the table,” she recommends.
Pour Toi Home Set of 3 Donut Ceramic Candlesticks
Etsy can be a great place to find cool home decor, like candles and fun stands, especially if you’re tired of what you see in bigger stores. As Richardson says, this season is the perfect time to gather all your candle holders and pass them around the center of your table. “Different types and heights and types of supports will add more interest,” he continues. “Fill with varying heights of colorful fall flowers to add color and ambiance to your table.”
Home and hand with magnolia large wooden board with handles
One of the biggest design trends of 2021 has been bringing natural elements and textures into your home, and fall offers ample opportunity to experiment, says Montoya.
“Holding to nature, comfort and earth tones, we’re using greenery and fresh and dried flowers to add natural pops of seasonal color throughout the home and especially as centerpieces in artisan pottery,” she says.
To achieve this, she recommends adding handwoven cotton linens to your table as a first layer. Then pair it with round leather flatware and complete it with a marble or rich wood tray to place your vase on.
“To create a focal point, prop a large mirror on your mantle and place a framed photo of friends or family in front of the mirror to the right or left to off-center it,” recommends Richardson. This draws attention to the heart (aka home) of your space.
hitomigift Bouquet of dried flowers
Dried flowers are commonly found in fall-inspired bouquets and wreaths, but they can stand just as strong on their own. Richardson recommends finding an old or favorite vase and placing it on 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.
Garland of fresh grapes
Montoya says this season is all about large-scale vegetation. You can do this with a large garland that wraps around your blanket. Or, you can pick up vases that mix ceramic, terra cotta and woven wicker to fill with fresh or dried flowers. “Seasonal colors can make a big impact with lots of colors, or you can keep autumn neutral with dried okra, wheat and pampas branches,” she adds.
Autumn Hayride Candle
Like every season, Richardson says, one of the best ways to evoke the feeling of fall in your home is through smell. “Choose pumpkin spice, clove or cinnamon candles and light them in your family room. Lighting more than one will fill the entire home with the unmistakable fragrance of fall,” she says.
And if you want to go the extra mile, try this festive stand, which features an LED tealight and creates a toasty orange atmosphere.
Your sofa may already have a cushion or two, but now is the time to make it seasonally appropriate. Swap your newspapers for orange, red, brown, yellow, deep green and other fall colors. Have fun with textures and sizes, too, as they’ll all make your fall nap more comfortable, adds Richardson.
Pick up a chunky knit blanket in olive, clay, or putty colors to continue incorporating these fall hues into your current decor, Montoya recommends.
“For an enhanced look, finish with rich cotton or velvet curtains in shades of copper and dusty pink to really lean into these fall and winter months and give your home the warm, cozy feel you want.” add.
Nothing says fall like a pile of pumpkins. And the options are endless: from real to fake, classic colors or oranges, textured or smooth. Have fun with this part of the decor and experiment with different groupings. “Pile pumpkins next to a tree, along a sidewalk, or use hay bales to provide a different level of display,” says Richardson.
Richardson recommends placing a bench in your front or back yard and adding some outdoor pillows in fall colors or with cute sayings like “Hello Fall” or “Happy Fall Everyone.”
“If the bench is covered, you can put a cozy blanket on the back to make it even cozier,” she adds.
Endless Summer Steel Wood Fire Pit
Depending on the zip code you call home, you may need to add a little fire to your backyard if you want to comfortably spend time outdoors. Montoya says you can easily do this with freestanding decorative heaters and/or freestanding fireplaces featured in or around the patio.
“Either way, make sure your outdoor furniture is comfortable around it so you can enjoy the patio while getting dressed,” she adds.
