How to Style Your Home for Fall: Simple, Cozy Fall Decorating Tips

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Fall is such a beautiful time of year to give your home a decorating refresh. I love simple and cozy fall decorating ideas that don’t take a lot of effort. Here are some simple tips for how to style your home for fall in one evening.

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How to Style Your Home for Fall

Seasonal fall decor sets the tone for autumn.

However, often we see an explosion of fall decor on social media that leads us to believe that more is better. In my opinion, styling your home for fall can be done on a much smaller and more affordable scale.

This not only gives us more breathing room in our homes, but it also is kinder on the budget.

As you plan out your fall decorating, keep these simple and cozy fall decorating tips in mind.

Simple Fall Decorating Ideas to Create a Cozy Home

Choose a Timeless Fall Color Palette

First, define your color palette.

I prefer neutral fall decor with pops of saturated colors like forest green, burgundy, plum and amber. However, traditional fall colors like orange, red and yellow can also be beautifully done.

Here are a few color palettes to get your wheels spinning.

• Forest green, amber, off white
• Plum, slate blue, beige
• Copper, brown, burgundy
• Amber, taupe, brown
• Red, cream, tan
• Yellow, blue, tan
• Forest green, brown, copper
• Cream, black, brown for my neutral lovers

Layer Cozy Textures for Warm Fall Home Decor

Once you’ve defined your color palette, it’s time to layer in texture.

Texture is a huge component of styling your home for fall. It is often overlooked because we focus on what the item is rather than how it feels. But when you consider how nature shows itself for fall, it is with more than color.

We see supple leaves dry to a crunchy texture. Flowing wheat shrink to scratchy grain. Soft flower petals shift to pokey seed pods.

Everything in nature shifts to a more textural result, and our homes will feel extra cozy if they do the same. Here are some ways to accomplish more texture in your home for fall.

Add Fall Throws, Pillows & Soft Layers

Textiles are the most obvious way to add texture to our home for fall.

I prefer cottons, wool, linen, chenille or tweed.

Using throw blankets, pillows and even area rugs or curtains to bring texture into your home makes everything feel cozier because you are adding layers. You can also use these items to bring in your fall color palette, and even fun patterns.

Plus, these are very simple swaps to make quickly.

Swapping one summery blanket or pillow cover for a fall pattern can change the whole look of a room.

Incorporate Natural Materials: Wood, Woven Baskets & Rattan

The next texture I like to bring in is natural materials.

Woven baskets, specifically, are my favorite for fall decorating. Not only do they add texture, but also storage and interest. I prefer darker tone baskets for fall and winter.

You can add these textures with small baskets holding onions on the kitchen counter, large baskets for blankets in the living room, or storage baskets in a laundry or playroom.

Warm Lighting Ideas for Fall Decorating

Next, add layered lighting.

Cozy candles or lanterns with an actual flickering flame is quite possibly the coziest fall decor idea out there.

If you have small children or other reasons to avoid real flame, I love these battery operated candles that give that same flickering glow.

In addition, layer in lamps with warm bulbs. I love this touch lamp that can be placed anywhere.

Avoid cool tone LED bulbs. They will suck the coziness out of a room in an instant.

Bring Nature Indoors with Autumn-Inspired Accents

Learning how to style your home for fall without adding natural elements would be a tragedy.

All you have to do is simply walk into your yard and cut a branch or dried stems from the garden!

So there is no stress over finding the perfect looking bloom.

Decorating with Branches, Leaves & Dried Greenery

If you prefer faux fall branches and stems, look for ones with muted colors, realistic stems and papery leaves.

These are my favorite faux floral options for fall.

Tasteful Ways to Use Pumpkins & Gourds in Fall Decor

If you have access to a farmer’s market, then simply grab 5-7 pumpkins and gourds in your chosen color palette. You can sprinkle them into centerpieces, on the dining table, front porch, or living room mantel.

Less is more when using pumpkins and gourds indoors. However, a front porch is a great opportunity to make a bigger statement with layered pumpkins.

If you prefer faux pumpkins, Hobby Lobby has some great realistic options. I also love these ones below!

Easy Fall Decor Ideas for Every Room

Personally, I prefer to style my home for fall only in the main living areas.

Bedrooms, bathrooms and offices might get a branch in a vase, or something else very simple. But the community spaces are where my attention goes.

Fall Living Room Decorating Tips

The living room is a fantastic place to style your home for fall on the mantel, shelving, coffee table and sofas.

Remember, less is more if you want a cozy and simple look for fall.

One pumpkin on the coffee table. One garland draped on a cabinet or hutch. A few strategically placed pillows or blankets in your fall color palette.

That is really all it takes to decorate for fall without it becoming overwhelming.

Here are some other looks throughout the years of fall decorating in my past homes.

Kitchen Fall Decor Made Simple

In the other main community space, the kitchen, fall decorating can be accomplished with a simple vase of fall stems and a pumpkin or two.

Additionally, I like to add fall-inspired art because it is slightly unexpected in a kitchen.

A kitchen is also a great place to add a tiered tray with fall items interspersed with everyday kitchen items like apples or oranges.

Minimalist Fall Decorating Tips for a Clutter-Free Look

If you prefer a very simple fall look, then these two tips will be of utmost importance for your fall decorating.

Declutter Before Adding Fall Accents

The most overlooked step to fall decorating is decluttering first.

Remove summer decor, of course. But more than that, assess whether or not your everyday decor fits well for the season.

Perhaps you simply have too many items out on a shelf to be able to add more fall decor without it feeling overwhelming. If that is the case, then simply remove half of what is in the space you’re decorating and store it for the season.

Half is a good starting point. Then you can assess if you want to take more away or add some back after including the fall items.

Focus on Statement Pieces Instead of Overfilling

Instead of adding many small items for fall, try adding just a few very specific items that make a statement. Here are some simple swaps as you plan your fall decor.

• Old Way: 10-15 mini pumpkins
• New Way: 1-2 large realistic pumpkins
• Old Way: 3-5 fall themed pillows on each sofa
• New Way: 1 fall themed pillow paired with 2 season-less pillows in a fall color (per sofa)
• Old Way: Heavy fall garlands draped on the mantel
• New Way: One oversized bouquet of fall stems in a neutral vase on the mantel
• Old Way: A tray of fall themed items on the coffee table
• New Way: A single fall scented candle with a cozy book to curl up with

Transition Your Fall Home Decor for the Holidays

The one thing that the autumn season offers that no other season can, is the natural progression of seasonal decorating for three months. Try these simple shifts for each month of fall.

• September: Dried branches, hydrangeas, update the color scheme with textiles and texture.
• October: Add pumpkins and layered lighting or candles.
• November: Add harvest related items like cornucopias, Thanksgiving decor or flannel.

Easy Transitions for Winter and Christmas Decor

As Thanksgiving comes to a close we start to shift to Christmas and winter decor.

Remove pumpkins or Thanksgiving themed decorations first. Then, assess your color palette.

Many fall color palettes can work for Christmas decor with some strategic swaps. I personally love burgundy, forest green, browns and creams for Christmas.

Any solid pillow covers or throws in these colors can easily transition into the Christmas season. Or even plaid patterns. Candles are an obvious yes as well!

As long as it is cozy and not fall specific, keep it and work from there! Here are some of my favorite Christmas looks to get you thinking ahead!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope these simple and cozy fall decorating ideas are helpful as you style your home for fall!

If you are looking for more seasonal decorating ideas, make sure to check out these articles next! 

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~Sarah