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As we make our way back indoors after the summer months, we want things warmer, cozier. Autumn means shorter, cooler days and more time indoors. It also means the holidays are fast approaching. We'll soon be entertaining more with friends and family and we want to extend that warmth not only through ourselves, but also through the environment that we provide.
Chances are, however, that your home has been a little neglected during the summer. You've been busy with other things, and with so much time outdoors, you probably hardly even noticed! Well, its time to open up your eyes, take a look around, and give your home a little attention. It's time to bring a little fall into your home.
Color is key to adding warmth to the home. It's easy to get inspired by the colors of nature. Leaves are turning from bright green to golden browns, oranges and reds. Pumpkins and pomegranates are replacing the bright hues of summer fruits. Fashion is also a great source of inspiration as it moves past fuchsia and canary yellow into deep eggplants, chocolate browns, and caramels. Page through fall issues of your favorite magazines and catalogs to really get inspired. Look at everything - graphics, clothing, advertisements, food. See what colors you gravitate towards, and then try to implement those colors into your decor. Work with colors you love - colors that make YOU feel good. Don't go with the trends of a big name retailer unless they fit your personal style. If you don't love all the baby butternut gold that's being shown, then don't use it! There are no rules to follow. Its your home, you are the one living in it, and you get to choose what you like.
Adding Color without Paint
If you are initially turned off by the idea of bringing fall color into your home because you think it has to entail several weekends of interior painting, think again. While painting will give you maximum impact, there are other ways to bring warm colors into your living space. Understand that creating warmth does not mean everything needs to be slathered in various shades of golds and browns and reds. You can add accents of warmth to create a warm space. Perhaps your living room is painted a pale sea blue, an inherently cool color. And maybe you have ivory accents (upholstery, drapery, area rug, etc.) You don't need to completely redecorate the space to achieve a fall look. Leave the blue walls - leave some of the ivory accents, and bring in a warm color for contrast. A few persimmon colored toss pillows and a chocolate brown throw on a sofa will instantly add warmth. Just make sure that whatever colors you bring in are balanced around the room. And, try to keep your accent colors to a minimum. One or two works fine - not six or seven!
If you are feeling a little more adventurous, and your walls are in dire need of a paint job, this is the perfect time to paint! Take your color cues from the suggestions above and go for it! A little hesitant? Just remember - you won't end up with anything great if you are too timid to try it out Paint is only paint. It's not very expensive, and it can always be painted over. Deep Aubergine for the dining room? Cinnamon Stick for the guest bedroom? Pumpkin Spice in the bath? These are all great colors and can add a tremendous amount of warmth to a space. You'll feel quite cozy inside, and so will your guests. You may need to adjust your accent colors in a space after you paint, so be sure to pick up a few pillows, vases, or candles in coordinating or complementary colors.
Use Natural Elements to Decorate
What better way to introduce fall than to decorate with it? Go to the farmer's market or your own back yard to get inspired. A bowl of pomegranates on the counter, a glass hurricane vase filled with coffee beans and candles, or a tray or fresh oranges on the coffee table. And, if you are entertaining, scatter some freshly fallen leaves on the dining table for a runner.
Bring in the Scents of Fall
Scent is our most powerful sense. What remind you of fall? Bring those aromas into the home. Cinnamon, orange spice, vanilla...yum! Potpourri, candles or air spray will do the trick . Or, you can do it the old-fashioned way and bake a pie, letting the delicious scent linger through the house.
When the nights are cooler, what's more comforting that a soft, warm bed with layers of comfy linens? If your bedding is a little ratty-tatty, time to change it out! Fall is the ultimate nesting time, as we get ready for winter. So, bring in some warm hues and heavier textures to the bedroom. If you can afford a complete bedding overhaul, great! If not, at least pick up a new quilt or throw. You want your bed to welcome you at night.
Fall's here and it's time to stash away most of that summer stuff. The kids are back in school, and they need a little organization. Fall welcomes different activities and different schedules. It's probably been a busy summer, and will be a busy rest of the year. Take a moment (or a few hours or days) to really get everything in order. Maybe you need an entry storage area to hang coats and take off dirty shoes. Or a mail or schoolwork organizer. It's best to do it now before the chaos of the holidays begin. It will save you time down the road when you most need it. Your home deserves to be cleared of its clutter. Treat is nicely, and it will be more welcoming to you in the months to come.
Fall is a beautiful time outdoors, and it can also be beautiful indoors. But don't expect your home to make the transition from summer to fall on its own. It will take a little work on your part, but the payoff will be well worth it. 
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