Your favourite fashion influencers are decked out in head-to-toe fall colours, pumpkin spice everything has exploded at Starbucks, and the thermostat registers a balmy 26°C/84°F. That can only mean one thing…
It’s the first day of September.
Confusing, isn’t it? It seems like no one really knows what season it is right now, what to wear, what sports to cheer for, or whether their beloved PSL should be made hot or iced. Luckily, you don’t have to wonder what to do about your home decor, because I’m going to round up a couple of tips to help you transition your home to fall on a budget and without looking like you just bought one of everything in the seasonal section at Michael’s.
If you want to achieve a subtle but cozy look for fall, sans apple baskets and wooden crates, there are really only three things you need.
1. Pump up the texture! Adding lots of layers of texture, fabrics, and other materials is the single best way to pull off that impossibly chic cozy look for fall. Some good ideas are layering your couch with throw pillows and chunky blankets, hanging a new set of curtains, and adding wooden elements to your decor.
When it comes to adding more texture, just a few swaps will do it. Toss in a burgundy or rust throw blankets along with some darker fabric pillow covers (think tweed, pinstripe, or subtle plaid) to achieve a quick and easy fall look. If you want to layer on more, try adding an impossibly smooth yet wrinkled ivory linen table cloth. Taking it one step further, you can change the entire look of a room by changing the curtains. Look for sandy or oatmeal-coloured curtains with a warm undertone for an instant kiss of cozy. You can combine all of these, if you like, but just remember a little goes a long way and also remember that you can build on this stockpile of fall goodies over several years! No need to buy everything in sight all at once.
2. Bring the outside inside! One of the most appealing things about fall is the gorgeous array of colours that crop up in nature. A great way to add a fall touch to your home is to bring those branches and leaves inside! You can use actual outdoor branches, if you’re confident they don’t have spiders. Or, if you’re like me, you believe that faux is the way to go (or, the way to gaux?) when adding stems into your decor.
You can try adding some fall branches to a big vase to make a single statement. Or, you could pick up a few fall flowers at a place like Michael’s and sprinkle them around your home in little bud vases. Maybe you could even add in 3-4 neutral coloured playful little pumpkins. Whatever you decide to do, the best way to achieve a subtle fall look is to keep it very simple and stick to 2-3 things. (Before you buy anything, ask yourself where you’re going to store it when spring rolls around.) Don’t feel like you need to get the sunflowers and the pumpkins and the burgundy branches and the bunny’s tails and the apple basket and the pinecones and the magnolia leaves and… you get the idea.
3. Go heavy metal! Metals can make or break a space. Too much metal and it looks overly gothic or industrial. Not enough metal and it can feel like the room is really missing something. Chunky metallic pieces are a great way to signify heaviness and earthiness, which is what you want to pull in for fall in bits and pieces. Warm and matte metals in black, bronze, brass and even polished nickel can really go a long way to both adding coziness and elevating a space.
Some really easy ideas to add metals are adding a few matte black candle holders to your shelves, hang a brass framed mirror in your entryway, and swap out a few hallway picture frames for an antique gold. Most of these ideas can be implemented at any budget, including a dollar store budget. Not knocking the dollar store, either! You can score some great finds there. The point is that decorating for fall doesn’t have to break the bank or dip into the most important home decor budget, which is Christmas. (kidding, not kidding)
Want more fall decorating ideas? Here are some bonus thoughts if you have it covered on the above ideas.
Add some vintage books from the thrift store to your shelves, ensuring that you pick up ones with neutral spines that look a little tattered and worn. Add warm wood tones to your kitchen by way of cutting boards, wooden utensils, a tray, or a cake stand. Richly coloured napkins in linen or flour sack fabric really pop against a light fabric tablecloth. Or, skip the tablecloth in favour of a textured runner and a metallic candelabra centerpiece. Swapping out some prints for moody artwork is also a super simple way to add fall scenes to your home. Finally, it goes without saying that so much of fall is tied up in scent, so find a great diffuser oil or candle that you love with notes of sandalwood, fir, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
Happy September!
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