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The earliest hints of cooler weather make us want to embrace all things cozy, especially in our homes. We swap out our sundresses for sweaters, so why not refresh our living spaces with seasonally appropriate decor, too? Bring on the chunky knits and autumnal hues! Here’s what Southern interior designers do to invite warmth into their spaces when it starts to get cold out.
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Incorporate a touch of tartan.
Tartan is a timeless fabric for fall decor and a mainstay of the holiday season. With a more general color scheme, you can even display it from September through March! Think rich green, navy, cream, brown, and warm tones.
“Nothing says fall weather like tartan,” says Marcelle Guilbeau, founder and design director at Marcelle Guilbeau Interiors. “You can warm up the season with terra cottas, ochres, and browns, but neutral textures in creams and beiges can also warm up a more neutral palette.”
PinTartan pillows make this cozy den even cozier. Image: Marcelle Guilbeau Interiors/Reed Brown Photography
Swap out your rug.
When it comes to warming up your home, think beyond your sofa or bed — including what goes underfoot! Caylee Stefanek, interior designer at L O G O S Interiors, explains, “The most effective way to give a room a completely new look is to replace your rug with a different — and correctly sized — rug.”
She adds that you might be surprised to discover that your space feels larger and more design-savvy. “You’ll be itching to host your friends and family for the holidays,” she says of the results.
PinConsider swapping in new area rugs in rich, cozy color palettes. See how this patterned rug from Lulu and Georgia ($538 – $3,998) instantly elevates the simple furnishings in this living area? (It looks equally fabulous in the bedroom image all the way at the top of the article!) Image: Lulu and Georgia
Caylee also explains that color matters when creating ambiance with a rug. “Many of us have been in the all-white-with-gray accent world of interiors for some time, and a great way to add warmth and coziness to your home is to change out your rugs to warmer, richer colored rugs.”
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Add some texture.
If you want to make a space feel more inviting for the fall and winter seasons, break out all your softest, coziest textiles. The good news about this easy hack is that it works in nearly every room of the house.
Ashley Meier, lead interior designer at Ashley Meier Interiors, explains, “Adding texture through pillows and throws on your sofas, chairs, or beds is an easy and wonderful way to enhance your home in the fall and winter seasons. It’s nice to be able to curl up as the days get shorter.”
Ashley’s favorite blanket is the “Fabulous Faux Fur” by Donna Salyers. “Their faux fur is a step above what you find with other fur pillows and blankets,” she tells us. “My favorite is the Couture Collection ivory mink throw and throw pillows. The chocolate mink version is incredible as well.”
PinHow lush is this Mocha Mink faux fur throw? You can find on Wayfair for $395. Image: Wayfair
You can use cozy textiles outside, too.
Cozy pillows, textured throw blankets, and warm layers don’t have to stay indoors. If you spend a lot of time on your patio or like to entertain al fresco, bring those textiles outside! They’ll give your space a styled, inviting look. “This is a great time of year to bring out those warmer layers that cozy up the home,” says Marcelle.
PinTextured pillows and throw blankets can add just the right touch to warm up an outdoor space. Image: Marcelle Guilbeau Interiors/Reed Brown Photography
Set the table with organic touches.
Just as you would put out a summery bouquet in June, think of fall and winter as an opportunity to show off the best of the harvest on your table. Fresh produce such as pumpkins, rosemary, gourds, and pomegranates add rich color and texture. You can even use live plants!
“For the cooler days, I often set my table accordingly,” says Shea Bryars, owner of Shea Bryars Design. “You don’t have to have dinner party plans to put all your finery out! Adding colors of the season and natural elements such as pumpkins or red berries brings an organic feel to a tabletop.”
PinCheck out this autumnal tabletop with pumpkins and rosemary! Image: Shea Bryars Design
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Swap in some new lampshades.
Accent pillows are, of course, fair game for trading out with the seasons. But lampshades should also be on your radar!
“This is a fun and easy way to change up a space seasonally,” says Shea. “Warmer fabrics and deeper colors on fabric lampshades really can warm up a room — not only by the textile addition but also in how it creates a different glow by the light bulb.”
She recommends choosing one set of lampshades in each room and switching to a warmer, cozier fabric that will last through fall and winter.
PinSwapping in a few seasonal throw blankets and pillows is easy enough, but lamp shades can make a huge impact, too. Consider warmer colors and fabrics for a cozy effect. These unique velvet dome lamp shades are available on Anthropologie for $128 each. Image: Anthropologie
Update your exterior planters.
“In the Southeast, we have the advantage of really being able to have live plants bloom and prosper all year long,” says Shea, “so go for it on your front-of-house planters.” She looks to the changing leaves around her to inspire the hues in her planters while also taking a cue from fall plants like zinnias and sweet potato evergreens.
PinConsider swapping exterior planters for cozy shades like these copper-colored barrel planters available via Terrain ($88 – $218). Image: Terrain
And don’t forget about cold-weather plants! “In the winter, this can be a pretty evergreen with some cyclamen or pansies,” she adds. “Always note the particular needs of these plants and where your pot sits in relation to the sun.”
Change the artwork on your Frame TV.
If you have a Frame TV, what’s on it right now? If you haven’t refreshed it in a few months, now is a great time—particularly if it’s one of your home’s largest pieces of artwork.
“If you have a Frame TV, think about changing the artwork to something with a fall and winter color palette, like this Hannah Winters landscape,” says Ciara Word, principal designer at Word Interiors. “That is a super easy way to make a big impact in a space!”
PinSwap out the image on a Frame TV for an easy seasonal update. Image: Word Interiors/Jean Allsopp
Light your favorite fall-inspired candles.
There’s no better way to add an instant fall touch to your home than lighting a candle. “Burning a favorite candle is a mood lifter for anyone struggling with the decreased sunshine, and it will help you embrace the season instead of resisting it,” says Ashley. Her favorite fall scent is “Moroccan Amber” by Nest Candles.
Shea adds, “The smells of firewood, whiskey, leather, and smoke … these make you want to cut the lights down low, snuggle up, and watch a Hallmark movie!”
If you aren’t a fan of scented candles, Ashley recommends using battery-operated candles throughout your home — or even in your fireplace — such as these LED pillar candles from Amazon.
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About the Author
Heather Bien
Heather Bien is a Southern writer, Richmond native, and aspiring gardener. She loves small-town travel and homemade lattes.