I ve never been an over-the-top seasonal decorator (Christmas aside). I don't fill the house with themed accessories every few months, but I do think a home should feel different in October than it does in July. Fortunately, I find that you can capture the mood of a season without relying on piles of decor.
A few times a year, I make small changes that help our rooms feel more comfortable, functional, and suited to the months ahead. Fall is probably my favorite time to do this, at least for our indoor spaces. I love bringing warmth back into the house and preparing it for cooler nights and earlier evenings at home.
Rather than redecorating every surface, I focus on fall layering – changing colors, adding texture, and switching fragrances to switch the atmosphere of the home. These are the simple changes I make each year to reset our home for fall.
Switch to Cozier Bedding
I always start by changing the bedding around the house, since it’s the most practical part of the reset. I swap summer-weight duvets and blankets for warmer down inserts, or if we’re still in that unpredictable stretch when temperatures rise and fall every few days, I simply add another layer.
Once the cooler weather settles in, I pack away the lightweight bedding for the season. I wash or dry-clean everything first, then store it in a canvas storage tote under the bed or in the attic, so it’s clean and ready to use again next summer.
Layer in Rich Textiles
Decorative textiles are one of the most effective ways to signal the season. In my bedroom, lightweight linen and summery florals give way to velvet, wool and tapestry in deeper shades. I also add a slightly darker duvet cover to the bed and change the throw and pillow on the armchair in the corner. You don’t need to replace every textile: introducing one richer color, like amber, rust, or olive, along with two or three heavier textures is usually enough to shift the mood of the room.
I use the same approach in our living spaces. I keep seasonal pillow covers folded in a drawer, which takes up far less room than storing complete pillows and makes them easy to rotate throughout the year. After changing a few covers, I add extra throw blankets to the baskets near our sofas and chairs. This ensures they’re useful rather than simply decorative, while also giving the rooms a subtle visual signal that they’re ready for cooler weather.
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After the textiles are taken care of, I work on changing out the flowers and greenery. During the summer, I fill vases with flowers that peak in the warm weather, like hydrangeas, lilies and alstroemeria, along with a few faux leafy branches. But by fall, those arrangements begin to feel out of place.
Until the holiday greenery comes out, I use dried hydrangeas, magnolia leaves, dahlias, celosia, mums and branches with turning leaves foraged from the yard. These arrangements bring the season’s softer, earthier colors indoors.
Scent with the Changing Seasons
Lighting a candle is an almost-daily ritual for me, so I also change the scents around the house with the season. I do buy the occasional pumpkin spice candle, but I tend to prefer more unique fall fragrances because they remind me of my home during that particular time of year. Pomegranate, fig and tobacco are my go-tos, especially when they’re paired with cedar, leather or a hint of smoke. I’ve included my current favorite in the shopping roundup below.
Stack Logs by the Fire
Our home has one wood-burning fireplace, in the living room, and it typically sits unused from late April until October. During the warmer months, we spend more time in the casual family room, but the fireplace draws us back into the living room once the temperature drops.
To make sure we're ready for that first chilly evening, I bring the firewood rack out of the garage, fill it with logs and set out the matches. Like the rest of the reset, though, it’s also a subtle visual signal that the seasons are changing.
This is one of my go-to fall fragrances. It feels warm, but more sophisticated and unexpected than a pumpkin or apple candle.
I use thinner coverlets and quilts in the summer, but I recently tried this Cozy Earth Down Alternative Duvet Cover, and I couldn't wait til cooler temps to put it on my bed. It's the best down alternative insert I've tried.
Seasonal florals are one of the simplest ways to decorate for the time of year. I usually have a mix of both real and faux versions at home.
This tapestry-print pillow cover was a new purchase this season, and I'm obsessed with it!
Aside from adding a new duvet, I also usually add a duvet cover in a slightly warmer color like beige or oatmeal. I own this one from The Company Store in white, but it comes in lots of pretty warm tones, too.
None of these changes is particularly dramatic, but I find that heavier bedding, richer textiles, a few branches from the yard and warmer evening light are enough to make the rooms feel more comfortable and in tune with the time of year, without the need to redecorate every surface.
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