Decorating for Fall: 7 Easy Tips to Creating a Rich, Inviting Home

Happy September and welcome to the Blogger Fall Home Tour where 14 bloggers and myself open up our homes with Fall decorating ideas. I’m here to share with you 7 Easy Tips to Creating a Rich, Inviting Home for Fall.  If you’re coming over from Simply Cozy Charm– welcome. Isn’t Martha’s space so incredibly inviting? She sure is ready for Autumn!

It was a fabulous Summer but if you’re anything like me there’s nothing like a break from the Summer heat and sleeping with the windows open. I’m stepping out of my home and headed down the street to my parents’s newly renovated home.  Their home excludes Fall with the warm rich woods and multiple layers of neutral goodness. I was more than happy to spend some time decorating with my mom!

1. Swapping out Seasonal Art

Let’s start in my parent’s mudroom. The back mudroom is used more than the front door so this wall space is somewhat of an art gallery. It is the first impression when entering in from the garage. Our family loves art and it’s not unusual that we change it out every season. I brought over an original oil painting of a autumn wheat field. The warm colors just scream Fall. In Upstate New York, it’s a time where the leaves change colors, and our local farms yield the most incredible harvests.  Here’s just one basket full of the Granny Smith apples that my mom will be making into one of her famous homemade pies.

2. Finding a Rich Color Scheme

As you come in off the back mudroom you’re greeted by a bright open family room. This Fall I am still longing for ORANGE and to mix things up I added touches of deep jeweled toned turquoise.  Light organic linen curtains are kept open all the time allowing the Indian Summer sun to flood in and keep this South facing room light, cheery and sun-filled.

Interior Design Tip

When it comes to picking out your big ticket items look to a neutral color palette if your like to change your looks seasonally. Neutral fabric furniture allows you to change the colors with every season. Just don’t shy away for that bright statement piece though. Every room should have a pop of color to add interest and contrast.

3. Simple Inviting Centerpieces

Taking center stage on the large reclaimed wood coffee table is a hammered copper. I filled the tray with two birch wrapped candle pillars and a glass egg elevated by a wooden stand. Scattered around this trio is green moss and other rustic organic elements found in the floral filler aisle also at HomeGoods. The tray came in two sizes so of course I needed to buy both!

Interior Design Tip 

To break up square elements in a space look to mix up shapes. I chose a round tray on this heavy rectangular table.  The same for the large mirror over the sideboard pictured. A square or rectangular mirror wouldn’t have the impact or visual interest. The round elements soften the edges and create a more inviting vignette.

On the corner table I added a silk floral arrangement from Wisteria Flowers and Gifts . The rich autumnal colors tied in perfectly with my soft accents. This arrangement is also in a birch wrapped container. I add some sort of floral or organic elements to every room. It’s good feng shui.  To the right of the wooden pillar lamp is a silver capped wooden pumpkin.

4. Add Colorful Cozy Accents

If you ask me, any sofa would be naked without a throw blanket.  I was on the hunt for soft furnishings such as cozy throw blankets and accent pillows picking up the warm copper tones. Adding blankets and switching out pillows are an affordable way to add a splash of color. This thick throw was edged with colorful tassels and the large oversized plaid pattern compliments the gray slipcovered swivel chairs.

Interior Design Tip

You can never go wrong with mixing a floral, solid, and a stripe or plaid. Each pattern compliments one another and is a go-to formula for everything from home accents to wall coverings, art, rugs and window treatment choices.

Here’s an upclose of the down filled embossed velvet pillow, rich turquoise velvet and burlap edged and a large hand dyed tapestry-like accent pillow filled with every Autumn color under the sun!

5. Heavy Metal

If you have visited my blog before, you’ll know that I’m a huge copper fan. And so is my mother. The proverbial “apple does not fall far from the tree.”  So I set out to HomeGoods to add additional copper elements. Theres no rule to sticking to one metal! I love to mix it up and add all different metals. There are so many finishes to choose from now. In addition to copper I love all types of mercury glass. I’m much like a moth to a flame with it’s mirrored finish and embossed decorative etchings.

Looking onto the massive tall sideboard that serves as my parent’s family room “mantel” I brought out the mixed metal vases purchase last year and added more mercury glass pumpkins in various sizes, textures and finishes. These will transition perfectly into Thanksgiving time.

6. Buy What You Love

Just to the right of the server on top of two stacked woven poufs I place the other copper tray. Our family loves dogs so when I saw this pyramid of sweet dogs from Wisteria I had to add it to the vignette for a splash of whimsy. Buy what you like and make it work in. Try decorating your collections and rotating them out. My parents love animals and we have scattered them throughout the home in everything from fabric to art to home accents.

These woven poufs get plenty of use. Not only are they additional seating for our large family but stacked on top of one another they’re easily moved around the family room to provide for additional side tables.

Creating Traditions

As I mentioned earlier September yields the best harvest in Upstate New York. The Saturday early morning trips to the Rochester Public Market has us going back-and-forth to our cars dropping off our haul at least twice a visit. Here is this past Saturday’s market harvest. Yes its all real and that’s a warm loaf of Italian bread!

Each September we can tomatoes, fire roasted tomatoes, french onion soup, peaches and this year something new … pickles. I’ve never made pickles before but our neighbor Nancy taught us.  We made dill and sweet and spicy varieties.  My mom has passed on this rich tradition just like her mother before her.   Although laborious, canning is fun and there is nothing more rewarding than creating delicious farm to table meals.

7. Window Sill Styling

Getting back to decorating for Fall… My parent’s large window sill spans almost 10′ right and left of her sink.  For those who have a window over their sink area, that space becomes your view. Why not make it beautiful? We put away her Summer orchids and brought out fresh basil plants, gourds, corn stock art, and a pumpkin spice chai agape candle from my friend Rachel Rae Living. You can only imagine the smells coming from this kitchen!

Centered over the sink is a large ceramic cow figurine. We added more copper accents and additional gourds and moss orbs. Not too busy but enough to create interest when decorating for Fall. A few unripened tomatoes are added from time to time.

Heading into the formal living room is a new addition. A large oversize botanical bird print, her silver pheasants, and a pair pf vintage pewter tall candlesticks adorn the fireplace mantel.  On a side table, a porcelain Lladros bird rest in a nest of craft paper straw in a wicker basket.

In the corner near the front foyer a simple three-tier topiary and ceramic love birds sit on top of a small accent chest under a pair of original Paris framed watercolors.  The fall decor stays out till mid November. By that time the leaves have fallen and there’s morning frost on the grass and the arrival of snow is just a matter of time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my most recent Fall home decor additions. Decorating for Fall is my favorite! I hope you have found inspiration and helpful tips to creating your ideal Autumn home. There’s so  much more to see so please head on over to my dear friend Laila’s Design by Laila California home. Laila has recanted gutted and renovated a new home and she’s finally ready to show us her impeccable style.  Here’s todays line up so don’t miss this great group of bloggers and feel free to leave us all a comment or question.

Happy Fall!

The Fabulous Fall Bloggers

Happy Happy Nester – Janine | Remington Avenue – Mysha | Maison de Cinq – Sheila | Simple Cozy Charm – Martha |  Meme Hill – Amie | Designs by Laila – Laila | I Don’t Know How She Does It- Gloribell |  2 Ladies and a Chair – Joan | The Design Twins – Jodie and Julie |  Citrine Living – Tamara |  Lindsay Hill Interiors – Kathleen | Modern Glam Home – Ashley | Crazy Chic Design – Amy | Styled with Lace – Kim and Lacey | Summer Adams – Summer

 Crazy for Fall?

Here’s some of my past Fall related posts for some more decorating inspiration.

If you’d like to see my last year’s Fall tour take a look here. Decorating your home for Fall : adding textures and patterns to your home decor

Or when I turned a vintage bird feeder into an outdoor bar cart! The Harvest Haven Fall Tour

Or a little Fall decorating down by the Lake How to style a Lake House for Fall 

Or a rustic farmhouse inspired living room

and lastly a colorful bright family room and painted pumpkins