From rich autumnal color and tactile textiles to atmospheric lighting and spaces designed for retreat, Mandi Keighran explores simple tips for embracing the changing seasons
As temperatures drop and the days begin to shorten, how we want our homes to feel also changes. In the same way that we might swap out linen shirts for cozy woolens in our wardrobe, this time of year offers an opportunity to introduce richer color palettes, softer textures and a sense of warmth to interiors. And creating more cocooning spaces doesn’t require a complete redecoration.
Small touches, such as a rug underfoot, a velvet cushion, warmer lighting or even a new tablecloth, can all alter the mood of a room. The key to somewhere that both celebrates and offers refuge from fall’s more changeful elements is artfully layering these features, thereby crafting a space that makes staying home feel like a joy.
“Creating a fall interior can be as simple as introducing clean flower and branch arrangements—think all white and green or dark burgundy,” says Barbara Sumner, an interior designer based in Portland, Oregon. “I also like to add a bit of dark brown, with some pillows and wood accessories and some heavy pewter or cast bronze pieces. Using color and tactile materials makes spaces more inviting and balances the experience as one moves from room to room.”
Sumner’s advice on successful seasonal decor is to match any additions to the style of your property, rather than track too closely to trends. “A very modern home can take large mohair throws in a neutral shade and big plush pillows, whereas a cottage style deserves matelassé quilts or plaid wool pillows,” she says. “Changing just a few small details—throws, linens or scents—helps mentally transition through the seasons and creates a welcoming environment for our senses.”
One of the easiest ways to introduce warmth is with textiles, from rugs layered over timber floors to sumptuous throws draped across sofas and piles of cushions. In the heart of the Cotswolds in the U.K., a beautifully reimagined barn by mother-daughter design duo Berkeley Hawkes combines rustic oak floorboards and chunky sisal carpets with soft wools, textured linens and velvets to create inviting, unpretentious interiors.
Living rooms and bedrooms aren’t the only areas to benefit from these fabric shifts—a patterned curtain can conceal cluttered open shelving in the kitchen with a splash of seasonal color. Tablecloths and table runners are another simple add.
The colors of fall offer a natural starting point for seasonal decorating. As leaves change hue, the landscape offers a dramatic palette of ochre, burgundy, rust, tobacco and deep green.
At Ulster Landing, a historic estate in New York’s Hudson Valley, a berry-red kitchen, ochre laundry and flower room, and indigo Antoinette Poisson wallpaper bring richness to the otherwise restrained design scheme. These deeper tones work particularly well as accents, meaning even new cushions or bedding can be transformational.
Summer bedrooms are all about lightness and fresh air, while fall calls for a cozier take. Layered bedding, weightier curtains, and rugs underfoot can instantly change the mood, and darker colors work particularly well in naturally dimmer rooms. In this Cotswolds barn, for example, an attic bedroom deliberately embraces its limited natural light with a deeper palette, tactile fabrics and substantial drapes beneath exposed beams, creating a space that feels intimate rather than gloomy.
Scent can also shift the seasonal atmosphere of a bedroom. “I always have a signature candle for spring, and another for fall that is musky and smoky,” says Sumner. “My favorite for fall is Ernesto by Cire Trudon.”
The snug has traditionally been associated with English country houses, but these smaller rooms designed for retreat translate effortlessly to contemporary living.
In Venice Beach, a striking residence designed by AML Studio offers a West Coast interpretation of the snug. The bespoke media room is wrapped in walnut paneling, with comfortable seating and a fully appointed bar for movie nights or relaxed gatherings. Meanwhile, the home’s main living area features a wraparound sofa facing a statement fireplace—even balmy Californian fall calls for coziness.
As the day darkens earlier, lighting takes on a key role in shaping the atmosphere of a room. Rather than relying on a single source, combining lamps and wall lights at different levels creates overlapping pools of illumination and allows the mood to shift throughout the evening.
Firelight adds another dimension, making fireplaces and woodburners natural focal points. A remodeled Portland, Oregon, home—originally designed by Wade Hampton Pipes, who brought English arts and crafts architecture to the area—has several, including a dramatic Nero Marquina marble fireplace in the family room.
“Lighting is everything,” says Sumner, who reimagined the home’s interiors. “I try to be consistent in shapes—this house has ball shapes everywhere, for example. It helps connect the spaces and looks awesome from the outside looking in. Floor, art, task and highlighting lights are all necessary to create that warm fall glow.”
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