Summer decor is bright and breezy, whereas fall (or Autumn as us Brits know it!) is crisp and cosy. How do you transition between these two without spending a fortune on new items when the green grass makes way for amber vines? Here are some smart and thrifty ways to make your space autumn-ready.
Favour the Forest and Foliage
One telling aspect of autumn is the dried leaves, bare sprigs and foliage. Instead of buying faux branches, leaves and pine cones, you could just walk around your local area and gather your decor items. I love foraging for dried branches, it’s so satisfying and the kids love getting involved too! I also love dried hydrangea heads and have them displayed all over our home at this time of year.
How should you use the things you gathered? The world is your oyster! You could remove fresh, colourful flowers from your summer decor vases, add these dried branches and sprigs and leave them on the mantel.
Make a themed centerpiece for your dining table. If you already have one from the summer, swap some brighter elements for pinecones and dried branches to incorporate autumn’s brown and tan. You could also create wreaths for added dimension on walls and doors.
Many summer plants wilt and dry when autumn arrives to save energy for the coming months. To incorporate a more rustic theme into your decor, you could bring them inside in metal buckets or ceramic pots.
Let There Be Light
Fall is all about the natural light that fills your home. Utilising it can improve the aura of your house and make it more welcoming. Apart from transforming your interior decor, natural light can improve your productivity, enhance the space’s ambience and possibly make you feel more creative. I adore how the light hits our new kitchen right now!
Do this on a budget by taking advantage of windows and patio doors. If your windows are blocked by furniture, rearrange the room and move your furniture to leave the window open. You’d be surprised at how much natural light can improve your space.
You could also use candles for soft lighting at night — bonus points if they’re in fall colours. Another more versatile option is to buy the general off-white ones, which are suitable for all seasons. Or, get flameless candles to reuse them all year round.
Adjust your more permanent fixtures, DIY lampshades or repurpose old ones to fit your new colour tones. This saves the hassle and cost of buying a new one and is a therapeutic activity too.
Utilise Ornaments and Fabrics
When it comes to interior decor, little things make significant differences. Your summer decor might have included bowls filled with seashells or summer fruits. Swap those for autumn decor like faux pumpkins to infuse your home with a fall atmosphere. I added pinecone fairy lights and white velvet pumpkins from my own homeware collection to mine.
Autumn is known for its cosiness. If you held back from bringing out the cushions for summer, it’s time to do so now. To incorporate more comfort into your setting, pile up pillows and throw blankets on your couches.
If you’re on a budget and want to save storage space, you could choose fabrics with similar tones across the seasons. For example, if you want a bright pillow cover for summer, you could opt for mustard or burnt orange so they also fit fall.
Does Colour Matter?
The short answer is yes, but the first thing on your list should be to clear up all your summer decor items and store them efficiently so you can reuse them next year. I like to keep our permanent decor and walls neutral so I can interchange my accessories through the seasons.
Summer has bright colours like pink, blue, yellow and white, which bring excitement, joy and comfort. Autumn colours include green, brown and orange, which bring abundance, serenity and resilience, to name a few. Experimenting with colours really allows you to change your decor to fall-worthy without breaking a sweat – or the bank.
Radiate the Autumn Warmth in Your Space
Once you’ve transitioned your home decor to fall, natural light flows into your space, brown leaves and foliage adorn tables and shelves, and earthy wood tones accentuate the comfy ambience. Your home is all set to experience fall in all its glory. It’s time to make a hot mug of pumpkin spice latte, snuggle on a cosy armchair by the window and watch the season transform the outside world! What could be better?!
