Fall 2024 Decorating Ideas to Welcome in the New Season

With our summer (and extended summer) officially over, we can look forward to the brisk autumn ahead.

While we have spent the last few months outside, with the most popular entertaining season right around the corner, it is a great time to consider a refresh to our home in anticipation of visits from many friends and family.

Now that the vibrant colours of the summer flowers and long days behind us, our thoughts are looking ahead to cocooning for a few months and enjoying the comfortable surroundings of our homes.  While not officially the time to decorate for the Christmas holidays, it’s fun to embellish for this period of transition and change it up a little.  It doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or expense to spruce up our personal spaces for the weeks ahead.

Bring in the light

The days are quickly becoming shorter and with shorter days comes less sunlight.  Adding supplemental light with beautiful candles and holders.  With so many varieties of candle designs, colours and sizes available, it can be overwhelming when selecting.  To help reign in the myriad of choices, we suggest: (i) select colours which fit into an autumn theme – these include: ivory, sand, terracotta, mustard yellow and dark orange.  (ii) earthy candle holders or stands made from natural stone, clay, heavy coloured glass and wood (iii) be selective with scented candles and use those with a woodsy, tobacco, forest fragrance.  On the list of favorites is the unique Thea Nico candle from Olorar Belles Fragancies

Rustic rules

There’s something about the aesthetic of rough-hewn timber that aligns with the feel of autumn.  Regardless of the style of a space, introducing an accent piece of furniture, whether a small table, stool or chair; or a large accessory such as a bowl, set of candle holders, art pedestal or sculpture – these rustic details announce that “Fall is here”, and are never out of place.

Interior plantscaping

With the flowers gone and the turning of the leaves, a walk in the forest provides the opportunity to collect a beautiful array of twigs for an arrangement or centerpiece in an interesting vase.  For a statement piece, we often choose a large scale, glass, ceramic or metal container.  The Grey Bruce Design Shop carries a unique selection of 3D printed vases, made from recycled materials.  And no watering is necessary!

Exterior plantscaping

In a similar vein to using gathered natural materials for inside, for anyone using planters around their patios and decks, once the vegetables and annuals are done, these planters can be repurposed with shaped, evergreen topiaries and decorated with strings of programmable LED lights, jute ribbon, pinecones, mini-squash and other favorite seasonal decorative items.

Keep warm

As the cooler weather takes hold, it’s time to pull out the wool and cashmere throws.  A great tactic is keeping a folded stack of warm, deeply coloured blankets within reach for an evening wrap by the firepit.   Inside, thick, decorative throws can be draped across the foot of the bed or stored rolled up in a chunky, woven basket in the living room, ready for when it’s time to curl up with a book by the fire.

Cozy up

A quick and easy way to adapt décor to the changing seasons is with decorative pillow covers.  Using quality inserts, throw cushions can be transformed within minutes to meet a seasonal theme.  This doesn’t have to mean an overuse of holiday characters, but instead, a representation of nature themes associated with the season.