A change of accessories, some cool-weather plants or a splash of color will update your home for the season
Seasonal makeovers as fall approaches
The kids are back to school. The geraniums have grown tired. But even people sad to see summer go know there’s a lot to love about sweater weather.
For those who enjoy giving their homes a seasonal makeover, it’s even irresistible.
From gourds and harvest wreaths to candles and flannel sheets, a change in decor welcomes the new season.
Kim Hazelet, for one, embraces fall –and dresses her home for it.
“There are certain fabrics you wear in the summer and certain fabrics for the fall. I feel the same way in the home,” says Hazelet, owner of Accentric, a home accent specialty shop at 1434 Hertel Ave.
“For fall, I think of warmer fabrics, such as chenille throws. You also can change your decorative pillows for fall. It’s all about being cozy and getting your nest ready,” she says.
It may be a little early to dig out the down comforter and snow
shovel, but there are some changes you can make now.
Fall is the time to rotate artwork, pillows and other accessories, says local interior designer Andrea Connors, owner of Interior Basics.
The idea is to switch from the light, airy palette of summer to fall’s warmer tones and textures.
But don’t go overboard. Connors recommends targeting just a few areas.
In her house, those areas are the fireplace mantel and buffet. A foyer or entranceway also works well for some people.
“Instead of having things all over the place, choose one or two strong areas — instead of many weak ones,” she says.
She recently changed the candles as well as the artwork on her mantel to something more seasonal. She also has some twisted stems from a Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick shrub propped against the brick.
And Connors, who describes her decorating style as more free-form, also is prone to collect fallen leaves and other natural elements directly from outdoors to use as fall accents.
“That way, when you are done with them, you don’t have to store anything. You can just throw them in the compost pile,” she says.
Same with creating an inexpensive centerpiece for your autumn table.
“Take advantage of nature’s bounty and bring in red fiery leaves, twisted twigs and plump acorns,” she says.
Hazelet, too, is stepping into fall.
“I like to have fragrances from the season in my house — the decorative potpourris. For fall, I think of cinnamon, spice and apples,” says Hazelet.
And she changes them seasonally.
In warm weather, it’s Aromatique’s “Smell of Spring.” In fall, it’s “Cinnamon Cider.”
It’s decorative, so you can just put it in a bowl on a sofa table or in the foyer,” she says.
This time of year, she also is bringing a bit of outdoors inside.
“I like to cut hydrangeas from my yard and dry them. I think the best way is to just put them in a vase with a little bit of water. The water evaporates, and they dry naturally in the right position,” she says.
“I love all the different colors, and I think hydrangea is one flower that really looks nice dried,” she says.
More ambitious plans may include painting a room. And, this fall, the color may just be one from the purple, plum and wine family.
“Purple is a popular color for clothing this season, and just as home design follows fashion, shades of plum and aubergine are showing up on walls, rugs and upholstery,” the Washington Post recently reported.
And while you may see it paired with chocolate brown or pale gray, it also can be used as a spot of color in a room full of neutrals.
Dutch Boy, in fact, highlights the wine shades as one of fall’s top trend categories, along with “Woodlands” (deep rich browns; calming mossy greens); “Spices” (warm yellows, golds and oranges), and “Harvest” (warm reds, oranges and neutrals).
Other ideas:
• Change your kitchen or guest bath towels to fall colors.
• Collect fallen branches and stick them in vases or containers. Or choose eucalyptus in fall colors, great in earthy vases.
• Dress up your front entrance with a fall-theme mat and a harvest door wreath. Or consider hanging a spray of cattails, Chinese lanterns, fall leaves and other silk options. Buy one or make it yourself.
• Move the furniture around. Consider arranging chairs near a fireplace to create a cozy conversation area.
• Sunflowers are an inexpensive way to celebrate late summer/early fall. Pick up a bunch at a farmer’s market, supermarket or florist and plop them into a vase or ceramic pitcher. They’re great on a coffee table or on the kitchen counter.
• Use fruit for centerpieces. An idea from Romantic Homes magazine: Try grapes with figs. Add foliage from your garden in similar colors.
• As Halloween approaches, hollow out pumpkins and place pots of mums or sunflowers in them, Hazelet recommends.
• Group pumpkins in a row down the center of a dining table. Add a table runner in a fall-theme pattern.
• Design a mixed autumn container using kale, cabbage, winter pansies, Marguerite daisies, nemesia, million bells and more.
Inquire about frost-tolerant annuals at your favorite nursery or greenhouse. And don’t forget about ornamental grasses such as carex and toffee twist.
Goodbye geraniums. Hello mums.
