Fall Into Comfort: 5 Ways to Cozy Up Your Home

“That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain. . . .”

? Ray Bradbury, The October Country

A hush in the air, a trickle of rain urging the comfort of blankets and piping hot cider, the crunching of leaves as you set up a crackling bonfire for marshmallows — all indications that fall is upon us and continuing in earnest! And with the spooky season comes creative ways you can decorate your home to further envelop yourself within the embrace of autumn, whether you want to make subtle alterations to your home with pumpkins or take advantage of larger renovations like adding a fireplace or completely redoing your backyard area. Here are five easy ways to transition your decor for the cozy months ahead:

1. Update Your Throws and Cushions

Transform your space with seasonal fabrics, like flannels and witchy cloaks. Swap out lightweight summer throws for plush blankets in rich hues (maroon, deep brown, purple). Consider materials like soft cashmere, fuzzy merino wool, or even a textured cable-knit throw for that inviting, warm feel. These blanketing materials will be perfect for nights in binging all your favorite October movies while trying to avoid eating your bucket of Halloween candy! Don't forget to switch out your pillows for cozy options that reflect the season’s color palette.

2. Create a Warm Ambiance with Seasonal Candles

While not everyone can enjoy a fireplace, candles can provide a similar ambiance (unless you want to consider a HELOC to fund a fireplace renovation!). Fill your home with the comforting scents of autumn by lighting candles in scents of spiced pumpkin chai, cinnamon & clove, or caramel apple cider. Consider investing in high-quality candles that can elevate your space and create a soothing atmosphere as you unwind after a long day. Searching for little Etsy candle sellers could help you personalize your candle tastes even more, discovering scents with a reference to Nightmare Before Christmas or Halloweentown. Really curate your home to be about you!

3. Put on Your Pop Culture Cap for Décor Inspiration

Draw from your favorite tv shows and movies to capture the most customized, perfect representation of your October home! Love films like Practical Magic? Think of including lavender and rosemary in your garden for a subtle reference. Consider mixing Victorian elements, copper pots, and apothecary jars, achieving that creepy-chic aesthetic. Take a gander at a few more pop culture ideas for the chilly season:

• Place Edgar Allen Poe poems artfully around you home, putting them amongst curated tabletops with candles, gourds, and fake leaves
• The animated show Over the Garden Wall is infused with spooky, autumnal aesthetics, so you could mix and match pumpkin heads with skeletons or play old timey jazz throughout your home
• Dive into witchy DIY projects to reference Hocus Pocus! Add a few broomsticks and cauldrons to copy the Sanderson Sisters

4. Invest in Halloween Lawn Décor

Envious of your neighbor’s inflatable dragon, frightening passersby as they run by on the sidewalk? Steal the best lawn decoration ideas as you’re out and about! You can be a minimalist about the process if you like, throwing a tasteful gourd here and there. Or if you’d like to go big, throw the skeletons on the lawn with cobwebs, carve an entire army of pumpkins with a variety of expressions, and anything else you’d like. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it and throw some tombstones in. For Halloween, your lawn/porch can be your canvas to paint on. The sky’s the limit!

5. Curate Your Autumnal Kitchen

Warm, filling food and tasty baked treats often take the main stage in the autumn. With the colder temps, you’ll feel drawn to heating up the kitchen while baking goods, infusing your space with the smell of pumpkin bread rising in the oven and hot cider heating up in your crockpot. Decorate your countertops with tasteful fall leaves, cute white pumpkins, and swap out the regular dish towels with themed wash clothes, with purples and spiders and broomsticks.

As you cozy up your space this fall, remember it’s the little things that make your house feel like a home, whether it be a small touch of pumpkins and witchy whimsy or a decked out Halloween pad with candies at every table and a lawn laden with lavish decorations. It’s completely up to you and your own flair for style and décor. Let the warmth of autumn inspire you to create a cozy, spooky retreat that welcomes all!

Source: Houzz, Vogue, Seeking Lavender Lane