The Opening Note
Fall is one of my favorite times of year, and after the many heat waves we’ve had this summer, I have to admit I’m more than ready for it. There’s something about the change in season that makes me want to slow down, spend more time at home, and make everything feel a little warmer and more inviting.
I’ve always thought that getting a home ready for fall should be less about decorating for the season and more about adjusting the way we live in our spaces. I’m not particularly interested in filling a room with obvious fall motifs or making everything feel themed. For me, it’s about those small, thoughtful changes that make a home feel better suited to the months ahead.
The easiest place to start is with texture. As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, I naturally find myself reaching for wool throws, linen cushions, heavier blankets, and anything else that adds a little softness. Swapping lighter summer textiles for pieces with more weight and texture can completely change the atmosphere of a room, without requiring a major redecoration.
Image credit: Sara Tramp
Image credit: Little Greene
Color is another simple way to make a home feel ready for fall. I love bringing in deeper, warmer shades at this time of year – burgundy, olive, rust, ochre, camel, and rich browns are all particularly appealing. But I think restraint is important. You don’t need to turn your home into a sea of autumnal color. A single cushion, a lampshade, a piece of pottery, or even a small accessory can introduce enough warmth to shift the mood of a room.
In fact, I’m increasingly drawn to the idea of seasonal decorating that doesn’t look seasonal at all. The best additions are the ones that make sense in your home long after fall has passed. A beautiful wool throw will still be useful in January; an earthy-toned ceramic vase will work just as well in spring; a well-made basket can hold blankets now and beach towels next summer. I think the most successful homes are built around pieces that can evolve with them rather than things that only have a place for three months of the year.
Fall is also the perfect time to rethink storage. There’s something very satisfying about putting away the things that belong to summer and making room for what we’ll actually use over the coming months. Outdoor cushions, picnic blankets, lightweight throws, and summer accessories can all be packed away, while baskets and storage boxes keep everything organized without making a room feel overly functional.
And I think beautiful storage is particularly important here. We spend so much time thinking about the things that are on display, but the pieces that help a home function deserve just as much consideration. A well-designed basket or a beautiful storage box can make a practical corner feel intentional rather than like somewhere you’ve simply run out of places to put things.
Image credit: Farrow & Ball
Image credit: Anson Smart / Tamsin Johnson
As we move into fall, our homes inevitably become more hardworking. We spend more time indoors, cook more, entertain at home, and rely on our living spaces in a different way. Lighting becomes more important. Cozy seating matters more. Blankets need to be within easy reach. Even the way we organize an entryway can make a difference when coats, boots, and umbrellas suddenly become part of everyday life again.
I’m a firm believer that these practical considerations should be part of decorating rather than something we think about afterward. A home shouldn’t have to choose between being beautiful and being functional. In fact, I think the most inviting rooms are usually the ones where those two things have been considered together.
There’s also an opportunity to have a little fun. Because some of these seasonal changes are relatively small, fall can be a good time to experiment with a color or material you might not want to commit to more permanently. A richer paint color, a patterned fabric, a vintage piece
The Edit: Fall Favorites
The Very British Edit is a shoppable guide to beautiful living with a distinctly British twist. From heritage patterns to timeless decor inspirations, each edition blends personal insight, design expertise, and a love of craftsmanship. It is stylish, trustworthy, and endlessly inspiring.
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