Fall Is In The Air -- Finally!

Fall is just around the corner! The leaves are slowly beginning to change color, and the weather is cooling down. Fall in our area is just beautiful! And the change of seasons is always exciting to experience.

Incorporating seasonal touches into your home throughout the year makes each season more enjoyable because you get to participate in the beauty. It doesn’t take much to transition your home décor. Just a few small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few ways to get you and your home ready for the new season.

Before you get started adding fall elements to your décor, store away anything that has a distinct summer feel. If you always decorate for the seasons, then you’ll already know what you added and can put away. However, if this is your first time transitioning your décor from one season to another, go around your home and look for anything that makes you think of summer, such as items in bright colors, like blue, orange, coral, yellow. Vacuum or dust those items as needed, then store them until next summer. This is also a good time to decide that some pieces are ready to be permanently retired!

During the fall, it’s all about rich, warm scents. You can start subtly with fragrances that have a musky undertone, then as we get further into the season start bringing in more traditional scents like pumpkin and cinnamon. To really create a wonderful aroma, make a simmering pot of cloves, apple, orange, cinnamon, and vanilla. This can be done in a crock pot, or on the stove. Check every once in a while to add more water as needed.

One of our favorite ways to transition décor from summer to fall is to switch out or add cozy textiles, such as accent pillows, throws, guest towels, and even window treatments. Choose warm colors and rich textures like knits, wools, and flannel. On your bed, simply changing the sheets to something heavier and adding a blanket over the foot of the bed will completely change the feel.

It’s a lot of fun to update your vignettes for the seasons. During the fall, think rustic touches and accents from nature: branches, leaves, moss, and even seasonal fruits such as apples and pears look great as fall décor. Be sure to incorporate pumpkins and gourds, because these are the very essence of Autumn. Other organic components to include in your “still life” vignette are apples, pears, acorns, pinecones, and kumquats.

While summer is all about the sun shining bright, fall is about cozier, warmer lighting. If your home has a lot of natural light, you can dim it a bit with heavier curtains. Candles are a wonderful go-to for fall vibes, but there are safer alternatives. There are electric ones on the market that offer the same look and feel, or warmers that melt scented wax without a flame.

One last thing we love about this time of year in Atlanta- it is the perfect time of year to spend more time outside! So, dine alfresco, or just go sit and read a book, the weather is delicious!

And remember, as you are preparing your home for colder weather and sorting through the closets, to round up outgrown winter coats and shoes, and extra scarves and gloves to donate. Someone out there can use them!

Wonderful World of Window Treatments

Autumn Means Rustic Décor, Window Treatments & More Rustic fall décor ideas are rooted in earth tones like browns, greens, and—you guessed it—rusty reds and oranges. This color palette makes it a perfect fit for fall! Back the color palette with a calm and inviting neutral, like cream or vanilla, and accent the rustic look with exposed metal hardware. You don’t have to live in the country to enjoy this style in your space. Easily decorate your windows for autumn by creating an eye-catching display right on the window sill! Place pumpkins, baskets, and fall candles along the window sill, mixing natural elements like gourds and wicker with a few shiny glass or metal accents. Add in a string of warm yellow LED lights to illuminate the scene!

Window sills aren’t the only place you can decorate. Here are a few other fall window décor ideas:

» Create a cozy fall reading nook in a window seat with a fall pillow and cable knit throw, or add a piece of vintage velvet furniture near a window. » Don’t forget to dress up your front door! If you want to give the black accent paint a try, the front door is a beautiful place to go dark. Add pumpkins and seasonal foliage leading up the walk so you’re greeted with that fall feeling every time you come home.

Refresh Your Window Treatments For An Easy Fall Change

While you can install new window treatments for every season, it’s really not very practical to do so! Here are a few easy ways you can refresh your current window coverings to update your house for autumn without spending money on dedicated fall window treatments.

Add coordinating fall décor

Keep your window treatments just as they are, and carefully select fall-inspired accent pieces with textures and colors that either closely match, or intentionally contrast with, your treatments. This will cause the treatments to pop without making any changes to them!

Add a new layer

Layering curtains and draperies with fall window treatments like woven wood shades, Roman shades, cellular shades, or wood blinds creates a beautiful effect that also adds a little more insulation for the cold weather months. This makes it a great way to make your home more energy efficient as the seasons change.