When we think of refreshing our homes for fall, nature-inspired accents, thick throws and rich color all come to mind. While some love to layer with these seasonal details, a less-is-more approach feels right for others. Click through our gallery and tell us whether you love a simple and striking look or a cozy and collected vibe.
Simple & Striking: Fall Leaves
Let the season’s fiery palette work its magic and forage leaves right outside your front door. Bring a branch of freshly-clipped foliage inside and display it in a clear glass vase for an impressive look.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Cozy & Collected: Fall Leaves
Incorporate fall foliage into your home with a few foraged leaves displayed in vintage picture frames. To let the leaves’ color stand out, be sure to use a white background.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Simple & Striking: Fall Wreath
The pared-back version of a lavish fall wreath, a gooseberry variant makes a simple seasonal statement hung above a bed.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2010
Designer: Joel Bray
Cozy & Collected: Fall Wreath
For something more statement-making, opt for a ready-made wreath abundant with bright red, orange and yellow leaves. Fall wreaths create a warm welcome when hung on the front door with a pumpkin-colored ribbon.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Simple & Striking: Throw Pillows
Burnt orange pillows add a subtle pop of fall color to this neutral grey living room without overwhelming the space.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home October 2016
Designer: Brian Gluckstein
Cozy & Collected: Throw Pillows
For the more daring, cozy up your sofa with pillows in harvest hues and botanical prints. To avoid a matchy-matchy look, mix motifs in a range of shades.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Simple & Striking: Nature-Inspired Display
A wheat sheaf is synonymous with fall, so give it pride of place in the center of a table. To give the sheaf a dramatic flared shape, hold pre-bound bundles at the top (just below the grains), then twist in opposite directions simultaneously.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Cozy & Collected: Nature-Inspired Display
A grouping of decorative corn is festive without being extravagant. Place some in tall vintage jars, and rest the remainder in glass compotes with the corn tops left exposed for texture and shape.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Simple & Striking: Beautiful Tablescape
Give fall foliage a cool update by setting your table with faux-aged vases and metallic leaves. Get DIY instructions here.
Photographer: Valerie Wilcox
Source: House & Home October 2015
Designer: Meg Crossley
Cozy & Collected: Beautiful Tablescape
Set a timeless fall tablescape with linens, dishes and accessories in tones of gold and apricot. The classic color combo is the perfect backdrop for a harvest centerpiece of pumpkins, gourds and decorative kale.
Photographer: Janet Kimber
Source: House & Home October 2011
Designer: Michael Penney
Simple & Striking: Fireplace Mantel
Top your mantel with a mix of real white pumpkins and decorative ceramic pumpkins for a sculptural display.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home October 2009
Designer: Stacey Smithers
Cozy & Collected: Fireplace Mantel
Warm up your living room by keeping firewood next to the mantel. Stack it simply, as homeowner Genevieve Makinson did here, or store some in a decorative bin or firewood rack. A collection of colorful books adds a layer of warmth.
Photographer: Michael Graydon
Source: House & Home October 2017
Designer: Genevieve Makinson
Simple & Striking: Throw Blanket
Whether cozying up in a luxe cashmere or soft cotton-blend, setting out throw blankets this time of year is an easy and affordable way to boost hygge factor. For a look that doesn’t feel fussy, drape a single throw casually over a chair.
Photographer: John Cullen
Source: House & Home October 2010
Designer: Joel Bray
Cozy & Collected: Throw Blanket
For the serious snuggler, pile a stack of plush throws onto a stool or side table and set it next to the sofa so they’re easy to grab.
Photographer: Angus Fergusson
Source: House & Home October 2010
Designer: Carmen Dunjko