Dining Room
October 4, 2010
Photo Gallery: Fall Decorating Ideas
Accessorize your home for the season.
Go all out with a deep tone-on-tone fall shade.
For a saturated look, paint out the trim, walls and mantel in similarly dark shades, such as this plum purple. Regal armchairs in a velvet upholstery, an inky side table and mottled area rug create an enveloping cocoon of colour.
Exhibit freshly cut foliage in vintage bottles.
Maple leaves stay fresh for up to three weeks and, when the leaves begin to drop, a few here and there add seasonal flair. Fill bottles with tepid water, then cut the bottom of the branches on an angle. To help them take in water, use a sharp knife to slice up the middle of each branch about an inch. Replace the water when it becomes murky.
See more fall decorating ideas in our photo gallery.
Set a classic fall tablescape with linens, dishes and accessories in these rich hues.
This timeless combination confers elegance and provides the perfect backdrop for a harvest centrepiece of pumpkins, gourds and decorative kale. Create tiers to give the display visual interest: stack larger pumpkins and gourds on a cake platter, perch the kale in shallow bowls of water and scatter mini pumpkins on the table. Handsome flatware with rustic handles, crystal goblets and vintage pheasant salt and pepper shakers stay on theme.
See more fall decorating ideas in our photo gallery.
Showcase a natural wheat sheaf.
For a dramatic flared shape, hold pre-bound bundles at the top (just below the grains) and bottom, then twist in opposite directions simultaneously. Knot a thick brown velvet ribbon around the pivot point, keeping the ends long so they spill onto the table.
See more fall decorating ideas in our photo gallery.
Create a cosy vibe by piling throw pillows in botanical prints and rich fall colours onto a solid sofa.
Avoid being too matchy-matchy: mixing motifs in a range of shades looks extra lush. Continue the warming trend by covering bare floors with a thick wool rug in a cranberry hue; flip it over for a vintage needlepoint look or place it plush side up for a luxe feel underfoot.
See more fall decorating ideas in this photo gallery, plus see more rooms with jewel tones in this photo gallery.
Cosy up bedrooms with toasty-warm wool blankets, sumptuous velvet pillows and striped bedding in brown shades from beige to chocolate.
Chamomile-coloured walls ensure a sunny feel during grey winter days and are neutral enough to work with most decorating schemes. Add a little life with a quirky gooseberry wreath and a small pitcher of wildflowers bedside.
Press pretty fall leaves and display them in vintage frames.
Unify different frames by painting them white or gold, then wrap any existing mats with linen in earthy neutral tones. (Wrap the linen snugly around the mats and secure at back with glue or double-sided tape. Then, cut an X from corner to corner across the picture opening and fold the resulting triangles of fabric back and affix to the mat.)
See more fall decorating ideas in our photo gallery.
Showcase the full range of fall colours.
Achieve a modern look by placing some in tall vintage jars or rest a few in demure glass compotes with their grassy tops exposed for texture and shape. Their deep red and yellow colour looks especially rich atop dark wood and antique furniture.
Impress guests with this chic living arrangement.
Make a seasonal statement in your front hall with a slender Japanese maple standing on its burlap-wrapped base. Majestic but not manicured, it gives the foyer a fab, unfussy feel. Keep a saucer under the root ball to prevent water damage to furniture. Post-party, pot and keep the tree indoors or, if the killing frost is at least six weeks away, plant the tree outside.
See more beautiful autumn decorating ideas in our Fall Decorating Ideas gallery.
Wrap the seat cushion of a favourite chair in a swatch of fabric or a wool throw.
A worn tribal print carpet layered with a hide rug lends an exotic feel. A side table with tusk legs is contrasted with an English wingback chair in mahogany leather for an old world look. Weathered maps propped against the wall and a brass lamp enhance the room’s handsome, timeworn appeal.
Find more inspiration in our photo gallery of Rooms With Warm Metal Accents.
Create a vibrant display for fall.
Inky black currant sprigs, combined with the vibrant violet rosette of a flowering kale nestled in a shallow ceramic bowl, are a gorgeous (and seasonally-appropriate) alternative to fresh-cut flowers. Lush layers of tone-on-tone textures and timeworn elements, like this Scandinavian-style bureau, add simple, subtle beauty to the space. A wall hanging of pressed barkcloth offer woodsy charm while luxe accents, like a gleaming silver lamp and plush velvet chair, maintain elegance.
See more beautiful autumn decorating ideas in our Fall Decorating Ideas gallery.
Mix burlap and black velvet upholstery on bergere chairs to add texture to a room in a dramatic and unexpected way.
Layering fabrics, patterns and colours turns any space into a snug refuge from falling temperatures outdoors. An on-trend grey wall colour and soft grey striped rug underfoot add to the cosy feeling, while unfitted windows keep the space from becoming fussy or visually cluttered.
See more beautiful autumn decorating ideas in our Fall Decorating Ideas gallery.
Create chic autumn arrangements with foliage.
A nonchalant arrangement of dried pods, berries and buds grouped in a trio of statuesque white vases makes a gorgeous, long-lasting centrepiece. Display them on a sideboard or dining table, where their quirky grace will demand attention.
Warm up a black and white colour scheme with natural materials and rustic touches.
Rugged textures plucked from the great outdoors — roughly chopped firewood, a supple hide rug — add fall style to this living room. The mantel comes to life with a high-contrast arrangement of dark, gourd-shaped ceramics and pale pumpkins. A chic take on a rambling pumpkin patch, the effect is both playful and pretty.
See more Fall Decorating Ideas, plus find more tips on decorating with bull’s-eye mirrors in our photo gallery.
Change things up for fall using mismatched artifacts, antiques and vintage pieces.
Collections that may be too small on their own suddenly feel grander when displayed in clusters. To keep the assortment cohesive, stick to items with similar patinas — rust, pewter, antiqued glass — and sizes as a common link.
Skip the standard orange pumpkin to freshen up your fall decor.
In shades ranging from pale and pretty to deep and dusky, heirloom varieties with exotic names such as Valenciano (shown), Lumina and Jarrahdale take autumn decorating in an elegant new direction. Simply set on a folded scrap of burlap on a black velvet chair for a chic vignette.
See more beautiful autumn decorating ideas in our Fall Decorating Ideas gallery.
Free of its leafy camouflage, a branch’s strong lines steal the spotlight.
Recast a found or pruned branch as a budget-friendly piece of art by propping it up in a corner (secure it to the wall with fishing wire tied to a small eye hook if necessary). The carefree outdoor-indoor look is not only on-trend, but provides an organic counterpoint to a room’s more formal elements.
See more beautiful autumn decorating ideas in our Fall Decorating Ideas gallery.
Salvaged coffee bags create an eco-chic bedroom.
For a rustic yet restrained look, upholster a simple Ikea headboard in reclaimed burlap instead of expensive fabric. Set against a black painted wall, the effect is dramatic.
Learn how to make a DIY upholstered headboard with these step by step instructions.
See more statement beds in our photo gallery.
Layer plants and plates for an organic-chic look.
Create an elegant place setting by layering dried fern fronds between sleek earthenware chargers and clear glass plates. Add upscale polish with heirloom silverware, but mix it with chunky antique horn-handled cutlery, an artfully rumpled linen table runner and smoky glass tumblers for a more casual ambience.
See more beautiful table decorating in our photo gallery.