As summer eases into fall, all of us want easy ways to update our homes.
When you walk into every shop and smell pumpkin spice, you know it’s time to welcome fall into your home!
I hope you can use these simple ideas to ease into crisp days, cozy evenings and falling leaves.
SWITCH OUT YOUR PILLOWS.
One of the easiest ways to update your interior for the new season, new pillow covers make a huge difference!
Pillows with a fall theme and a different texture instantly make any room feel welcoming and cozy.
I brought back your very favorite pillow covers for fall. They slip right over an insert, have a beautiful texture that looks like linen but is wrinkle free, and they are a great price!
My own secret? I slip them over other pillows that I already own so I’m not storing a billion pillows somewhere!
There is also a gorgeous green gourd pillow cover that goes from now all the way to the holidays.
WARM UP YOUR TEXTILES.
One of my favorite ways to transition décor from summer to fall is to add cozy textiles. This antique paisley throw is just right, the warm colors and rich texture let everyone know it’s a different season!
CHANGE YOUR SCENTS.
During the fall, rich, warm scents make your environment feel right for the transition.
Because I’m slightly allergic to many scents, those heavy sweet pumpkin scented candles are not for me. I restocked our signature FGH candle in a glass container in my favorite scent, French Country Currant Blanc.
It always reminds me of evening in France, lingering around the table with friends. It is gently perfumed with the scent of French currant berries, apple, and succulent notes of pear, just right for this season.
Candles create a wonderful fall glow in every room. Plus, everyone looks so gorgeous in candlelight – all of us love that, right?
Set your dinner table with tapers, it will make such a difference. A table set with candles brings even take-out to another level. Our tapers are unscented, so that the only thing your family and friends will smell is your delicious meal.
ADD SEASONAL ACCENTS.
I’ll confess that I no longer “decorate” like I did when my girls were young and still living at home.
But a few seasonal accents here and there make our heart {and our homes} happy!
In the kitchen, I set up a dessert station on the farm table, I know you’ve seen this before but it bears repeating as it’s my favorite thing. The pie isn’t always there for obvious reasons, but the antique bread board, the silver forks and spoon in the ironstone pitcher and the antique plates are.
This is last year’s set-up, I probably won’t do this until after we return from our last European antique buying trip…but it is a very welcoming sight.
This makes it so easy to have someone over for coffee, it’s all ready to go, all I have to add is something I baked or something I bought at the bakery.
Another seasonal accent that I love is the metal French Country flower buckets. This one with the turkey remains a favorite – I like it in my hallway holding umbrellas and walking sticks. It’s a subtle nod to the season.
BRING IN DEEPER JEWEL TONE COLORS.
Fall is the time to bring when in deeper, darker and richer colors. For me, that means more red accents. Deep, glorious crimson, in textiles and decorative pieces like my very favorite French Country floral buckets.
I had these designed for the library of a gentleman who collected Napoleon antique memoribila, and loved the result so much, that I had more made in two sizes.
They serve well for holding umbrellas and walking sticks in the foyer, but also look pretty nice holding floral branches – both faux {pears} and real {with a glass insert to hold the water.} as you can see below.
UPDATE YOUR KITCHEN.
I always begin each seasonal update here at home in our kitchen. Getting new towels in seasonal designs or with deeper colors are a joy I look forward to each autumn.
It’s an inexpensive thrill!
This is such a whimsical pattern with forest animals running all over it. It has a hedgehog, which I love!
When I was a little girl in Europe, my aunt and I rescued a little hedgehog, and kept him in our garden until he was well again, much to the consternation of our daily gardener. Every time I use one of these towels, I remember that with such fondness.
These other towels are new, but are made of that chunky, tumbled linen and are like the towels produced in France for centuries. Their very texture speaks autumn.
BRING OUT HEAVIER, DARKER ACCESSORIES.
During fall, getting out some of your heavier antique French pieces captures the spirit of the season.
Heavy French Country pottery and rustic French cutting boards set the scene in our kitchen here at home.
Wood accents add a note of autumnal bliss to our side table. Anything wood, with dark patina and stain will create enchanting vignettes during this season.
BRING NATURE IN.
Flowers, branches, moss, leaves, and fruit – whether fresh or faux – will bring the beauty of nature inside to your rooms.
On my hallway side table, this arrangement of color roses, mums, magnolia leaves, eucalyptus and berries is happily nestled inside the antique French tole bucket. That the bucket has wear and patina only makes it more charming in my opinion!
Not all you flowers need be “real”, there are so many realistic looking silk flowers that easily fool the eye. I designed the Bourgogne Autumn Floral Collection to look real, hand tying bouquets of flowers and branches to display with joy in your home.
Berries and rose hips look delightful in this vintage hanging bucket in our kitchen. { I adore these hanging buckets, they’re so versatile! Made from antique waste bins in Europe, this one show its number 14 with pride.}
It doesn’t take much to bring a touch of nature inside, and the effort will change the whole look of your interior.
Seasonal fruit always makes a statement. It’s almost apple season here in California, and I’m looking forward to going out to pick apples at an orchard in a month or so.
In the meantime, rosy apples piled in an antique wood cutlery tray look so cheerful, don’t you think?
DRESS YOUR TABLE.
One of my favorite ways to bring the season to life here at home is to dress our table with fall linens, plates, cups and accents.
Table settings are an enjoyable way to make your home feel more inviting. Updating your place settings and centerpiece with fall colors will bring autumn beauty to your dining room or breakfast nook.
You can go very neutral-
or big and bold –
I hope you have enjoyed these many ways you can bring a touch of the season to your home!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WAY TO BRING SEASONAL ACCENTS INTO YOUR HOME FOR FALL?
à bientôt
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
Definitely inspired to make some changes.
Where would I find the turkey pillow case in your shop?
Ruth, you can find them here:
https://frenchgardenhouse.com/item_6955/Turkey-Throw-Pillow-Cover.htm
Such a beautiful post, Lidy! I love that gorgeous French Country table with the stunning red floral tablecloth! You have shared such beautiful ideas to get our autumn season off to a wonderful start. I started my decorating yesterday and hope to finish this weekend! I hope you enjoy your Saturday!!!
Thank you Shannon, I hope you are enjoying your fall decorating. Yay for fall!
Lidy, what a beautiful post. Just love the new things. The pillow covers and the French Country buckets are to die for. Your arrangements with these roses are breathtakingly beautiful. Made my day.
You bring “happy” to everyone’s day just buy your bringing us such magnificent inspiration that is in every corner of your home. While I am “homebound” due to the Flo, I am avoiding cabin fever by going through my bins of Fall decor! … now where is that pillow???…oh yes, the box storage room…row A, second tier!
That is the way I roll around her lately….Heart skipping a beat at every image!
Shirley, you are so sweet to say that. I am praying for you and your family, stay safe…and decorating is always a good way to spend that waiting time. Xoxo
Love the squirrel pillow case. Didn’t think to get new kitchen towels. Mine are looking very worn so a-shopping I must go!