Transitioning to Autumn: Early Fall Decorating Tips for a Cozy Home

It’s that time of the year again! The summer days are beginning to get shorter and back-to-school time has rolled around again. It’s time to start thinking about transitioning our homes from that carefree feel of Summer to the more cozy vibes that Fall brings with it.

As someone who loves decorating for Fall, I’m excited to share some of my favorite early Fall decorating tips for a cozy home with you today.

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Early Fall Decorating Tips for a Cozy Home

Now that the calendar has flipped over to September it’s time for me to pack away the seashells and the rest of the Summer touches I have had in my living room for the past few months. I’m not quite ready to go all pumpkin-palooza around here but I am ready for a change! Here are the easy ways I start making it feel like Fall is on its way.

Add Cozy Textures for Fall

One of the easiest ways to bring the warmth of Fall into your home is by adding more warm colors and cozy textures. Think about incorporating throw pillows and blankets in shades of terracotta orange, earthy greens, and honey-toned yellows. You can also add some cozy texture with knit or velvet throw pillows. These small touches can make a big impact in creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

When I am decorating a room I usually have one piece that sparks my imagination and gives me the inspiration for what I will do in that space. For this early Fall look it was a throw pillow cover that I fell in love with in the Pottery Barn catalog. It was a bit of a splurge for me but when I saw it I knew that it was going to be my entire vibe for Fall in this living room!

My throw pillow cover is no longer available on Pottery Barn but this is a similar style for 2024

The throw pillow cover had all of the colors that I wanted to use this Fall: warm browns, golden browns, warm taupes, and green.

To add a few more cozy touches to my living room I also swapped out my linen throw pillows for knit taupe ones and my light cotton throw blanket for this lovely heathered brown blanket. (The throw blanket is almost a greeny-brown color)

Add Natural Elements for Fall

Another fun way to decorate for early Fall is by bringing in more natural elements like pinecones, gourds, and Fall foliage & botanicals.

I love to fill my spaces with natural touches year-round, it is my personal decorating style. To make my living room feel more like Fall is coming I filled vases with dried grasses and flowers.

It’s also a budget-friendly way to fill your vases! One bunch of this pretty dried grass was only a few dollars at Hobby Lobby.

Pro Tip: Save the plastic sleeve that your dried botanicals are wrapped in for storage after the season is over, Store them in a dark space until you want to use them next Fall. I have a bin in which I keep my dried flowers and stems.

I headed out to the garden and clipped a few stems off of my hydrangea that are ready to be dried and ornamental grass plumes that are just starting to open.

Near the end of Summer hydrangeas will start to change color and the petals will become more papery, this is the optimal time to snip a few stems for drying.

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This Fall decoration has been waiting almost a year to make its debut! Last Summer I grew bottleneck gourds in my garden and dried them. They were very easy to grow too and they had pretty white flowers. To dry them you need to keep them in a cool, dry spot for months and months.

Change Out Artwork For Fall

An easy tip for updating your home for Fall is to make some simple changes to your artwork. Switch the prints in your frames for Fall scenes, nature-inspired, or moody artwork.

Did you know there are many free resources out there where you can download artwork and print it out yourself? It’s my favorite way to create a unique look in my home instead of grabbing the same framed print that everyone has in their home!

To fake an antiqued look I printed this art download onto a sheet of printable burlap and then glued it into an old wood sign.

• Portrait of a Child-Corot pdf
• Burlap Printer Sheets

Cozy Color Palette for Early Fall

As I start to think about decorating for early Fall, I always turn to earthy tones. These colors are perfect for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Shades of brown, green, and beige are all great choices…they are also my personal favorites! I’ve incorporated these colors into my decor through throw pillows, blankets, and even wall art.

My decorating style is what I like to call “Pottery Barn on a Budget”! I love the Pottery Barn aesthetic but would never pay that much for most of my decor (a pillow cover for $39 is about my limit!!) For me, the fun comes in trying to recreate similar looks by shopping for knock-offs and making DIY dupes for pieces that I see in their catalog.

The sectional is a neutral gray that works with the other earthy tones in the living room. To warm up the space I started with a green area rug and a heathered green chair.

Earthy wood tones are brought in with the coffee table and tall bookcase in the back of the room.

Decorative Elements

Decorating for early Fall is all about bringing the warm colors and cozy vibes of the season into your home. Here are a few decorative elements that can help you achieve that perfect autumnal atmosphere.

Fall Foliage

One of the easiest and most beautiful ways to decorate for Fall is to incorporate fall foliage into your decor. You can find faux Fall leaves at your local craft store or even use real leaves that you collect outside.

Since it is the beginning of September, our trees haven’t begun to change colors yet. So I filled this vase on my entryway table with a few stems of preserved beech leaves.

Just a few branches of leaves make a dramatic display on my small entryway table. If leaves aren’t your thing, then maybe try tall branches! Next to the table, I filled a copper bucket with tall faux stems. You can see more about this Fall entryway decorated with mostly secondhand pieces including the vase makeover.

DIY Decor Ideas

Fall is the perfect time to work on DIY decor projects. Here are a few of my favorite DIY decor ideas that I used here to decorate for early Fall:

1. Vases

Vases are one of my favorite DIY projects! Just about every vase that you will see in my home are DIYs that usually start out from something I scored at the thrift store! It’s an affordable way to recreate the high-end home catalog look on a teeny budget.

If you thought the tall vase on the console table behind my sectional was some fancy-pants terracotta antique vessel you would be wrong! It started out as a really beat-up $5 flea market find.

2. Felt Acorn Garland

Even if you aren’t crafty you can make these cute felt acorns! All you need is felt pom poms and acorn caps. See how to make the acorns and learn how to make this 10-minute Fall garland that you can hang on a mantle or over your wall art or mirror.

3. Thrift Store Lamp Makeover

Lamps can get pretty pricey so I always keep my eye out at the thrift store. If you find an interesting shaped lamp it’s pretty easy to transform it with paint to become something stylish! See the before and after lamp upcycle for a budget-friendly idea.

These DIY decor ideas are easy, affordable, and perfect for adding some Fall charm to your home.

Early Fall Look: Pulling It All Together

Now let me show you how it all came together to create a cozy look for the start of Fall.

The sectional is full of cozy pillows and a chunky blanket to wrap up in on the cool September nights here.

The tall bookcase in the back of the living room has been updated and filled with a combination of Fall decor, plants, and natural touches. I love the mix of cream, brown, and green shades!

I’ll let you in on a little secret…that isn’t some expensive cement architectural statue on top of the book! It’s actually 2 small planter pots that I stacked to fake it!

The entryway area has completely changed over for a Fall feel. The table is a mix of thrift store finds and vintage pieces.

The console cabinet is decorated with all thrift store finds! Yup, everything in this picture was found secondhand. Check out this entire budget makeover for all of my thrifty tips!

Shopping Tips for Fall Decor

As I start my seasonal decor shopping, I always keep the following tips in mind to ensure that I get the best deals and the most beautiful decor items for my home.

1. Plan Ahead: Before heading out to the stores, I always make a list of the items I need to buy and the areas of my home that I want to decorate. This helps me stay focused and avoid overspending on unnecessary items. So take the 10 minutes to look through what you already have!

2. Look for Sales and Discounts: Fall decor items can be expensive, so I always keep an eye out for sales and discounts. Many stores offer discounts on seasonal items, especially after major holidays like Labor Day.

3. Shop Around: I like to visit multiple stores: home decor, antique, & thrift stores to compare prices and styles. This helps me find the best deals and the most unique decor items.

4. Mix and Match: I love to mix and match different textures and colors to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. I look for items like throw pillows, blankets, and curtains in warm colors and soft fabrics.

By keeping these tips in mind, I’m able to find the perfect fall decor items for my home without breaking the bank.

Wrapping It Up

As I wrap up all my tips on decorating ideas for early Fall, I hope that I have provided you with some inspiration for how to add some cozy and inviting touches to your home as the weather starts to cool down.

From warm textiles and autumnal colors to natural elements and seasonal accents, there are so many ways to bring the spirit of Fall into your home decor. Whether you prefer a rustic, farmhouse look or a more modern aesthetic, there are ideas here for everyone.

Remember, decorating your home for Fall doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. With just a few simple touches, you can create a space that feels warm, welcoming, and perfectly suited to the season.

So why not take a cue from nature and embrace the changing of the seasons? Whether you’re snuggled up with a good book, enjoying a cup of tea, or simply looking as the Fall foliage changes outside your window, there’s no better time to cozy up your home and make it a haven for the season.

xo, Jennifer

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