Transitioning to Fall
As summer fades into fall, there's a natural urge to bring the comforting essence of the new season into your home. The great thing about interior design is how easily you can alter a space to reflect the changing seasons. With just a few thoughtful adjustments, you can create a cozy atmosphere that welcomes the warmth of fall into every room. I’ve curated two design boards to help guide your seasonal transition, one focused on warm tones and the other on cool hues.
Warm Transitions
This board is a celebration of earthy, grounding colors like sage green, ochre, auburn, and tonal browns. The palette brings an immediate sense of warmth and comfort, perfect for the shift to cooler weather.
Sage Green: This might seem like a bold choice, especially for something as significant as kitchen cabinets. But believe me, sage green acts as a versatile base color that can be just as timeless as neutrals. Its subtle earthiness provides an unexpected richness to kitchens, creating a backdrop that’s interesting without being overpowering.
Auburn and Ochre: These deeper, autumnal shades bring to mind the changing leaves and the golden hour of fall days. A brown sofa paired with auburn or ochre accents, like throw pillows or cozy blankets, adds instant warmth to your living spaces. The pops of deep red in this palette create a visual interest that elevates the room without feeling heavy.
Tonal Browns: To heighten the cozy factor, layer different shades of brown for a tonal effect. Whether it’s through wooden furniture, caramel-colored cushions, or textured rugs, these layers create depth and a sense of warmth that invite you to sink into the season.
Cool Transitions
For those who prefer a cooler palette, fall can still be embraced with shades like teal, taupe, rust, and vicuña. This board shows how blues, often reserved for summer, can beautifully carry your space into the fall season.
Teal: It might not be the first color that comes to mind for fall, but teal adds a sophisticated edge to the season’s typical palette. A linen teal bedding set brings a serene yet luxurious feel to your bedroom, perfect for snuggling into during cooler nights. Similarly, teal tiles in a rain shower create a spa-like atmosphere, making your morning routine a little more indulgent.
Taupe and Rust: These neutral shades ground the cooler palette, while rust adds warmth without overpowering the space. Think taupe walls or rugs paired with rust-colored decor accents like cushions, vases, or even a statement armchair. Vicuña, a soft, warm neutral, rounds out the cooler tones, offering versatility and understated elegance.
Not ready for a full redesign? Small accents can make a world of difference when transitioning your home from summer to fall. Adding new throw pillows, blankets, or even changing your curtains to reflect the colors of the season can dramatically alter the feel of your space. In both warm and cool transitions, texture plays a significant role—think about heavier fabrics like wool, velvet, and linen to add warmth and richness.
Whether you gravitate towards warm earthy tones or cooler, tranquil hues, this season is about embracing coziness and inviting a new energy into your home. By making thoughtful, subtle changes, you can effortlessly transition your space from the bright airiness of summer to the warm, welcoming feel of fall.
