How to Create a Cozy and Inviting Living Room for Fall

As the leaves outside your window begin to change, there are many ways to embrace the fall season inside your home as well. Decorating your living room for autumn offers an opportunity to create an inviting space that embodies the season. Today, our real estate agents are excited to share these cozy living room decorating ideas for fall. 

1. Create an appropriate fall palette. 

We all know the colors most associated with fall include warm, rich tones like yellow and gold, burnt orange, deep red, mahogany, and brown. Decorating with colors in this range can instantly create a welcoming fall ambiance, and there are many ways to get creative with fall-themed colors. 

• Swap out throws and pillows. Fall is a great time to retire light, summery pillows and throws for the season and replace them with ones that feature richer, more fall-like colors. Plaid patterns are also perfect for this time of year.
  
  
• Bring in natural elements. Decorating mantles, tables, and shelves with pumpkins, gourds, leaves, and pine cones is a classic way to bring the natural world into your home this season. Choose faux florals in autumn-inspired colors, or create an autumn wreath or garland using real branches and foliage. 
  
  
• Emphasize natural materials. Natural wood furniture and decor are perfect for autumn. Not only does it perfectly match the seasonal color palette, but it also mirrors fall's rustic, woodsy aesthetic. That makes fall a great time to spotlight vintage wood tables and chairs and let hardwood floors shine.

2. Incorporate cozy textures. 

Part of what makes fall so cozy is the look and feel of rich, luxurious fabrics and earthy, natural materials. These textures add depth to your decor during fall and winter, and they can be highlighted in your living room in several ways. 

• Decorate with fall blankets. Velvet, wool, faux fur, and chunky knits are ideal fabrics for fall, adding richness and texture to your decor. Try draping a luxurious, patterned blanket over your sofa, or replacing chair cushions with heavier, more textured materials. 
  
  
• Replace summer curtains. Thicker, heavier curtains or drapes will help create a fall vibe, as opposed to the lighter, airier curtains of summer. 
  
  
• Mix and layer textures. Contrasting textures can create a lot of interest in your living space this time of year. Try arranging pillows with different textures and patterns, or layer modern and rustic materials together for a sense of depth. 

3. Engage your sense of smell. 

Capturing the essence of fall in your living room isn't entirely visual. Autumn is a season that engages all your senses, and none more powerfully than your sense of smell. There are a few ways to bring the unmistakable aromas of autumn into your living space.

• Light a scented candle. Nothing says 'fall' like the flickering flame of a beeswax or scented candle. Pumpkin spice and apple-cinnamon are classic fall candle scents, along with evocative fragrances like leather, cedar, and moss.
  
  
• Put out some potpourri. Blended potpourri that includes warming spices and herbs along with apple, orange, and vanilla can be used to add seasonal scents as well as decoration. Potpourri can also be added to a simmer pot on the stove.
  
  
• Burn autumnal incense. Incense sticks create a relaxing, smoky ambiance that recalls the comfort of a smoldering fire. Scents that include clove, cardamom, patchouli, cinnamon, and nutmeg are especially fall-like.

Contact us today to learn more about decorating your Chicago home for fall. If you're still looking for your dream home in Chicagoland, our real estate agents are here to help every step of the way.