And All the Details for Homemakers!

Whether you’re a first-time homemaker like myself, or a seasoned veteran; these 10 steps will help anyone transition their home from the bustling Summer action, to the crispy, cozy fall scented home we all have saved on our Pinterest boards!

1. Remove Summer Decor

The first step on your Fall To Do List is to box up all that bright, flower patterned decor. My Summer home additions typically consist of floral scented candles, lemon themed kitchen towels and white wines! Go ahead and pour yourself a nice glass of red as you take notes, delving into the throws (blankets) of fall.

Trade your bright colored items for a more neutral tone, my favorite fall color is brown. I could replace almost any black item in life with a good brown; from eyeliner to accent wall, brown has my heart! Trade in your citrus centerpiece and sunflowers for dried greenery or dried wheat textured grass.

2. Deep Clean!

The best canvas for a new start is a fresh canvas! A clean, organized home is one of the best things to walk into at the end of the day, and the feeling of finally sitting in the living room without the clutter after a long days clean is better than anything! We’re not talking a spring cleaning here, but a nice detailed, deep clean is definitely the first step in the right direction towards that Fall transition in your home.

Start from top to bottom. Gravity will always triumph and dust will always fall, sweep and mop your floors LAST! If you’re feeling like you have 12 unoccupied hours of the day, start by giving the top of your cupboards a good wet dusting. Otherwise, decluttering the countertops is a great starting line. Work your way to the living room couches that could use a good vacuum between the cushions, and maybe pay that dusty corner of the house a visit with the trusty dusty magic eraser. Adding just a few additional steps to your weekly cleaning routine can make all the difference in your transition of seasons!

3. Think Textures

A “cozy” home doesn’t need to literally be “soft and sweet” textures and scents. The perfect cozy Autumn setting will have a mix of both soft textures and rugged decor! Lean into functionality; a throw blanket on the sofa checks your soft texture and you will use it on a crispy October evening (especially here in Ohio)! Add solid pieces with a wood serving tray to harbor your Leaves Bath and Body Works candle, I know you have one. Finish with your favorite book (you’ll love mine) and some woven details and you’ve just created a “cozy” atmosphere with multiple textures!

4. Wall Art Staples

One of the easiest ways to impress frequent guests in your home is by transitioning your wall art. Christmas is the easiest season to transition wall art, and don’t you worry I will post worthy of the dedication to the subject. But Fall wall art can be tricky; do you choose the trendy ghost painting for Halloween, or the big painting of 8 different pumpkins for Thanksgiving? I hope you chose neither. You only need three to four different pieces of staple wall art to impress all year round!

For your Fall pieces, choose something with an autumnal color scheme. A painted autumn setting is always a safe choice! I found my favorite fall painting at the thrift for $19.99 and I will never get rid of it! It doesn’t need to be Vogue, it just needs to be striking.

5. Create a Book Shelf or Book Nook

Now I know this post is all about your Fall homestead and here I am mentioning year round decor twice now. But a book shelf for transitioning seasonal decor is one of the eaiest transitions as well as one of the most detailed! Store your staple reads and collectibles here year round and add worn, vintage books for that warm, autumnal feel. Plants are a great tool for filling shelving spaces. Since we’re approaching mid-September, add plants like crotons or begonias for the colors of fall. Dried florals add the feel of fall; beautiful but not lasting. My favorite piece on a shelf is ALWAYS a bust, especially for the spooky season! Busts give your space the look of sophistication, and adding a bust to your seasonal transition brings the “spooky” vibe without feeling the need to buy that 99 cent foam skull from the dollar store.

6. Candles, Candles, Candles!!

Not all candles are the same. Some are solely for scent & others decor; just take off the lid, give it a good whiff and you’ll know the difference. Adding Fall scents brings the aroma of the turning season into your home without the dampness of actual fall rainy days. While adding real or fake taper candles to your home can add ambiance and function. The best way to determine where you should add tapered or fake candles is by first determining where your home needs extra ambiance during the ever darkening Fall evenings. Dim the lights in your living spaces when the sun is hardly giving anything; if there is an area that you use frequently in the evening that seems to dark without the harsh over head light, add tapered candles.

7. Tips & Tricks; Dark Academia

Whenever I get interior design creators block, I do what every woman wanting an unlimited budget and the dream home does; open up Pinterest. Utilizing your deisgn tools will be your best friend in seasonal homaking, as long as you know your seasonal aesthetic.

Have you ever seen those “What Christmas Vibe Are You” TikToks? The ones that numerically list aesthetics from 90’s Christmas to Warm Colorful LED Christmas. Well that’s the mindset you need to transition your home quarterly. You need to know your aesthetic. My Fall aesthetic is Dark Academia. I love the inspo in a foggy university photo or a dark library with a fireplace. Knowing your seasonal aesthetic is key to manifesting your dream home into a reality.

8. The Mantle

Whether it’s a mantle, a fireplace or a dresser that your TV sits on, your entertainment area is the most important area of seasonal decor; eyes are always on it! A fireplace is the perfect evening setting for cozy vibes on a crisp October night, if you don’t have a fireplace don’t fret! Bring light into your living space with a candle or two set on a side table or a solid surface like a coffee table. Add those warm colors with some dried fall florals or, my personal favorite, some faux fall-esc draping. Add your favorite decorative inserts to your drapery and you’ve created a custom garland, flowing from your most visual area of your home!

9. Unused Spaces

Take advantage of those spaces that you don’t frequent or aren’t specifically used often. My favorite unused space to decorate is above our kitchen cabinets. We always have that unused space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. Add some leaf garland to the tops of your cabinets, hanging over ever so slightly, and secure with a command strip or two. This adds the perfect Fall ambiance throughout your house without feeling the need to stick a pumpkin in each corner of your home for a cohesive, decorating home all around!

10. Prepare for Fall Weather

Along with adding your Fall decor to your home, don’t forget about Fall proofing it! Add functional rugs at each exterior entryway to not track the outside Fall sludge into your newly cleaned and decorated home! Keep your new candle additions away from lamps or wall art for safety and add a couple extra throw blankets to your basket for comfort. Replace your Summer flip flops with your rain boots and grab that trusty dusty sweater for lounging by the windows with your favorite book. Your home should be just as functional as it is beautiful!

Now that you’re ready for everything Fall brings; from entertaining for holidays to the crisp weather it attracts, you are prepared for the brunt of it all! Keep an eye out for our “entertaining” posts for all things holiday hosting!

11. Food!!!

Oh, did I add a little extra surprise for you, dear reader? Yes, I did! Fall is never complete without your one trusted staple recipe in the kitchen! Keep an eye out for our post to my favorite Fall Soup Recipe, Loaded Baked Potato!