In the South, fall transitions us from long, hot summer days to the cold winter season, and what a glorious transition it can be!  Characterized by shorter days, the colorful foliage emerges as temperatures drop and trees create beautiful displays of vibrant hues, including deep reds, rusty oranges, and pops of yellow. We tend to want to mimic these elements inside our homes. Bringing in some autumnal colors with pillows, tossing a textural throw blanket across a club chair, and adding in some bright, rich fall colors will bring the autumn vibes full circle.  

Pillows are to be used and enjoyed. They give cozy support on a sofa or chair, plus an added design element to pull your furnishings together. Even if your color palette doesn’t change for the fall season, simply introducing a few extra pillows creates that added layer we appreciate during a cooler season. A demure leopard fabric is one of my go-to layers to bring autumn into a room. Leopard is a neutral design element and gives a bit of chic to an otherwise casual season, and has that natural component we look for as we prepare for fall.  A neutral leopard pattern can coordinate well with your year-round florals and stripes, and when paired with solids, it serves as the perfect finishing touch.

How to get that texture we desire in the fall?  A throw blanket, which you toss across a club chair or sofa, can be made from a woven knit or even a nubby chenille. Knotted fringe elevates your textures further. One of my favorite texture items is a bowl of acorns. I have collected them since my son was little and look forward to styling them each year. Try filling an antique jar with tiny faux persimmons or kumquats. It’s easy, they’re colorful, and can be reused again and again. You can style a small vignette with a jar or glass container filled with your fall fruits, along with perhaps a wooden dough bowl.

The element of natural wood adds texture and an inviting feel to your home on cooler days and nights. I love a great antique dough bowl, but there are so many reproductions out there that work just as well. A wooden cutting or charcuterie board works well in the place of a dough bowl. A metal element goes hand-in-hand with the wood, so consider adding some brass candlesticks for a warm tone.  Taper candles are inexpensive, and autumnal colors such as saffron, terracotta, or paprika will complement your vignette. Using odd numbers for candlesticks always works best.

If we have met or you follow me on Instagram, you know my affinity for blue and white. Blue and white for autumn is spot on! My love language is fresh flowers, and there are some dazzling ones that are abundant in autumn. An arrangement of faux bittersweet can be so beautiful and last you from September through Thanksgiving. Shades of orange mixed with blue and white chinoiserie make for the perfect color complement. A tall vase on an entry table or dining room buffet makes a colorful statement to bring the season indoors. Blue and white is a classic, but brown transferware is a staple. I popped a couple of vintage transferware dinner plates into my corner cupboard, and it works well as a darker-toned fall accent. Plates are always useful for decorating, and they don’t have to match! A good coordinating pattern will pull it all together.

September is the beginning of one of our most beautiful and temperate seasons, and should be enjoyed inside our homes and in our outdoor living areas. The social season explodes in September, too; dinner parties, hayrides, trick-or-treating, and fall and holiday open houses approach, filling our calendars, and the excitement of planning Thanksgiving with friends and family begins. 

Start now to prep your porch and add those warm, comfortable touches to your interiors; you’ll be set and ready for October and November. As November arrives, we are all busy organizing family gatherings and the upcoming holiday in December. You’ll be glad you planned ahead and can sit back to enjoy all that autumn has to offer.

AMY MONTGOMERY has over 25 years of design experience and owns Amy Montgomery Home in Columbia, Tennessee. She delights in sharing her personal collection of vintage china and dishes with readers. As a lifestylist, she is focused on the home and is thrilled to offer her customers an elevated customer service experience. Visit amymontgomeryhome.com for additional information and follow her on social media at @amymontgomeryhome.