Fall 2023 Upstate Lake Living Article
Our article in the fall issue of the Upstate Lake Living article:
Ode to Autumn
Autumn is fast approaching and is the perfect season to add textures and vibrant colors to your home to bring a warm cozy feel inside. Typically, people begin to decorate for autumn between late August and late September but will often use Labor Day as an unofficial deadline as it is often associated with the end of summer. Here are some simple tips and tricks to prepare your home for autumn!
Your porch is the first thing people see when they approach your house. Whether they are family or friends dropping by for a visit, or eager trick-or-treaters looking for candy, your porch speaks volumes about your style. Layer your porch with organic decorations such as gourds or pumpkins stacked on top of hay bales. Place some antique lanterns or fall plants around your other decorations. You can be as traditional or exotic as you want, there is no limit! Update your front door with a seasonal wreath that you can purchase premade or even make yourself. If you have outdoor furniture on your porch, think about changing out the cushions for autumn themed ones. It does not take much for you to transform your porch into the one everyone is looking at. Inside your home there are various places that can be decorated for autumn, such as your dining room table. Outside of a turkey on thanksgiving, your dining room table could do with a festive centerpiece. Consider a fall floral arrangement as your centerpiece with rustic yellows and oranges. Surround the piece with other fall flora such as pinecones or acorns. Further embrace the autumn season by layering two different tablecloths over your table. Pick ones with great texture and offset them so both are showcased. Lastly, set your table up with autumn inspired glassware and off-white plates. If you have cloth napkins make sure they compliment your tablecloths. Your dining room table will become the talk of the house and draw the eyes of everyone visiting this season.
Another gathering space inside of your home is your living room. Carry the centerpiece idea from your dining room table onto your coffee table in a scaled down version to connect the two spaces. Place candles around the room scented with fall aromas to set the mood of the space. If the space is too warm for candles, consider electric candles to give the same look. Fall fragrances can be spread with air fresheners or wall plugins. Shelves can be decorated with smaller pumpkins or gourds. Place a medium sized piece to anchor the smaller pieces. Consider weaving together unlit candles with fall flora to combine both tall skinny pieces with short squattier pieces. Your sofa should be outfitted with heavy warm throw blankets with muted plaid patterns or solid rustic colors. Your throw pillows can be swapped out for seasonal ones or enclosed in seasonal covers. Be sure that your pillows and blankets complement each other in color or pattern.
Lastly, autumn is when the weather begins to cool off, making outdoor living more enjoyable. If you have a firepit or outdoor deck, prepare them for the season. Check to make sure your firepit is in good condition before lighting any fires inside of it. Check for holes caused by rust and ensure the fire barrier made of stones or metals is secure and safe for use. Surround your fire pit with lounge chairs and outdoor cushions. If your cushions need to be outfitted with an autumn themed color be sure to get a cover that is rated for outdoor furniture. Your deck area should have similar clusters of pumpkins or gourds that you have on your front porch. If your steps are wide enough you can place some here, otherwise an unused corner or clustered on top of outdoor tables are ideal places for these decorations. Consider adding string lights to give your porch a glow during the darker hours. Connect the spaces by placing another autumn wreath on the door leading back into the house.
Follow these tips and tricks to transform your home into an autumn themed masterpiece. Feel free to be as creative as you want. Before you know it, your house will look like the cover of a magazine!
This article was written by the design time at Wanda S. Morgan Designs, Inc. For over 40 years, the team at WSMD has been a solid resource for many in the upstate looking to remodel or build a new home. The WSMD design studio in Seneca is a full service design and drafting company that employees interior designers who can both design and project manage your interior and exterior needs, from conceptual ideas to a finished project. Contact WSMD at 864-973-8800 or visit wandasmorgandesigns.com.
