Sweater and boot weather is here! Just as our wardrobe changes with the season, so should decor!
Autumn, with its bright days and brisk nights, means it’s the season for more indoor lounging. Enjoy time at home enveloped in rich hues, warm layers and seasonal accents with fall decor tips from the pros.
Bring the coziest decor season of the year to life in your home with some insider tips and ideas from Chloe Leung, resident interior designer with University District builder partner Brookfield Residential.
From natural palettes, scents and easy updates to dress up your Thanksgiving table to fun design challenges and a DIY fall wreath project, these autumn-appropriate, crafty and inviting design suggestions will turn your home into a haven on point for the season. During the most colourful time of the year, you will want to jump into a pile of leaves to celebrate autumn! Let’s get inspired.
From designer dog bowls to schnauzer-sized sofas, resident interior design experts with our builder partners Homes by Avi and Brookfield Residential share their tips for some quirky ways to create a stylish home that’s primed for you and your furry. Check out their suggestions here!
Layer up! Some call it sweater weather. We call fall, blanket weather. Not only can throws and blankets make living and bedrooms look chic with their rich colours, textures and patterns, you can display them in stylish new ways to add charm to your space. For example, instead of simply placing a blanket over your sofa, layer a tartan throw as part of your table cloth or roll a few into a trendy wicker basket for easy access on movie night. Take it a step further by hanging them on rungs on a wooden ladder leaned against the wall.
Don’t be afraid to mix pattern and texture. Autumn is all about layers – whether it’s your wardrobe or your home. Have fun with it!
If summer is about everything light and airy, fall is about warmth and character. Add visual intrigue to your space with natural woods like something as simple and forgotten as the cutting board. Make it a statement decor piece for your kitchen by using it as a backdrop for a pot of spoons or as a tray for your salt and pepper. Bring in some wicker baskets or wood vases and layer them into your living room decor. The all-natural yet ever so stylish feel of wood gives off the perfect autumn charm without going too rustic.
Offset the natural woods in your space with tobacco and forest green hues. They are fall’s answer to any colour quandary. Swap out some of your toss cushions or add one or two to your collection to capture the crisp but comfy feel of the season. Green is timeless, so dive in! For an added touch, bring the colours of your front yard inside with just a few orange mums.
There’s something very satisfying about taking a breath and relaxing for just a little while with a hot, steaming pot of tea. It’s welcome at any time of day, especially during Calgary’s cooler autumn season. Learn the art of brewing tea from the connoisseurs themselves, Analog Coffee, with their step-by-steep guide.
Go mad for plaid! Turn your entryway into a happy fall haven with a tartan pillow. Just one cushion makes all the difference in an autumnal vignette. Take it one step further and give your reading or kitchen nook a major fall vibe by adding a splash of plaid and some subtle stripes using blanket wrapped baskets, rugs and even a checker designed coffee mug. As Calgary’s temps start to drop, expect this to be the most popular hangout spot of the season!
Before your Thanksgiving dinner party guests tuck in to a hearty feast, give them the full seasonal treatment with all-plaid table trimmings. Bring out the plaid napkins and tablecloths with overlapping layers of mismatched tartan accessories, like a runner or get creative and make your own plaid ribbon wrapped napkin holders.
Tip: Stop in at Homesense for the perfect Thanksgiving chequered table cloth. Buy sets for only $19.99 and the best part, it’s just minutes from University District.
Just as you trade a cotton suit for wool, your house can also use an autumn wardrobe swap. Consider fur throws or toss cushions!
Switch your linen pillows with mohair or fur. Drape a white faux fur over the back of dining chairs, on top of a dining bench or even at the end of a bed. Best part, when Christmas season comes around use the fur throw as your tree skirt, giving that extra bit of lux to your space. If the palette works, use fall foliage as colour inspiration.
There’s no better way to spend brisk fall nights than at home with a steaming cup of chai latte and book in hand. Seeking your next literary adventure? To help, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best bookstores in our neck of the woods, as well as a book list of must-reads courtesy of our very own U/D team. Let’s take a look here!
Pumpkin pies and cinnamon apple cider are all welcome aromatic ways to make your home feel full of autumn inspiration, but you don’t have to wait for a trip to the pumpkin patch at Butterfield Acres or nearest apple orchard to enjoy fall’s intoxicating aromas. Enhance your space with warm, inspiring fall-scented candles like sage and walnut, pumpkin chai and nutmeg to instantly transport your home into autumn mode.
From petite pillars ideal for your windowsill, on top of a book or nightstand, to 3-wick investment pieces for your Thanksgiving dining table display or in your bathroom next to a vase of handpicked pine cones. These autumnal mainstays will add a pop of colour – like rich greens, lush oranges and deep velvets – to your room decor and make you feel like you’re frolicking through leaves in a warm, snug sweater.
Fuel an afternoon of do-it-yourself Fall wreath making with a hearty, healthy sandwich. Thanks to Press’d Sandwich Shop, a future University District retailer, it’s never been easier. Be prepared to have your taste buds teased and senses heightened with its twist on a classic BLT and its number one seller – the California Club! Get the recipe here.
New season, new wreath! It’s time to swap out those soft summery florals with something a little more cozy, festive and cold weather-friendly. Whether it’s Thanksgiving guests or trick-or-treaters you’re greeting this season, you can always count on a wreath to breathe some seasonal life into your space and give your home some serious curb appeal.
Begin with a nod to nature with this simple and cheery DIY fall wreath activity. Perfect for a weeknight or weekend activity with friends, kids or grandkids. Let’s get decked out for fall!
Supplies Needed
Step 1: Wrap your metal wreath
Start by wrapping your burlap around your metal wreath frame. Use a dab of hot glue to secure the starting end and overlap the edges as you make your way around the form. Trim your burlap and use another dab of hot glue to secure the end.
Tip: Pick up a frame and even your burlap from a nearby Michaels, Walmart or hobby shop.
Step 2: Add your preferred fall inspired accessories
Now it’s time to add embellishments. Celebrate autumn’s gorgeous palette with varying shades of orange, red, yellow, green, purple and black. Go traditional by adding some small linen flowers and twigs picked from your own backyard for added texture, or for something more rustic, consider pine cones, dried foliage, harvest berries and corn husks. Whether you choose to go simple, natural, traditional or luxurious, the possibilities are endless!
Tip: Small or large, secure every trimming or adornment with a drop of hot glue to keep them in place.
Step 3: Don’t forget the ribbon!
Finish off your wreath with a simple ribbon. From mesh and lace to satin, grosgrain, organza and velvet there’s no shortage of options to complete your DIY project. Gently bunch your ribbon, tie a bow or add some dramatic flair with some ribbon streamers. Glue into place and voila, you’re done!
Tip: For all you plaid lovers out there, add a simple plaid ribbon for a hint more of that Fall feel.
As we begin to leave summer behind and ease into autumn, there’s no better time to get inspired with these fall decorating ideas. From living rooms to family rooms, kitchens, dining rooms and entryways, there’s plenty of inspiration to help get you fall ready. Enjoy!
Do you have a fall-inspired decor tip, must-try candle scent or even a DIY wreath project to share? We’re always on the lookout for inspiring ideas and suggestions. Share yours with us and the community on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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