Create An Inviting Autumn Cozy Home For Any Budget
As the days get cooler and shorter, we will be spending less time outdoors and more time inside, so why not create an inviting and cozy autumn home on a budget? And the best part is you don’t need to be an interior designer or a professional organizer (or even a lottery winner) to turn your home into an inviting and cozy space.
Creating a cozy autumn home budget is essential for making your space inviting this season.
Front Door & Entry
This transformation starts at your front door! Sweep off your front step and wipe down your front door to give yourself a clean spot to work with. Take a minute to clean around your lights as well to ensure good lighting. The days are getting shorter and you’ll be turning on the exterior lights earlier than during the summer.
Real or fake pumpkins and potted plants will welcome you and your guests inside. (Side bonus: using a real pumpkin or flowers is a great way to decorate without adding a bunch more stuff you have to find storage for after the season is done.)
In your entryway, clear away the clutter. Remove as much footwear as possible so it doesn’t look like you already have a houseful when you enter. If you have space, a shoe cabinet or storage bench can be helpful, but even easier, put things away in the closet. It doesn’t take that long to retrieve them when needed. Vintage rugs are warm and welcoming under foot as you or your guests remove your footwear at the door.
(Reminder: if your rugs were there all summer, it would be a good idea to take those outside and give them a shake out.)
If you have a flat surface, like an entry table or desk, clear the surface off to reduce the temptation to use it as a drop zone. A basket, bowl or tray is a simple way to capture keys and other small things. A plant can add life to the space. It’s also a good spot to showcase a single special piece and make it a focal point.
Living Room
Moving into the living room, this is probably where you first think about cozy vibes. Trade those summer throw blankets for a comfortable quilt to sit under with your mug of hot tea and a good book. Throw pillows can add soft textures, but some minimalists will opt for neutral colors to carry through all seasons.
Use of Space
Look at how your room is set up and whether it supports the way you will use this room in the current season. Rearrange if you have to. A common arrangement is to use area rugs to anchor the furniture within the room; place the front legs of the couch and comfortable chairs on the rug. (In a small room, place furniture fully on the rug.) This will give you a pulled together look and use the space well. Here’s a guide on how to style your space with the right size and placement of your area rug in any space in your home.
And in considering how you use that space, look at the hobbies and pastimes you will be bringing into this space. With cooler weather, if your yarn stash and crochet hooks come out of the closet, ensure you have an effective way to store those for easy access. Do you have cozy nooks for reading or doing crosswords? Make sure the space works for that without cluttering it up.
Lighting
Natural light is great, but obviously becomes a bit less available as the sunset moves earlier in the evening. You can open curtains and blinds all day, but at night, the light sources are more limited.
Table lamps and floor lamps cast a smaller pool of light than sometimes-harsh, overhead lighting. (Save your bright lights for cleaning.) Add to that ambiance by choosing the warm light bulbs for fall. LED lights are available in a spectrum from daylight (which is more white with a blue hue) through to warm white (which casts a more yellow light). The warm white is more like the old incandescent bulbs. If your budget permits, there are also Smart Bulbs available which allow you to adjust the color and dimness with your phone.
Fairy lights or string lights can be a fun way to add a little more light for atmosphere, but don’t want to add task lighting or more light fixtures.
Natural Materials
Don’t underestimate the impact of wood accents in your cozy autumn home budget. The warmth wood enhances the cozy atmosphere, perfect for this season.
But it’s not just wood tones.
Natural elements that enhance that connection to the outdoors can also include design choices like a stone fireplace; a cotton, wool or sisal rug; leather furniture; terra cotta pots for your houseplants.
Obviously these are some of the bigger ticket elements in your home, but something to keep in mind next time you are doing some renovations or redecorating.
Besides, natural elements tend to be more sustainable and, unlike plastics and other synthetics, they don’t have to go through the chemical processing that may leave them off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your home. I’m sure you’d rather smell essential oils, fresh flowers or the scents from your own kitchen.
Kitchen & Dining Room
The kitchen, as the heart of your cozy autumn home, can be a gathering place filled with warmth and comfort.
One of your first things to do is wipe down the front of your cabinets. After a summer of the family running in and out of the house, this has likely been neglected. This cleaning task will leave natural wood shining or your painted surface clean. Both make it a more comfortable space.
Decorating for fall doesn’t mean you need to add more to your flat surfaces in preparation for company; swap out pieces to match the season. If you like to keep your glass pitcher for lemonade out for the summer, consider trading it for your tea pot. If you usually have a white bowl for fruit on your counter, trade it for a bowl in a warm color or a woven basket. Use what you have.
If you know you’ll be missing your garden as the winter months creep closer, bring that natural world into your kitchen with a small herb garden. Think plants with a purpose. Basil and rosemary plants are a great option and don’t require much care.
Lots of candles are a common recommendation with their warm glow. Just remember that when you have food, you need unscented candles, but when supper is put away, then you can light the scented ones. And don’t just limit those candles to your dining table (or the hutch next to your table) although they do make a good grouping in the center of your table and a great reason to keep your flat surfaces clear.
A big ticket consideration in your dining room if you are looking into new furniture is to choose a round table over a rectangular one and to opt for chairs with cushions, upholstery or a cushioned bench on one side. Obviously the bench suits a more casual room. Fabric and shape will both contribute to a cozy environment.
(And don’t underestimate the importance of stocking up on your seasonal favorites that might be available again. Whether it’s pumpkin chai, caramel apple or something chocolate, I know I’m not the only one looking forward to a hot mug in hand.)
Bedroom
The first concern in your bedroom, of course, should be making it a cozy place to sleep. This is the one room where the cozy factor is most important. Sleep has a huge impact on how we function for the rest of the day.
The Bed
While a lot of people know that mattresses should be replaced about every 8 years, it’s a surprise to many that pillows have a limit as well, but a considerably shorter one. Pillows last about 2 to 3 years. Just something to be aware of if you just can’t get as comfortable as you might want to be. (And it’s a good one to think of periodically so you can budget ahead for replacement. Mattresses usually go on sale around major holidays and in May.)
For now, swap out the summer-weight duvet and the light sheets for your cooler weather options. Again, think textures with bedding; if you like an extra blanket at the end of the bed, consider a chunky, knit blanket or faux fur throw in contrast to your smooth sheets. If it’s cooling off, your flannel sheets might not be far away. (And just in case you notice some are getting worn out, sheets and bedding will go on sale in January.)
Plants
Like elsewhere in your home, indoor plants can make your bedroom more inviting, especially since some plants can filter your air and remove impurities. Whether your bedroom is very bright or low light, there are options. Spider plants, rubber plants and aloe are all air purifiers. (Note: some plants are harmful to pets so check before you bring in something your cat might snack on.)
Declutter
Yes, there is no getting away from this one. Declutter the flat surfaces of your bedroom. Keep the bare minimum of personal items on your side table and dressers. (Can you store those things in a drawer instead?) This should be a very easy space to maintain because it’s a small space. You don’t get a cozy feel in a cluttered space.
Remove anything that doesn’t fit with the purpose of this room. It is not a storage room, nor should it be a place to put things temporarily. If your donation bag is in your room, move it out of there. Better yet, do a donation run this week to get rid of anything you’ve decluttered because your donation pile or piles in multiple spots in your house are not making it more cozy! For more tips and tricks to declutter your bedroom, click this link.
Lighting
As far as natural light, the window coverings in your bedroom can have a major impact on your comfort. Obviously you want the daylight, except you don’t want to wake up with the sun necessarily. Good floor to ceiling curtains can be pricey depending on the material; consider neutral colors that will transition well from season to season if you are on a budget and opt for thicker, deeper colors if the price is less of a factor.
Keep in mind the same guidelines around lighting and change out your light bulbs if necessary. Soft lighting is key to a cozy atmosphere. If you have a ceiling fixture, consider replacing the light switch to a dimmable option to give you better control. (Or spend the money for those Smart Bulbs if they are a compatible size for your light fixture.)
The easiest ways to make your home feel cozy are to focus on what makes you most comfortable in that living space, what allows you to relax without stress and what makes you happy. If you love warm colors more than neutral tones, work with that. Make yourself comfortable!
