top 5 fall essentials for a cozy fall home

Five Essentials for a Cozy Fall Home

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A cozy Fall home is comfort at it’s very best. Fall. The word alone brings a smile to my face and a bounce to my step. Nothing. NOTHING makes me more giddy than this time of year.

A nip in the air after a sweltering summer, the changing colors in the trees, crunchy leaves underfoot and all my favorite cozy clothes making their re-apprearance. (Hello, scarves!) Not to mention trips to our favorite apple orchards and pumpkin patches. Add to all that the fact that the local farmer’s market is overflowing with hay bales, corn stalks, indian corn and bundled millet and I’m in a state of Autumnal bliss.

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What Makes for a Cozy Fall Home?

Every family is different, but I have five top things that make our home cozy and welcoming for Autumn. These are the things that (I hope) make our home a place my husband and boys look forward to coming back to at the end of each day. A haven. A place where they can get away from the stresses of the outside world and just. be. It’s not always about having a clean house (though that’s nice when it happens) – instead, these are just little touches that make it feel cozy and welcoming.

Bundle Up for Fall

While I still set out lightweight throw blankets around my home throughout the warm summer months (sometimes our mornings are cool enough to warrant the use of a light throw), I’m always delighted to dig out my all-time favorite, huge faux fur throw blanket. Ours was a little bit of a splurge – a celebration of the purchase of our home when we bought it – and it is hands down one of my favorite things about Fall. I usually make myself wait until September 1st before I bring it out, but when I do, it’s “game on” for Autumn. The weight of it and the fact that it *does not shed* makes me love it even more.

(And it’s perfect for little bed-headed boys to snuggle up in and look at picture books). 😉

Here are some beautiful options I found for you. If you find one you love, just be sure to check out the ratings – some might shed and some won’t. 🙂

Bring in the Calm

Nothing says, “Come on in, leave all your stress at the door and get comfy”, like candlelight. Whether it’s a traditional candle, a battery operated candle or a lighted candle warmer – the sight and smell of an Autumn candle encourages you to celebrate the shortening of days instead of dreading it.

Let’s chat about options for a minute.

Traditional candles: everyone is familiar with these and we love the glow they provide. However, it’s not a good idea to leave candles unattended, so you’ll only want to use them when you’ll be in the room for a while. They’re not really a “set it and forget it” option. 😉 We all know there’s nothing like a real candle flame though, so enjoy them in abundance as long as you’ll be around to monitor them.

Battery Operated Candles: these are the next best thing to a real-deal candle. I have a quick confession to make. I’m kind of a snob when it comes to battery operated candles. Most of them are so fake, you can spot them from a mile away. And they make me cringe. A couple years ago my Mom introduced me to these babies and nothing I’ve see yet even comes close to them, as far as being realistic-looking. They are a fun little splurge. Safe to leave unattended, most come with a timer option. They can be set to light before you come home! How nice would that be, to come home to a candle lit for you?!

Wax warmers: these come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and styles. Whether you want one that matches your decor, or whether you prefer something low-profile and out-of-sight, there are lots of options.

Comfy and Cozy

We’ve talked about pillows before. I’ve shared a 10 minute pillow cover and how to make custom stencil for a pillow cover – so you’re aware of my throw pillow obsession. I will admit, that as much as I love a great pillow, I do store most of mine away when summer arrives. Something about summer says “lighten up and pare down” in the home. But when these chilly months return, you can bet I’m giggling with glee and digging out all my favorite throw pillows. And probably whipping up a couple new ones, too.

If you’d rather buy than DIY, there are a TON of really cute Fall pillow covers here. And most of them are really inexpensive! Praisealujah! 😀

Feather your Nest

No matter how many throws, candles and pillows you sprinkle around, it still won’t feel like Fall unless you’ve got a least a few touches of the outdoors brought inside. This can be anything as simple as a walk through your back yard to clip a few branches with beautiful leaves or gathering fallen acorns to display in an apothecary jar. Or perhaps you’re like me and you like to intersperse a few faux garlands, branches, leaves, acorns and berries in with your outdoor finds.

Maybe even DIY a birch tree stump side table for a sweet accent piece.

A pretty wreath on your door and some fun twigs in a tall galvanized bucket strategically placed goes a long way to creating the look you’re after. And don’t forget pumpkins, too! Purchase them either at your local farmer’s market or if you can’t be bothered with all that, have one of these beauties delivered to your doorstep.

Shine the Light

As the daylight grows shorter, many people struggle with the lack of light. While nothing can replace sunlight, it does help to have plenty of lights scattered about the house. I’m not talking about overhead tastk lighting. While there is a time and place for bright overhead lighting (kitchen, dining room, bathroom, workshops) – for our living spaces, lamps and pendant lights are the lighting that make your living spaces feel warm and inviting. These lights give off a warm glow and invite people to “come and sit a spell”…and not like they’re in an interrogation room. 😉 As I do with the throws, when Fall arrives, I bring out a few extra lamps and place them strategically around my home. Depending on your space, you can choose from an array of pendant lights, floor lamps or table lamps. I have a mixture of both.

If you don’t mind a little DIY, you can find lamps at thrift and discount store very reasonably priced! I’ve got a great lamp I’m currently working on that will be coming to the blog soon.

How will You Make Your Home Cozy this Fall?

I hope my ideas for a Cozy Fall Home are helpful as you celebrate the season in your own home. My goal is to encourage you. No matter where you live or what your budget, you can create a home you love.

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