September 22nd was the official start of autumn
and the day my fall decorations hit the dining table. (Thank you, Hubby, for getting into the attic
for those.) Down south, you can’t wait
for a change in the leaves or the temperature to kick start the next
season. Me? I’m ready to get my snuggle on.
Some of the simplest, cozy-creating changes you can make
around your home revolve around fabrics.
In the living room, you can add cable knit, velvet, and wool throw
pillows to your sofa and chairs for added seasonal texture and cuddle-worthy
accents. Drape a yarn, wool, acrylic, or
chenille throw blanket over the arm of the couch or across the seat and over
the back of a side chair. The same goes
for the bedrooms; switch out the accent pillows and blanket at the foot of the
bed while keeping the stay-cool sheets for a new look and snuggle-up feel. In the kitchen, let tea towels in fun prints
and fall colors do double duty by being your working kitchen towels and display
linens over the edge of the sink or dishwasher handle. In a guest bathroom, you don’t need a whole
new set of towels for an update; just switch out your everyday hand towel for
one in an autumn palette and match it with a new display bath towel over the
towel bar. Easy as pumpkin pie.
If this is one time of year you really dress up and set the
table, pull out linens that match the feel you’re going for in your placemats,
napkins, and table runner. Textured and
embellished with beading, buttons, or other accents, they can add to your
inviting look. If you use chargers,
consider trading out the slick finishes for a warm burlap look that offers a
nice, neutral base for your dinner plates and cloth napkins.
If you have some sewing craftiness about you, you can switch
out a room’s drapery panels for a few months and have a totally custom look
without the store-bought investment. I
highly recommend the use of ring clips (also called clip rings) that slide on a
drapery rod and have a pincher clip that holds fabric securely. With that set-up as your hardware, you can
change fabric out literally with a pinch.
Take fabric by the yard in a print or pattern that suits you for the
season, measure twice and cut once, hem the edge, and hang it up. You have exhaustive selections in craft and
linen stores and online at places like Fabric.com. You can pick a panel for every season and
carry your theme from the floor to the ceiling, as I do love ceiling height
drapes and their stylish effect.
If you enjoy creating that fall-ready feel at home, find
ways to cozy up to your home and wrap it in warmth to get your snuggle on.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star September 28th.
