Interior Designers Recommend Fall Bedroom Updates
Designers suggest five simple swaps, like scented candles and wool throws, to make a bedroom feel cozier for autumn without a full renovation.
Interior designers recommend five simple decor swaps to transition a bedroom from summer to fall. The changes focus on scent, lighting, textiles, and color to create a warmer, more inviting sleep space as the weather cools.
Janie Hungerford of Hungerford Interior Design says scent is a great way to change things up. Switching a summer candle or diffuser for a fall fragrance like cedar, spice, or fig can instantly alter a room's feeling. For those who prefer natural elements, adding seasonal branches or flowers engages both smell and sight.
Adjust Lighting for Warmer Ambiance
As daylight fades, lighting becomes key for adding warmth. Janie Hungerford advises introducing softer, warmer layers of light beside the bed or in room corners. This can be achieved with candles, bedside lamps, or sconces. She emphasizes using dimmable fixtures and warm bulbs. Companies like Pooky offer portable lamps with interchangeable shades, allowing for seasonal updates without wiring.
Update Bedding with Heavier Textiles
Designers suggest swapping lightweight summer bedding for richer, textured alternatives. Kathy Kuo replaces light linen pillow shams with velvet versions. Tabitha Organ, founder of Tabitha Isobel, recommends swapping summer blankets for a heavier bedspread or quilt and changing cushion colors to deeper, earthier tones.
Kathy Kuo also recommends draping a thick throw in wool, faux fur, or cashmere at the foot of the bed. Designer Alexa Harris-Ralff of AHR Designs suggests adding a quilt or coverlet and folding the duvet at the bottom for a layered look.
Introduce Seasonal Colors and Textures
Fall color schemes can be introduced without repainting. James Montgomery-Castle, a bedding expert at Soak&Sleep, says the season is about adding layers for a retreat-like feel. While burnt orange and rust are classic, he suggests calming blues like Atlantic blue or rich teal for a less themed option. For warmer tones, deep earthy colors like mocha and chocolate work well alongside existing neutrals.
Richly woven mix bedding or heavy jacquard fabrics can add texture and contrast with smoother velvets or cottons. Kathy Kuo summarizes that an autumnal bedroom should feel darker, more layered, and inviting, as if the room has put on a cozy sweater.
