Is your home decorated for the indoor entertaining that comes with the arrival of autumn? As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler we tend to spend more time indoors. One way to create a warm and inviting home for friends and family to gather in is by bringing the rich colors of fall inside. It can be as simple as changing the colors of your accessories. Replace white and ivory candles with colorful shades of autumn; add a vibrant table runner or table square; refill a vase that has a summer bouquet with mums and dried leaves; create a new centerpiece with a bowl overflowing with Indian corn, apples, gourds and nuts.
Be sure the colors you select compliment the rooms existing furnishings. Do not add bright orange unless it goes with your color scheme. Generally speaking warm shades of gold look good with most interiors. Of course if your scheme already includes a lot of gold then it is probably a good idea to add colors like rust, brown, green or rich deep shades of purple. If your color scheme is neutral then add any of your favorite fall colors.
Once you have decided on the colors, look around the room and identify at least three places to include them. In addition to tables, consider any horizontal surface including fireplace mantels, shelves, on top of an armoire, window sill or television cabinet. Place pillows and a soft, warm throw on a sofa or chair. If possible repeat your fall accent colors at several different levels around the room. When you add fabric accessories that have a pattern make sure the print does not conflict with other fabrics already in the room. As a general rule, do not add a pattern type that is already in the room. If
you have a large flowery pattern on your furniture, draperies, walls or floors do not add another one. In that case you could add a mini print or geometric design like a stripe or check as long as it includes at least one color from your rooms color scheme. Of course you can always go with solids that have a rich texture like cut velvet or chenille or a tone on tone pattern.Another way to bring autumn indoors is to add the fragrances of the season to your home. This can be accomplished with candles, oils, potpourri or soaps. This time of year add the sweet scent of apples, cinnamon and pumpkin or the spicy aroma of nutmeg, clove and ginger.
