Stage To Sell

Give Your Home a Fresh Look for Fall

Posted on 16 October 2009

A few weeks ago I celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary with a trip to New England to see the fall foliage.

That part of the country is breathtaking this time of year, but even in Southern California we can enjoy fall’s bounty.

There’s no better way to get in the fall spirit than by updating your living space with the warm earthy tones of the season.

1. Switch out the throw pillows on your sofa

Consider changing your summery look to the reds, golds, rusty oranges, browns and greens that encourage you to curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea. Try to layer your pillows in different shapes and sizes. Plan on at least four or five pillows for a standard sized sofa to achieve maximum effect. Go for a mix of patterns and solids so the look doesn’t become overwhelming. And remember, the pillows don’t have to match! In fact it creates a richer “designer” look if they are all different. Just make sure the color palette is consistent.

The pillows shown above are from Pier 1, but if you’re looking for a less expensive option and you can sew (or know someone who can), just go to the fabric store and pick out some washable fabrics you love. Get a mixture of solids with small, medium and large prints. Then make simple slipcovers for your existing sofa pillows. This way you can wash them and put them away when fall is over and bring them out again next year!

2. Update your bed

Here’s another way to quickly and inexpensively update your home for fall. Buy a large piece of beautifully patterned fall fabric (or a single flat sheet) and fold it in thirds over the bottom half of your existing bedspread. Then layer the top part of the bed with throw pillows in coordinating colors. Once again, go for a mixture of shapes, colors and sizes. Since your new throw has a pattern, don’t go too crazy with patterned pillows (one or two simple ones will be sufficient). The rest should be solids with a mix of textures to create the optimum effect.

NOTE: This technique will only work if you already have a solid, neutral colored bedspread. If you don’t, you can buy one inexpensively at any of the discount stores like Ross, Home Goods, Anna’s Linens or Marshalls.

As you can see, it’s easy and inexpensive to give your home a new look for the fall season. A little creativity can go a long way!