Fall bedroom decor: 10 looks that ooze cozy, seasonal style

Nov 20, 2023

Update your bedroom for fall with warm, earthy colors, natural textures and backyard finds to make your space feel cozy and inviting

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Are you already anticipating the leaves beginning to change color and the temperature dropping? Then it's time to start planning your fall bedroom decor to keep you feeling cozy and happy during the colder months.

In a season filled with so many inviting colors, shades and textures, there's much inspiration to be taken from outdoors to use in your bedroom. This includes fall decor ideas in earthy tones incorporated into wall colors, bedding and rugs, plus lighting that mimics the warm hues of an autumnal sunset, and, of course, decorations taken from your backyard.

If you're trying to figure out how to start decorating for fall, a bedroom can be a great place. Our experts have recommended their favorite fall bedroom decor ideas that can be tailored to your preference.

Artem Kropovinsky, interior design expert and founder of Arsight says, 'Fall speaks to our senses not just in colors but also in textures. Add elements of coziness to your bedroom that echo the comfort of the season. Consider using chunky knit blankets, velvet throw pillows, or a plush rug. Even small details like swapping out your light, summery curtains for heavier drapes can create that warm and cozy fall feeling.'

Based in New York, Artem Kropovinsky, founder of Arsight, has a decade of extensive and considerable global design experience. Prioritizing minimalism, sustainability, and authenticity, Artem, alongside his team of professionals, works on projects in the US and worldwide.

Gray bedrooms are wonderful in summer, but come September and you might be hankering after fall color schemes, featuring warm hues and earthy tones.

But if you want to skip the classic fall trends of painting walls all one color, why not think about creating contrast, as in the room above?

Artem Kropovinsky says, 'When it comes to fall, color is the first language of transformation. Think of the lush hues that the season brings – rich reds, warm yellows, burnt oranges and deep browns. Incorporate these colors in your bedroom subtly, perhaps in throw pillows, a duvet cover, or a textured rug. These pieces will not only add an extra layer of comfort but also bring the warmth and richness of the season inside.'

The benefit of swapping out bedding is that it's not difficultnor necessarily expensive. Rather than completely redecorating your bedroom, you can choose bedding in bold colors and seasonal styles to reinvent your bedroom, fast.

If fall bedroom decor is all about coziness, then the best bed sheets right now will be plush, comfy and layered. Get creative with the colors, textures and patterns of your pillows and blankets, inspired by some fall bedding trends, which tend to touchable textures and the colors of fall flowers.

You can also use your bedding as the inspiration for the colors you will use in the rest of the room.

'Opt for bedding, curtains, or accent pillows featuring fall-inspired patterns like plaid, herringbone, or damask, enhancing the seasonal vibe in your bedroom', advises Elizabeth Grace, interior designer and furniture expert at Dream Home Making.

Elizabeth Grace is an interior designer and furniture expert. She received her degree in Interior Design from the University of Notre Dame. Elizabeth landed her first job as an intern with a leading firm in New York City, learning from some of the city’s top designers. She currently works as an interior designer for both residential and commercial clients.

'If you want your fall bedroom decor to feel intimate, one way to do so is to really indulge in combining patterns and prints,' says Jen Ebert, Deputy Editor of Homes & Gardens.

'I would start by looking for bedroom wallpaper ideas in fall colors and perhaps with typical or more abstract fall motifs, such as leaves and blousy flower heads. Then, add layer upon layer of fall-themed bedding and soft furnishings to create an eclectic, and therefore relaxed, look.'

Jen is the Deputy Editor (Digital) of Homes & Gardens online. Before starting this position, she had completed various interior design courses at KLC Design School, as well as working across Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.

Fall themed bedroom decorations don't have to stop at wall art, there are many creative ways to bring nature indoors to embellish your space. You can decorate with dried flowers, display twigs in a vase, frame fallen leaves and spent flower heads, or maybe make a decorative fall wreath or garland to put above your bed. Creating a fall-themed centerpiece to display on your dresser or mantelplace will feel celebratory.

'Another beautiful way to transition your fall bedroom decor is by bringing elements of nature inside. Pinecones, acorns, or dried leaves can make lovely additions to a bedside table or shelf display. If you're feeling creative, consider a DIY project like a garland or wreath made from autumn foliage,' suggests Artem Kropovinsky.

You can even create a foliage wall to really immerse your room with outdoor elements.

Having soft, warm bedroom lighting is important regardless, but especially in fall. Even changing the color of your lightbulbs to warmer tones can affect the colors of the room.

'Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood. As the nights grow longer, adding more light sources can make your bedroom feel cozier. Candles with scents of cinnamon, apple, or pumpkin can add a sense of warmth and comfort while also adding a lovely aroma reminiscent of the season', advises Artem Kropovinsky.

Elizabeth Grace adds, 'Set the mood with soft, warm lighting that evokes the glowof autumn sunsets. Use table lamps, string lights, or candles with scents likecinnamon or vanilla for a cozy ambiance.'Install dimmer switches to control the brightness of your overhead lighting, to create a more relaxing atmosphere for evenings, and use various different lamps and lights to create pools of light. And banish harsh overhead lighting.

Plush bedroom rug ideas are often a nice choice in fall, since they will make the room look that bit more cozy and inviting, while keeping your feet warm.

Elizabeth Grace says, 'Consider adding a stylish area rug with an autumnal motif, tying the entire decor together and adding a touch of visual interest.'

You can also layer rugs to tie areas and themes of your room together.

'Simply changing up your headboard ideas can transform a bedroom for fall,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief of Homes & Gardens.

'If you already have a fabric-covered headboard, it could be as simple as having seasonal slips that you swap out to match the season or stapling new fabric to the back of the headboard. Flat headboards can be painted or wallpapered to complement your fall bedroom decor; or you can create a panel of wallpaper on the wall at the head of a bed without a headboard.'

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens for over 30 years, starting within the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-1990s. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes.com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine, which is the UK's oldest interiors magazine at 103 years old. Lucy is a serial renovator and also owns rental properties in the UK and Europe, so brings first-hand knowledge to the subjects she oversees.

'It's likely that your closet's doors will need repainting once a year if you are as prone to chipping them as I am,' confesses Jo Bailey, Homes & Gardens' Deputy Editor and stylist.

'If so, take it as an opportunity to dramatically transform a neutral bedroom's color scheme by picking a warm, fall-friendly color. My favorite bedroom color ideas tend towards very natural but spicy shades, such as cinnamon and terracotta because they look wonderful in natural and artificial light, never too harsh, never too dark.'

Jo Bailey is Deputy Editor of Homes & Gardens, overseeing all features for the print edition. Before joining Future PLC, she worked as an interior stylist for over ten years, specializing in commercial photo shoots for luxury clients such as; Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, Christopher Farr Cloth and Heal's. She has worked with Homes & Gardens for over a decade, having styled and produced editorial shoots and events over the years.

'Of course, you needn't repaint a piece of furniture as large as a closet to make an impact,' continues Jo Bailey. 'Since the area around the bed is usually the focal point of the room, simply painting bedside tables in a warm, autumnal color can make a world of difference, especially in a bedroom with cooler colored decor.

'I love the subtle line of reddish orange of the table lamp's trim (above), and the subtle nod to nature in the wallpaper behind.'

Fragrances can enhance the appeal of your room, and finding scents that represent fall could not be easier. Whether you introduce these scents though making potpourri, candles, essential oil reed diffusers or room sprays, there is such a wide range of scents to choose from. Our top favorite fall scents include cinnamon, apple, pumpkin spices, spiced chai, or fresh pine to create a pleasant and relaxing ambiance.

There are also plenty more ways to make your house smell like fall, which we tackle in our separate feature.

Although summer color palettes have some of the same warm, earthy tones as fall, the difference is that fall shades are more muted and generally paler. 'Summer colors are much more exuberant than fall colors,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens. 'They reflect what's going on in your garden almost exactly, particularly in foliage, which dulls from bright greens to oranges and browns in fall.'

Ryan Ratkowski, founder of Rustic Decorating says, 'Fall is a season that effortlessly lends itself to inspiration, the shifting color palettes of nature becoming a guide for our home aesthetics. One aspect of this change I enjoy most is the opportunity to refresh the bedroom. This sanctuary space often reflects our personal taste and comfort, and adapting it to embrace the beauty of fall can be a delightful process.'

Former interior designer Ryan Ratkowki is a contractor and the founder of Rustic Decorating. He has a passion for restoring old and vintage pieces. With his years in interior design and contracting, he's mastered the art of blending variouselements to create inviting space.

Decor Ideas. Project Inspiration. Expert Advice. Delivered to your inbox.

Lola Houlton is a news writer for Homes & Gardens. She has been writing content for Future PLC for the past five years, in particular Homes & Gardens, Real Homes and GardeningEtc. She writes on a broad range of subjects, including recipe articles, reviewing products, writing ‘how to’ and ‘when to’ articles. Lola now writes about everything from organization through to house plants. Lola is a graduate student, who completed her degree in Psychology at the University of Sussex. She has also spent some time working at the BBC.

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