When I was a kid, September always began by heading to the garage to retrieve a box labeled “fall decor” from the towering stack of plastic Uline bins that lined the walls of my mother’s house. Opening that box felt like stepping into a magical world—out came the ghosts and ghouls of Halloween, faux carved pumpkins, fall-foliage-embroidered tablecloths, and cornucopia hand towels. Each season had its own corresponding box (winter, spring, summer, and fall) all packed to the brim with decorations that would transform our home with the change in weather.
There’s something to be said for updating your home to reflect the season, though perhaps not as extravagantly as my mother did. Yet, it’s charming nonetheless. We spoke with four designers to get their pro decorating tips for curating your own fall fantasy that doesn’t look like the aisle of a home decor store.
Contrast, Contrast, Contrast
This fall, designers are reimagining the classic autumn color palette with fresh, bold hues like eggplant, deep blues, and marigolds. These vibrant shades combine to create a cornucopia of exciting colorways. Surrounded by Color founder Robin Heller and partner Jen Levyare are loving ochre, deep aubergine, and dark blue-green colors. “We’re not huge believers that colors go out of style—especially if they make you feel something special,” they share. The design duo is also passionate about purples and deep reds, adding that “browns are pretty transformative when paired with the brighter colors we use year-round.”
Anne McDonald, founder and principal designer of Anne McDonald Design, emphasizes how bold colors and deep contrast can make transitioning your space from summer to fall more seamless. “One of my perennial favorites is oxblood,” she says. “In the fall, we’re always eager to dive into deeper colors—it just feels so right. But it’s especially striking when paired with a lighter hue,” Anne explains. “For example, if you’re transitioning from a summer palette—maybe you’ve got some light blues, blush pinks, or even buttery yellows—those shades pair beautifully with oxblood. It really grounds the colors.”
The AD PRO Directory designer adds that “you can have this rich autumnal moment, but keep brighter colors alongside it, and they’ll still coexist beautifully.” The key to a cohesive fall transformation, it seems, is embracing contrast while letting those bold, warm tones take center stage. “I don’t think fall has to be tartan and those sort of classic fall colors,” she notes.
Bring the Outside In
The beauty of fall lies in the simple pleasures of immersing yourself in the great outdoors: feeling the crisp air, crunching leaves beneath your feet, and watching the trees shift from shades of green to vibrant oranges and reds. Growing up in suburban Los Angeles, my mother’s enthusiasm for overt fall decor may have stemmed from the fact that we couldn’t fully experience these seasonal thrills firsthand. But there are subtler ways to bring nature indoors, no matter where you live—even if you don’t have the luxury of changing seasons.