Photo by Alise O'Brien
Read about this cozy space here.
The temperatures are dipping. The leaves are starting to turn. As we move toward fall, make your home even more inviting with tips from local homeowners and design pros about how to decorate during this time of year.
Liz Basler
Interior Designer, Castle Design
Wash your windows so you can better see the changing landscape. “Clean windows make your house feel brighter and bigger,” says Basler. “Whether you do it yourself or pay to have it done, it’s worth the time and money.”
Plan your porchscapes and tablescapes. “I love using a combination of greenery that I find at Garden Heights Nursery in Richmond Heights: mums, grasses, and pansy together in a pot,” says Basler. Another tip: Group an assortment of kales in various colors.
Pivot to more natural elements for your tablescape. “Don’t be afraid to use a carved wooden bowl or colored flowers on your table,” says Basler.
Consider fabric napkins for the season. You don’t need to change out every linen and piece of china—changing one thing shows a thoughtful gesture.
Stock up on candles. Nothing is better than being outside with candles and bistro lights. "I use simple white unscented candles to line my patio. To welcome guests, I also line my front walk with votive candles," says Basler.
Start thinking about recipes for dinners hosted at home. Plan ahead, and stock up on ingredients for a few favorites.
Kiley Talbott
Homeowner, University City
"I dump whatever was in my summer planters and add mums. I like to go to Sugar Creek Gardens in Kirkwood or Theis Farms on Hanley Road for their selection," says Talbott.
Talbott takes inventory of her home’s mudrooms and closets, removing items that the family no longer needs. “I swap goggles and pool bags for mittens and coats to save space and to reduce clutter in high-traffic areas,” she says.
Light a candle from Glow Candle Co. After Labor Day, the “pumpkin spice” flavor burns consistently in the Talbott household.
Aerate and seed the lawn; trim your trees.
Laura Maurice
Homeowner, Webster Groves
Bring in outdoor plants that aren’t hearty enough to survive the winter. “We have citrus trees that we move to our family room near a window. They thrive there until we can take them back outside in the spring,” says Maurice.
“We have two large magnolias in our front yard,” says Maurice. "I pick the leaves year round, but especially in the fall. I put them in large pitchers with dried hydrangeas, white hydrangeas, and roses. These go on my mantles and in our doorways."
Change your bar with the seasons. Maurice purchased a vintage bar cart from Cool Stuff Period. She styles it with the change in seasons. “We take away the coupe glasses that we use for spritzers and champagne 75s in the summer and replace them with rocks glasses and Moscow mule mugs to serve bourbons and Old Fashioneds,” she says.
“We’re really big on vintage Patagonia and military blankets. I bring them out every fall and scatter them throughout the house,” says Maurice. "On the first day of fall, we pull out the K. Hall Fir & Grapefruit candle. I even bought the spray for the house. It smells clean and cozy.”
Michael Wyrock
Owner and Interior Designer, Nistenhaus Design
Wyrock likes to work new flowers and greens into planters and beds. “See what’s happening with trees and plants, and mimic that in pots,” he says, adding that greenery this time of year is about broadleaf plants like the Croton Petra. “They’re a really beautiful leafy fall plant that looks almost fake because of their yellow-green and reddish-color.” Purple celosia, a velvety flower with deep plum leaves, is another favorite.
Swap out pillows and throws. “We like to work in velvets as we transition from spring/summer to fall. It’s a shift from lightweight materials and linen-based fabrics to more coarse fabrics in richer hues—oranges, browns and jewel tones,” says Wyrock. “We also like to incorporate patterns that are bold in scale but still have that Ralph Lauren vibe to them.”
"If you’re considering investing in window treatments, fall is a good time. They make rooms warmer and cozier and are also functional," says Wyrock. If you live in an old St. Louis home, chances are your windows are drafty or lack insulation. "Curtains help insulate and warm a space. Consider backing them in a flannel fabric. Open them during the day to allow the sun to heat the room; then close them at night to keep out the cold. In the summer months, do the opposite."
Ceramic pumpkins that transition from fall to Thanksgiving are a great fall staple. Wyrock suggests buying ones that are white, bisque, or neutral-toned so that they can easily mix with other pumpkins. "We also like to use aged silver to bring in the fall vibe and, of course, add something spooky," he says.
Meg Minicky
Interior Designer, Olive and Opal
Adding textures throughout the home is a wonderful way to add a layer of coziness. Consider incorporating woven baskets filled with thick and cozy blankets to grab for extra warmth.
Consider swapping out soft cottons and linens for luxurious velvet and wool. “We love a good jewel-toned velvet pillow to accent your sofa or arm chairs,” says Minicky.
Place candles with a woodsy or spicy scent within a coffee table vignette or on a side table.
Take cues from nature: wood tones, rust colors, and the burnt darker tones of a bonfire.
Amy Studebaker
Owner and Principal Designer, Amy Studebaker Design
Bring fall into the home by pulling directly from nature. Source fresh magnolia leaves from a local florist or trim fresh magnolia from the yard. “You can place these sprigs of magnolia in a silver or decorative bowl for a picture perfect fall centerpiece” says the designer. For additional style, add pumpkins or pinecones.
Studebaker likes to use faux waxed red pears (around three or five because odd quantities work great) for a decorative compote.
Decorate the mantle by laying magnolia branches paired with a pretty velvet ribbon between the leaves to impart a warm fall feel.
Use your fireplace. “Nothing is cozier than watching flames dance while enjoying a glass of wine and conversation with family and friends,” says Studebaker.
Jenny B
Photography courtesy of Jenny B
Interior Designer (Instagram: moonjipsi)
“To me, fall means harvest so, it’s all nature/garden-inspired,” says Jenny B. Ayurveda and feng shui practices call for the transition of summer into fall as a time to root and ground oneself and home. "I’m using nature to ground myself. I have herbs from my medicine kitchen garden; honey from our Moon Prairie Apiary for a beeswax candle bath; and vintage honey mead on the bar," she says.
“I’m using vintage items in a sustainable way in my designs," Jenny B adds. "I use about 50 percent vintage versus going out and buying something new. It’s more of a 'use what you have' theme and take advantage of the season for restoration and grounding.”
“In the bath, I use a basil bath and a beeswax candle. Try to incorporate visually what you'd do in your home with your body. The candle cleans the air in your home and your spirit. I also have pine and juniper from the garden. It's a holistic home with a hospitality vibe,” she says.
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Photography courtesy of Jenny B
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Photography courtesy of Jenny B
Suzanne Miller Farrell
Founder, The Storied House
“I work seasonal things into my existing décor. Whenever I can and it makes sense, I use real fruit in my centerpieces,” says Farell, adding that doing so ensures that the fruit gets eaten. “To me, September is all about apples and apple picking—the kitchen scale reminds me of my grandmother making homemade applesauce and weighing the bushels at Eckert's." She works in ceramic and brass apples to give more interest.
“I also bring in more texture," she adds. "I unpack my velvet and needlepoint pillows and mix them in with my linen throw pillows. I brought back the yellow throw from Ireland—it’s cozy and soft and hints of a golden harvest."
Simple white pumpkins on the mantel weave in a hint of the season. The all-white scheme lends a sculptural look. Farrell sources hers at Rusted Chandelier.
Aileen Garcia
Real Estate Agent, Garcia Properties
The first priority is curb appeal. “I switch things up in my planters to include all mums. I love any of the local nurseries, but Bowood Farms is a favorite," says Garcia. "I swap the pillows on my Adirondack chairs and change the door wreath [to one] with more burnt orange, yellow, and red tones.”
“I love mixing gourds and pumpkins of different hues, whether white or cream-colored or blue or green, and mixing them without any rhyme or reason," Garcia says.
To keep the squirrels away, Garcia sprays the pumpkins with hairspray every few days. "They don't like the taste."
