There are lots of easy, inexpensive ways to freshen up your home for fall and really get the most of this lovely season. Even though the fall season in the UK isn’t generally as bright or sunny as it is in North America, I do love this time of year. I’m definitely a believer in ‘September is the new January’ and I always feel like fall is a lovely new start regardless of what the weather is like. It makes me want to make the most of my home and I really enjoy sprucing things up. Here are some hints and tips to help you freshen up your home for fall easily, without spending a lot of money.
Easy Tips to Help You Freshen Up Your Home For Fall
Bring the outdoors in
Natural decorations can make your home look really welcoming. I love how people decorate their front doors and porches in North America. In fact, for years I’ve been working to encourage folks in the UK to decorate their front doors and porches in celebration of seasons other than Christmas! A wreath made with autumn leaves, pinecones, berries, feathers or other items from nature can look gorgeous on a front door. (The one above was made for me by Green Parlour.) Or create a mantle display using autumn flowers and small gourds or squash. A few small autumn accents scattered throughout your home can make big impact.
De-clutter
This is the perfect time of year to declutter and move on. Break the job down into small, manageable chunks (say, room by room or even drawer by drawer if your home is very cluttered). Get rid of anything that isn’t beautiful, useful or seriously sentimental. You’ll be amazed at the effect it has!
Brighten your kitchen
It’s so satisfying to walk into a clean, well-organised kitchen. It makes cooking and baking that much more fun! This is a great time of year to sort through your kitchen drawers and get ready for the busy season to come.
Natural Cleaning Tips To Help Freshen Up Your Home For Fall
Clean windows and glass with a fifty-fifty mix of vinegar and water.
De-scale the kettle by putting about a cup (8 ounces or 250 ml) of plain white vinegar in the bottom, fill the kettle with water, boil and rinse thoroughly. Follow with plain water in the kettle and re-boil it a couple of times just to avoid any residual vinegar taste. If your kettle is still not scale free at this point, repeat the whole process one more time.
Make stainless steel shiny with a tiny bit of baby oil polished over your stainless steel appliances to make them gleam. (Be sure to test in a small inconspicuous area of the appliance first.) I use baby oil on my extractor fan, double oven and even on stainless steel sinks.
Disinfect door handles with a fifty / fifty mix of water and rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit). Put the mixture in an spray bottle and simply spray and wipe clean. Test on an inconspicuous spot first if your doorknobs are made of special materials.
More Tips To Help You Freshen Up Your Home For Fall
Use soft furnishings to make rooms feel cosier
This is a great time to bring out more throw pillows and cozy throw rugs. The idea is to make beds, sofas and chairs look welcoming – a place people will want to curl up with a book or magazine and a nice hot cup of tea. Small changes can have a really big effect.
Get ready for guests
As the season for entertaining approaches, be sure your guest room is tidy and that the bed is changed. If you don’t have a guest room, invest in a blow up mattress and a nice set of sheets. Store them in a cupboard until you need them. Keep a small box of toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, cleanser, moisturiser etc) in the bathroom for guests to help themselves from if they have forgotten anything.
Whatever the weather in your part of the world, a few small steps taken to freshen your home up for fall can make this season an even more wonderful part of the year!
Wow! That is an amazing wreath!
I love doing the seasonal switch from summer to fall during September. Even though I enjoy summer, I’m ready to pull out the sweaters and the soup pot and starting nesting.
Thank you, Barb! And I feel the same way about fall – I love summer but it’s wonderful to embrace fall when it arrives. I just hope the sunshine hangs around here in the UK 🙂
Yes, it’s a lovely time of year for nesting. Here in northern California we’re actually still sleeping with the windows open, but there’s a definite feel of Fall in the air. And I love seeing pumpkins appear in stores and recipes.
It really is, Pauline. It’s been a warmer, drier fall here this year but I still envy you the California weather 🙂
I absolutely love this! Beautiful. Pinned. It is so fun to party with you. Thank you. I hope to see you at our party on Monday at 7 pm. http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Saturday! Lou Lou Girls
Thank you and thank you for pinning too 🙂
I feel the same way as you. I tend to buy academic year diaries and start them at this time of year. It’s a fresh start for me in September and I’ve already begun decluttering.
Sounds like we have a lot in common 🙂 I buy academic year diaries as well! Love September!!