Your Fall Apartment Decorating Checklist for a Cozy Space

Start With a Fall-Ready Color Palette

Pumpkin orange paint isn’t mandatory to get into the swing of the season. Consider earthier alternatives to summer’s bright palette such as deep burgundy, mustard yellow, terra cotta, camel brown, copper, russet and deep green.

Apartments tend to default to neutral tones, but that provides you with a blank slate to mix and match colors. Here are some easy ways to incorporate pops of fall colors:

• Add burnt orange and russet pillows to your couch.
• Drape a forest green blanket over the arm of a chair.
• Stack bright pumpkins on a dark bookcase or dark gourds on a light-colored shelf.
• Hang fall scenes in a gilded frame.

Incorporate Cozy Textures

Once you’ve chosen your colors, think about textures that will make your home feel like fall.

Here are some options:

• Chunky knits
• Flannel
• Faux fur
• Jute
• Macrame
• Suede
• Wicker

Layer those fabrics for an extra touch of coziness. Use pillow covers, change lampshades, hang wall art, layer rugs and install curtains to incorporate autumnal interest. It’s an easy way to refresh your décor without adding clutter.

Update Your Lighting

Bring the warmth of an autumn golden hour indoors with soft lighting and decorative fixtures. Shorter days mean you’ll need to light your apartment earlier in the evening. It’s the perfect time to play with different tones and styles.

Here are some ideas:

• Change white bulbs out for softer, yellower alternatives.
• Place standing and table lamps to create a more intimate feel instead of using overhead lights.
• Cluster real or battery-operated candles on tables, mantels or even in fireplaces to create glowing pockets of light.
• Place candles in colored glass votives for visual depth.
• Drape string lights over windows, on countertops and around wall décor for a subtle sparkle.

Bring In Seasonal Natural Elements

Celebrate harvest season with touches of nature when decorating your apartment for fall. Foraged décor is popular and inexpensive. Collect dried leaves and frame them or hang garlands of silk leaves for a more robust display.

You can even put branches of autumn foliage in a vase for a seasonal bouquet. Pumpkins and gourds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so place them in clusters or individually to add pops of color around your apartment.

These seasonal elements are also effective:

• Pinecones
• Acorns
• Mums
• Wheat stalks
• Pampas grass
• Dried herb bundles
• Corn cobs and husks

Apply Fall-Themed Wall and Surface Treatments

It’s important to consult your property management team before you apply any treatments, so you don’t accidentally break your lease terms.

If you’re permitted to do so, consider these finishes:

Removable wallpaper: Peel-off patterns are a quick way to include fall colors in your apartment. You can use them on a feature wall, to line bookshelves or to cover cabinets and pantry doors.

Decals: Temporary decals allow you to craft shapes on a smaller scale. You can create clusters of fall foliage around windows, on mirrors or above door frames. Layer them on wallpaper for extra dimension.

Gallery walls: Collect your favorite fall décor (photos, prints, botanicals) and organize them on a wall for an autumnal gallery. You can swap out your usual artwork for textured fabrics or switch frames for rust and mustard hues to give pictures new life.

Mirrors: Position mirrors opposite windows to make your space feel bigger and brighter. Look for brass frames for an antique finish or wooden options for an earthier ambiance.

Add Cozy Scents to Your Apartment

Your apartment’s fall makeover isn’t complete without the right scent. Candles are the obvious choice, but you can also use wax melts, reed diffusers, essential oils, potpourri, simmer pots and sachets.

Here are some classic aromas:

• Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and clove
• Pumpkin
• Apple
• Vanilla
• Maple
• Woodsmoke
• Cedarwood
• Fig
• Amber

Come Home to Ardent Communities This Fall

If you’re looking for an apartment or townhouse around Columbus, Ohio, where you can decorate to your heart’s content, then visit an Ardent community. We offer single- and multi-bedroom suites that are bursting with amenities. Check out our locations and schedule a tour.