Fall is our favorite season! The cooler mornings, the changing of the leaves, and the earlier sunsets—nature’s rhythm flips a switch for us at home. Schedules settle down from summer activities, dinners move from porches and patios to kitchen tables, and we start craving warmth, cozy, and all the soups and stews we can get our hands on.
These are some of our favorite fall finds to make your home feel more homey this season. Just a reminder there are no affiliate links in this article; these are just products that we love and a part of our daily lives that we wanted to share.
1. A Candle that Smells Cozy
- Why It Works: Scent is the fastest and easiest way to transform the vibe of any room. Instantly, change the atmosphere from busy to calm.
- How to Use It: To elevate your evening routine, light one candle as your “transition ritual” from work to wind‑down. Look for notes like cedar, amber, smoke, or spice.
- Style Tip: Set the candle on a small tray with a wick trimmer and matches—it reads intentional, not cluttered. Primally Pure has a great citrus spice candle perfect for slower, cozier days.
- Use What You Have: Any unscented pillar works. Add a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom to a nearby dish for a hint of fall. A little goes a long way!
2. A Texture Throw Blanket
- Why It Works: Texture adds instant warmth and visual depth. Don’t overthink it. There’s no fancy or frilly redesign required.
- How to Use It: Drape a chunky knit over the sofa arm, fold a quilt at the foot of your bed, or keep two throws in a basket by the fireplace. Try this cashmere wool patterned throw from Quince.
- Style Tip: Mix one plush texture (fleece or sherpa) with one natural texture (cotton knit or wool) for a layered look.
- Use What You Have: Rotate a summer blanket out and bring an older, heavier throw forward.
3. The “Pulled-Together” Tray
- Why It Works: Corralling small items on a tray turns bits-and-bobs into a styled moment.
- How to Use It: Build a simple vignette with a candle, small vase, and coasters. Keep heights varied and leave visible space.
- Style Tip: Round trays soften a square coffee table. Rectangular trays look great on a bench or console. You’ll love the display worthy mist trays from Hayworth.
- Use What You Have: Repurpose a cutting board, baking sheet, or even a shallow basket as your base.
4. Palo Santo or Your Favorite Grounding Ritual
- Why It Works: A tiny ritual helps you press “reset” on the day and your space.
- How to Use It: Light Palo Santo for a few seconds (you can grab them at any natural food store), then walk your space and set an intention or say a prayer. Let the smoke drift and place the Palo Santo into a decorative dish where it will extinguish on its own. Prefer incense? That works too. Not into smoke? Try a light room spray or simply open the windows for five minutes.
- Style Tip: Keep a small ceramic dish and lighter on your tray so the ritual is easy to repeat.
- Use What You Have: Try a drop of essential oil like cedar, clove, and orange on a cotton pad near the entry is a nice smoke‑free swap.
5. Mugs That Feel Like a Warm Hug
- Why It Works: A comforting mug turns coffee, tea, or cocoa into a calming daily ritual.
- How to Use It: Choose one or two mugs you love and store them within arm’s reach. That tiny frictionless step makes your ritual stick.
- Style Tip: A photo-worthy and practical approach is to place a mug, saucer, and a teaspoon on a tray beside a book. To elevate the moment, we love these dreamy stoneware mugs from Anthro.
- Use What You Have: Mix‑and‑match is charming—pull a favorite from the back of the cabinet.
6. Pillow Covers in Cozy Fabrics
- Why It Works: Swapping pillow covers, not whole pillows, is a simple seasonal refresh.
- How to Use It: Keep your inserts and rotate covers in velvet, tweed, plaid, or boucle in tones like camel, rust, olive, or plum. We love these plaid pillow covers from Pottery Barn.
- Style Tip: Aim for a simple palette—two solids and one subtle pattern.
- Use what you have: Flip a reversible cover to the darker side or move pillows from the bedroom to the sofa for a fresh mix.
7. The Multi-Use Basket
- Why It Works: Baskets hide visual noise and make everyday living look intentional.
- How to Use It: One by the door for shoes, one by the sofa for throws, one in the family room for remotes and magazines. Jenni Kayne has a beautiful woven basket, perfect for intentional organization.
- Style Tip: Natural fiber adds warmth while leather handles or a stripe detail elevate the look.
- Use What You Have: A tote bag or wide bowl works in a pinch. Organization and containment are where the real magic lies.
8. Simple Branches in a Vase
- Why It Works: Seasonal greenery adds height, movement, and that feeling of “someone really thought about this.” Try out Crate & Barrel’s handcrafted pottery as the base to your branches with their Forma Handcrafted Brown Terracotta Vase.
- How to Use It: Grab eucalyptus, olive branches, or even tree clippings from the yard. One tall bunch beats a fussy arrangement.
- Style Tip: Clear glass is timeless. Bonus points if you can find a matte ceramic vase, which feels extra fall. Rachel has a collection of seasonal foliage that she stores in giant tupperware and then re-uses year after year.
- Use What You Have: A pitcher, measuring jug, or cleaned-out jar is perfectly charming.
9. An Added Bonus: Milk Bar 6″ Pumpkin Coffee-Cake Cake
- Why It Works: The Pumpkin Coffee‑Cake Cake from Milk Bar packs all the signature fall flavors—pumpkin, cinnamon streusel, and a cozy coffee‑cake topping. It’s also layered with creamy pumpkin cheesecake and a vanilla base. This cake is truly a seasonal showstopper!
- How to Use It: Serve it as the centerpiece of your dessert offering. Bring it to room temp by removing it from the fridge two hours before serving. Pair with a simple hot coffee brew or autumnal spiced tea to let its layers really shine.
- Style Tip: To seamlessly tie this centerpiece into your fall home decor, place the cake on a rustic wooden cake stand surrounded by mini pumpkins, dried oak leaves, or neutral linen napkins.
- Use What You Have: Transform this cake into both an edible treat and a visual focal point by accenting it with warm amber or beeswax candles and deep earth‑tone colored decor.
Don’t Forget: Shop Your Home First.
Before you buy anything, do a five‑minute sweep of your home. You might be surprised by what you find. Do you have a tray or board, a few favorite mugs, a candle, a basket, a throw, or a vase? If yes to any of the above, you already have what you need. Style one corner of your home, like the coffee table or entry console, and notice how the room immediately feels calmer. If you still want to add something new, then you’ll know exactly what you’re missing.
The goal of fall favorites isn’t perfection, but instead, it’s about simple pleasures. A candle you light every night, a soft throw within reach, a tray that makes things feel intentional. Start with one corner today. You’ll feel the shift every time you walk by.
