10 Easy Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Fall
Freshen up your house for cozy season.
After bidding adieu to pool days, ice cream cones, and endless sunshine, it’s finally time to welcome autumn into your home. As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, you’re probably eager to cozy up your living space, whether it’s placing pumpkins on your front porch, draping furry blankets over your furniture, or lighting all your favorite fall candles. In addition to swapping out all your summer décor, clearing the way for fall’s arrival also looks like sweeping away the dust and debris and preparing your house for the temperature change.
While the start of a new season can feel overwhelming, you don’t need to overhaul your decorations or deep-clean every nook and cranny. Luckily, all it takes is a few simple tweaks and some seamless upgrades to give your house an autumnal refresh. Wondering where to start? We’ve got you covered with this checklist of easy ways to freshen up your space for fall. Once you tackle these tasks, your home will feel warm, welcoming, and ready for whatever the season has in store.
Get excited for fall with these ideas and activities:
Prep Your Porch
After clearing away the dirt, dust, and debris that accumulated over the summer, hang a fall wreath on your front door and place an autumn doormat beneath it. You can even add a few pumpkins and mums to your seasonal setup.
Refresh Your Entryway
Since fall brings cooler weather and busier days, your entryway will need to accommodate all the coats and backpacks that’ll be coming in and out all season long. Store your summer items, add a few hooks, and set out bins to keep things organized.
Rotate Your Wardrobe
Late summer is also the perfect time to switch out your warm-weather wardrobe. Pack up your floral dresses and flip-flops, and bring your cable-knit sweaters and boots out of hiding. If something no longer fits you or suits your style, donate it.
Bring in Your Fall Linens
If your living room is decorated with lightweight throws and vibrant cushions, you can usher in the fall season by swapping in wool blankets and pumpkin-themed pillows. The same goes for your bedroom: Replace your cotton sheets with flannel ones.
Declutter Your Pantry
To get ready for all the school lunches you’ll be making and the fall treats you’ll be baking, give your pantry a little extra attention during this in-between period. Toss expired ingredients, wipe down the shelves, and stock up on the staples you’ll be using throughout the season.
Deep-Clean Your Oven
Because fall gives way to so many delicious treats, chances are, you’ll be baking up a storm. But before you do, deep-clean your hardworking appliance. Scrub the interior and exterior with a baking soda paste before vacuuming beneath the oven.
Add Natural Accents
Nothing captures the cozy, earthy feel of fall quite like the natural world. As you start decorating for autumn, look to the great outdoors for décor ideas and inspiration: mums, pumpkins, apples, pinecones, and more.
Wash Your Windows
After months of pollen, dust, and grime, your windows are due for a cleaning. Thankfully, with this incredibly easy trick, your windows will look shiny and streak-free from the inside out. That means you’ll get a better view of the foliage!
Check Your Heating System
Before you turn on your heat for the season, clean the vents and replace the HVAC filter. Then, check the pipes, baseboards, doors, and windows for drafts, and patch up any gaps that could let in cold air.
Welcome Autumn Aromas
Fall is full of amazing smells, so why not welcome them into your home? Light some pumpkin-scented candles, put out some apple-scented soap, and set a simmer pot with cinnamon and cloves on the stove.
Lilly Blomquist is the associate editor at The Pioneer Woman, where she writes lifestyle stories across a wide range of topics—including news, entertainment, holidays, food, and more.
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