Fall decorating: Cozy interior design for the colder months

By Lindsey M. Roberts October 15 at 1:34 PM

Just as wardrobes change with the season, so should a homes style. Spring and summer are for whimsical, decor, says Wesley Thompson, an Annapolis interior designer, whereas theres something about the fall and winter months thats more sophisticated and rich feeling, as a reflection of the hibernating, nesting instinct.

So squirrel away the linen and jute. Pull out the wool, velvet, faux fur and cashmere. These luxurious materials in drapes, rugs, throws and more will make a home look warm and elegant.

Pairing fall foliage with luxe decorative objects in warm-colored metals is one way to achieve this sophistication. Ambient candlelights another. Vanessa Holden, West Elms creative director, especially likes tone-on-tone vignettes that layer contrast, texture and materials rather than shout for attention with bright colors. The aim is for a more polished and elevated look, she says. Its a reaction to the casualness of summer.

Read: Six ways to update your home for fall

Stools with Mongolian wool or faux-fur tops offer perfect respites for cold feet. At a fraction of the price of higher-end stools, the Nate Berkus Faux Fur Stool can add the fluffy feel of luxury to a living room, sitting room or bedroom ($55, http://www.target.com).

Candles are fall standbys for good reason: They cast a glow that warms one inside and out. Their scent is important, too, Thompson says. Scents such as French oak can often bring about feelings of cozying up to a fire, she says. Try the Ringo Candleholder and Vase in a centerpiece or on a mantel, with a pillar candle ($96, http://www.blisshomeanddesign.com).

Thompson likes the tassels on this dark orange leaf-colored Temple Bells Throw ($128, http://www.anthropologie.com). Fold throws such as this one on the back of a sofa, pile them in baskets, or spread them out on a bed. I love to drip a throw down the side of a sofa, says D.C. designer Patrick J. Baglino Jr.

Its time to put away spring and summers brights and neons. Fall and winter call for texture and shape rather than color and contrast, Holden says. The cream-on-white Tassel Trace Pillow is all about neutral, touchable texture ($58, http://www.anthropologie.com).

Holden says that metallics convey a rich sense of luxury during the fall and winter months, whether rich burnished gold, patinaed mirror or copper. And a trio of gold Prism Vases is just the type of pretty, warm thing that Thompson likes to put on a table around the holidays ($16-$28, http://www.jaysonhome.com).

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Fall decorating: Cozy interior design for the colder months