7 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Feel Cozy for Fall—Without Adding Clutter

There’s something about the start of fall that makes home feel a little more important. The mornings get busier, the evenings get shorter, and the spots where we drop our shoes and bags suddenly have a lot more to do.

Before you pull out the fall decorations, try a small reset. Clear a surface, wash your favorite throw, and make a little room for the season ahead. Making your home feel cozy for fall can still be easy to take care of and free from clutter.

1. Start with the spot where you walk in

Put away the summer items you’re finished using, shake out the doormat, vacuum the entryway and make room for every day shoes and bags. Add one welcoming touch if you’d like—a wreath on the front door, a new doormat, or something seasonal on the entry table.

September’s Monthly Focus is the Entryway/Mudroom – this is what we work on together in Homekeeping Society.

2. Make room before you decorate

Choose one surface: the mantel, kitchen island, or entry table. Remove what’s there, give it a quick dust or wipe, and put back only what you want to keep or leave it empty for a bit to give it a little breathing room before you add anything back.

Bonus: Leaving some surfaces empty makes everyday cleaning easier too.

3. Freshen up the cozy things you already own

Before buying new throw blankets or pillows or hand towels, pull out what you have. Wash throws and covers according to their care labels, and put a favorite blanket where someone will actually use it.

Quick Tip: This is an easy addition to Saturday’s Sheets & Towels – combine it to so it doesn’t feel like an overwhelming project.

4. Let everyday items bring in the season

Use everyday items to make your home feel like fall. It can be as simple as a fall-ish mug, a clean kitchen towel in a seasonal color or pattern you love. A basket holding the blankets your family uses.

Useful things can make your home feel warm and welcoming without giving you more decorations to store.

5. Give your kitchen an evening reset

Clear the sink, wipe the counters, and put away the things that collected during the day. Leave your morning essentials ready to use.

That little bit of care makes a busy fall morning feel more manageable.

Quick Tip: Finding a fall recipe and putting it out is another super simple and clutter-free way to give your kitchen a fall feel.

6. Make one place ready to relax

Choose your favorite chair or one end of the sofa. Clear the nearby table, turn on a lamp, and keep a book, fall magazines or catalogs, and/or blanket close by.

Remember: You don’t have to clean the entire house before you enjoy being home.

7. Keep your routine simple as the season changes

Let seasonal jobs fit around your Daily and Weekly Tasks. Choose one small fall update at a time instead of turning the transition into a weekend of work.

Start with the place you’ll notice most. Make it a little cleaner, a little more comfortable, or a little easier to use and add a touch of fall. Then enjoy it before moving on to the next thing.