This post was updated on September 17, 2019, with new transition tips.
Fall is here. The weather is starting to cool off and kids are heading back to school. Transitioning your apartment to a more autumn-friendly set up helps you enjoy the season more and access the things you need for the fall weather more easily.
Below are some tips for transitioning your apartment from summer to fall.
Bright colors are great for the summer. For the fall, reds, oranges, yellows and browns tend to work well. Things like dish towels, vases, sofa pillows, and bed sheets can be switched out pretty easily and can really help make your apartment feel cozier for the cooler fall days.
Gourds, pumpkins and pine cones are tried and true fall decorations. You can make a simple centerpiece for your kitchen table, island or coffee table with a bowl, a few gourds, and a pine cone or two.
Use an air diffuser or freshener with an apple cider, pumpkin or autumn leaves scent in your apartment. The autumn fragrance will help your apartment feel ready for the cozy fall months.
Once we get into September and October, it’s probably time to put away the sandals and tank tops and get out the sweaters and boots.
With the weather cooling off, you can slow cook a hearty meal without worrying about heating up your apartment too much. Stews are always a great, hearty fall meal. The New York Times has a good recipe for a classic stick-to-your ribs stew here. If you prefer a vegetarian stew, here’s a popular recipe for a Moroccan stew from AllRecipes.com.
Like spring cleaning, the summer to fall transition is a great time to do a really thorough cleaning of your apartment. If you had your windows open a lot during the summer, your window treatments may have gotten pretty dirty. It is a good idea to give them a good cleaning so you don’t trap that dust in your apartment when it gets colder.
The days will start getting shorter, so you may want to add some small lamps or accent lighting. Battery-powered tea lights are an easy and inexpensive way to add a little light to different areas of your apartment.
Throw blankets serve a couple of purposes. They’re convenient on a cooler autumn night, and they add a nice pop of color to the room.
It can be helpful to have fans circulating heated air on cold days, but you’ll want to switch the rotation of the blades. When fans are rotating in a clockwise direction they push warm air down and cool air up.
