Luxury Is: The Coziest of Autumns
As autumn returns with shorter days and cooler nights, it’s time to examine what this season means for homeowners. White Diamond Realty compiled some ideas that will turn your home into a tasteful celebration of the season. We’re also sharing a list of essential maintenance steps for your home heating and cooling system, so be sure to read all the way to the bottom!
Updating décor after Labor Day
Most people already know not to wear white after labor day, but what about homes? While it’s not a rule, many homeowners enjoy updating their décor with each seasonal change. After all, a new season is a great time to try something bold. So, whether you want a football themed entertainment room or a pop of mustard yellow in your farmhouse kitchen, White Diamond Realty says go for it!
Small things make a huge difference
Fall hues add inviting warmth to interiors, so begin by exchanging your summertime throw blankets, pillows, and scatter rugs for autumn-themed versions. Wool textures can create a cozy vibe perfect for cool evenings, while tassels or fringes add a rustic touch. For ideas on adding warmth in your bedroom, see this inspiring collection from One Kindesign.
Natural elements add authenticity
Table decorations often include natural elements, so don’t forget about fall flowers. From the rich yellows of goldenrod to the passion-stirring reds of staghorn sumac, autumnal plants are showstoppers for decorative bouquets. Arrange late bloomers in a bundle of cattails, place them in a clear vase, and you’ll create a centerpiece worthy of the most bountiful harvest. For more ideas, here’s a list of gorgeous fall centerpieces from Better Homes and Gardens.
Speaking of natural elements, seasonal touches like gourds, pumpkins, and wreathes make a splash in the bathroom, especially when they are simple and tasteful. You’ll find a wagon-load of harvest-time inspiration in this list of fall-themed bathroom ideas from Curated Interior.
Trick or window treatment
Looking to keep warm as the leaves fall? Consider changing out thin summer curtains for thicker versions in a subdued hue. For example, a set of wheat-colored drapes complements most autumn accents. Of course, you don’t have to be subtle. If you think curtains can’t be as orange as a pumpkin, just check out these fall-themed window treatments from Homedit.
If your home includes a fireplace, the mantel is an ideal location for fall-themed accents. Try mixing found materials, like pinecones, with apples or small pumpkins. For more themes, check out these mantel decorating ideas at the Spruce.
Keep your family safe—and save energy!
Even if you do have a fireplace, it’s likely you also use a centralized heating and cooling system. Although we sometimes take these systems for granted, changes in seasons should also trigger maintenance chores that help avoid potential problems.
Luckily, our friends at Appalachian Environmental Testing & Consulting provided a list of furnace maintenance tips. So, before you fire it up that furnace, take time to do a little maintenance. You’ll make your home safer, improve heating efficiency, and turn even the chilliest nights into a cozy evening:
- Replace your furnace air filter: This easy, cost-effective action brings benefits. In fact, this single action could save you up to 15% on heating bills, while maximizing the life of your furnace.
- Inspect and clean your chimney: Make sure soot hasn’t built up and birds aren’t nesting. This will improve heating efficiency, ensure carbon monoxide can escape safely and potentially prevent a fire.
- Make sure air vents are open and unobstructed: Remove any furniture, plants, toys, equipment, or other objects that obstruct air flow. Blocked air vents don’t just make furnaces work harder, they increase the system’s internal temperature and add to the risk of a fire!
- Inspect and clean heating ducts: Damaged and dirty air ducts can drive up heating bills, degrade air quality and put additional stress on your furnace or HVAC system. Inspect them to make sure there are no punctures, dents, disconnected parts, dust, mold, or mildew. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, a professional furnace maintenance and repair professional can certainly help.
- Winterize your A/C unit: Winterizing your A/C unit will help protect it from the winter elements, which can help you save on costly repair bills when the warm weather returns. Even though winter can feel like an eternity, summer will come again, and you’ll be happy you took the time to winterize.
- Get an HVAC tune up or inspection: Furnace manufacturers recommend an annual tune-up by a professional. Make this savvy investment and you’ll have fewer problems — and a lot less hassle in the long run.
