As I’m writing this in August, I’m thinking about when this will come out and I’m looking forward to the crisp clean air of fall. We had some extra hot days of summer this year, at least I thought so. Many days the cooler that I took in the car for in between appointments, just didn’t stay cool. But hopefully as you’re reading this, maybe you’re enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and looking for ways to bring the outside in and feel the change of season.
The fall is a wonderful time for us to enjoy here in Las Vegas. We may not have the beautiful changing of the leaves, like other parts of the country, although a short trip to Mt. Charleston can put you in the mood, but you can give your home that fall feeling with just a few simple decorating touches.
I mention the changing of the leaves because growing up in New York that was a special time where we use to make a yearly pilgrimage to Vermont or New Hampshire for a weekend. You had to make your reservations months in advance and hope that you timed it just right to see the most stunning colors on the trees. Even now when I think of fall, I’m reminded of the beautiful colors that Mother Nature creates for us. No matter what your color scheme is, you can incorporate brick and fire red, burnt orange, yellow and/or gold that you see when nature changes the leaves from green to brown into your home with fall accents. If your colors are blue and yellow, add some burnt orange candles or a throw. How about plum and green? Adding gold will give your colors a rich holiday feel and red will give them an extra punch of unexpected color. If you have all neutrals, add some of each for a wonderful warm and cozy feel. Pillows are great inexpensive accessories that can bring in a lot of color and make a room more comfy.
The colors of fall are all warm tones, which will give your home that welcoming and comfortable feel. Funny that nature picked those colors for us as we enter our cooler season. Just like the colors we have around us in the summer are cooler colors of grass green and water blues. I guess Mother Nature knows what she’s doing. 
Take an afternoon and rearrange your furniture. If you have a fireplace, change the direction of your sofa and place it facing the fireplace so that you can sit there and enjoy it. Or, bring in your small table and chairs that have been out on the back patio and place them front of the fireplace. If they are not decorative, dress them up with a table cloth and quick slipcovers. Take the time and sit there in the morning with your coffee instead of, at the kitchen table. Another favorite of mine by a fireplace is two comfortable chairs with an ottoman. Even though we’re in Las Vegas, turn those fireplaces on and sit in front of them to relax with a cup of coffee or glass of wine, even if it is for a few minutes. Take the time to de-stress from the day and enjoy your home.
Even though we bear some 100+ days in the summer, we are fortunate to be able to enjoy our outdoor living areas all through fall and into the winter. So make those areas comfortable and inviting. Add some cushions and pillows to your seating to make them more comfortable and warm. Pull out the throws and keep a couple for outside. If you don’t have an outdoor fireplace, look into making a small fire pit or even group together a bunch of candles to give a warm and romantic glow.
Have fun and transform your Powder Bath into a fall mountain retreat. Add some fall colored hand towels to your existing towels and tie with raffia and tuck in some twigs. Place cinnamon potpourri in a wooden or rustic basket. You can find some great baskets at the craft stores. I like the ones that look like apple barrels, as they remind me when we went apple picking at my Aunt’s farm. Place a garland of fall leaves around your mirror to dress it up.
On your front door hang a wreath of fall flowers and change out your door mat. Change out the flowers in your pots to marigolds in yellow and orange or my favorite, red geraniums. If you don’t have a green thumb, purchase artificial plants and place in your outdoor containers. I place them in foam, but then add dirt to the top instead of green moss because it gives them a real appearance. Also, make sure you purchase real looking flowers and ones that grow in nature in the color you’re buying.
Spruce up your plants and add some fall color with preserved leaves, berries, and pine cones. Warp the containers with fall themed fabrics, tie with a wonderful wired ribbon and place a grouping of a couple small pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, and evergreen around the container.
The fall is a beautiful time of year here so take some time to bring the outdoors in and spend some time falling in love with your home again.