Bring Autumn's Warmth Into Your Home

The weather outside is getting colder, but inside we can gain a sense of warmth and coziness by using the right accessories. Most of us can't afford the money or the time to do a full makeover of our homes for every season, but we can change some of the decorations and accessories to give the rooms a warmer feel.

Light
As the seasons change, we have less daylight and more hours of darkness. Change lampshades from white to cream, sand or even red. Use full spectrum light bulbs for a warmer, more flattering light. Use candles, singly or in groupings, to warm the atmosphere. Bring some light into your home with miniature white lights. Highlight a mirror or glass cabinet where the lights reflect back more light than they have on their own. Do you have a glass topped end table or coffee table? Arrange the lights under the glass, tape in place, to achieve a soft glow. Top with a tablecloth of a light, sheer fabric. Use enough lights that the room can be lit with only these lights for a soft serene ambiance.

Craft Project
Use a quart canning jar or mayonnaise jar. Put a layer of your favorite potpourri in the bottom. Using a 100 light strand of white lights, carefully stuff the entire string (except the plug end) into the jar, filling any empty spaces with more potpourri. Run the cord out of the top, leaving enough to reach a nearby outlet or an extension cord. Use a doily or cut a circle from a piece of material. If you want to add a lace trim this is nice, too. Put the circle over the top of the jar, attaché with a rubber band or tie in place with yarn or ribbon. Place on an end table, plug in, and you get a soft light that will warm the potpourri so that it gives off a delightful fragrance.

Texture
Heavier fabrics and textures help warm a room in the same way open airiness cools it in summer. Use wool and velvet throw pillows. Buy a fake fur throw for a luxurious feeling. Arrange a wool throw over a chair, hang an heirloom quilt on the wall, use a lightweight quilt or tapestry as a tablecloth. A stack of quilts make a decorator accent and can be used to wrap up in on those cold evenings in front of the fireplace.

Craft Project
Patchwork Lampshade
Add a warm glow to a room by using warm autumn colors from fabric scraps to make this stained glass look lampshade.

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