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Fall is here. Why not bring the season inside?

Fall is here. Why not bring the season inside?

By KIM ANDERSON

Date published: 9/28/2003

By KIM ANDERSON

The leaves are changing. The days are getting shorter, the weather crisper. Fall is here.

To reflect the changing season in your home, design experts recommend bringing some of the outside in.

Anjela Eubank, design consultant with Changing Spaces in Spotsylvania County, said fall is a natural time for people to turn their attention back to the home.

Gardens are going dormant. Children are back in school. The holidays are just around the corner.

"The fall brings time to go back into the house and get it ready for the holidays," Eubank said.

Eubank had several small suggestions that could have a big impact.

She advised decorating tabletops and dressers with natural materials such as pomegranates, ornamental gourds and pinecones.

Eubank suggested putting anything away that looks summery, such as shell collections and straw items.

Swap out sisal rugs for wool area rugs, she said. Replace summery baskets with earth-toned vases or ceramic pottery filled with eucalyptus or evergreens, she said.

Accessorize sofas and chairs with pillow in richer textures and colors, she said. For example, consider deep browns and plums-both big colors for the fall. Consider pillows and throws in velvet, suede and chenille.

For the dining room, Eubank recommends replacing your current centerpiece with one filled with seasonal fruits, such as apples or pears.

Use pillar-style candles in various heights on the table, she said. Bring out metals, such as pewter, silver or brass to add texture and shine to the table.

Also update the fireplace mantel, Eubank said. If you have a painting hanging over the mantel now, replace it with a mirror, she said. Don't crowd the mantel with a lot of little pieces, she said.

Of course, homeowners shouldn't neglect the outside of their home.

Potted chrysanthemums and pansies are popular options, said a sales employee at Roxbury Farm & Garden Center in Fredericksburg. Corn stalks, ornamental gourds and kale and cabbages are also popular, she said.

Corn stalks can be tied to porch railings. Small hay bales can hold collections of pumpkins, ornamental corn and potted lettuces.

Several Web sites also offer tips and advice for fall decorating. For example, about.com's decorating site has several suggestions for fall centerpieces and door decorations.

They recommend using preserved fall leaves, twigs, and pumpkins in fall decorations. These items can be arranged in bowls, or along tabletops and dresses, the Web site advised.

To find about.com's fall decorating tips, go to interiordec.about.com. Then click on "Autumn ideas and projects."

To reach KIM ANDERSON: 540/374-5434 kanderson@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 9/28/2003