4 Things You Need to Enhance Your Space This Fall

There’s no better time than the start of fall--as the air starts to get crisp--to assess your living space to make sure you have everything you need to settle in and cozy up for the rest of the year. The living room is designed as a place to gather together in the coziest of spaces.

You might be surprised to find that this wasn’t always the case. In fact, the term “living room” wasn’t really used until the 1890s. This was the first time home design literature (Ladies Home Journal) began to dictate that the room should be a reflection of the personality of the designer or home owner. It was also the first time people began to see the value of living in the space (using it) and should be “lived in” as opposed to being filled with expensive furniture and rarely used.

Of course, things like paint colors, furniture, and light fixtures play a big role in the aesthetic of your living room, but no matter your style, there are four things every living room needs to raise the coziness a level or ten.

Heavy Throw Blankets

For optimal coziness, you want to look for something large enough to cover you from head to toe--meaning at least 50-by-60 inches. A tip, make sure it’s machine washable and doesn’t shed. There are a couple things to consider when choosing the perfect throw blanket for your space: softness and warmth. The softest fabrics are going to be cotton and cashmere. The warmest are wool, fleece, or faux fur.

Two super cozy and fashionable options are this faux fur ombre throw from West Elm (choose oversized) and this chunky knit blanket from Amazon.

Throw Pillows

We know you know you can never have too many pillows! But we now give you permission to go crazy! The more pillows the merrier. Layer textures, patterns, and colors for optimal aesthetics. Just be sure you have a few available that are soft enough (fabric and filling) to comfortably rest your head on during an early evening nap like these Deeland faux fur pillow covers from Amazon or this Declan leather and suede option from Birch Lane.

Candles

Nothing whispers sweater weather more than warm fall-scented candles. But when we consider how candles enhance the hibernation quotient in our home, we also want to think about how they look in the space. We recommend purchasing complimentary scents in varying shapes, sizes, and colors and displaying them in a variety of ways.

This glass jar candle from Anthropologie boasts a combination of pumpkin and sweet vanilla; balsam and cedarwood; and fig tree. Plus these multi-wick candles are great for emulating a fireplace, where there isn’t one. This harvest spice scented pillar candle from Pottery Barn does exactly what we need by providing the seasonal aromas of cinnamon, clove, allspice, and orange peel and combines a clean look with some thematic texture.

Area Rug

You may think that area rugs are only for homes with hardwood and while it’s true that an area rug can soften hard flooring, they can also be layered over carpeted spaces. No matter your flooring, rugs add texture, warmth, and color. Crate & Barrel suggests that at least the front legs of sofas and chairs should sit on the rug and there should be at least a foot of bare floor around the perimeter of the room. We recommend choosing a rug that fills most of the walking space in your room and feels soft under your feet.

This brightly colored Bungalo Rose rug from Wayfair and this geometric wool rug from West Elm are just gorgeous.

What can’t you live without in your cozy space? Let us know in the comments.