This Designer-Approved Fall Color Palette Will Make Autumn Decorating a Breeze

Fall is (hopefully!) fast approaching, and you might feel the urge to pull out your cozy decor. The bowl of seashells on your coffee table could easily be swapped out for a bowl of pinecone potpourri. However, you may want to do more than focus on fall tablescapes, pumpkin DIYs or cozy throw blankets — including thinking about new upholstery, fresh and dried florals, outdoor accents, and maybe even the paint on your walls. 

That’s where a custom fall color palette comes in handy. Fall is often seen as a season of change: a new school year, a major wardrobe transition, and a chance to bring the outside in through a whole new lens. Many may associate vibrant orange and red hues with autumnal colors, but when you think about it, there’s a range of colors that create the dense, rich shades you see outside as the leaves begin to fall.

Which colors best represent the magic that cooling temperatures bring to our landscapes? I spoke with two designers to understand which shades make a home look and feel autumnal so that you can start planning your seasonal decor. Keep reading to learn designers’ takes on a fall color palette. 

When I envision a fall color palette, my mind immediately jumps to snug oranges and mustards. That definitely can be the case, but interior designer Samantha Heyl, of New York-based Samantha Heyl Studio, made me think twice. 

“The palette can be warm or cool, but fall colors for me have a certain depth and complexity,” Heyl explains. “I try to avoid anything themed and gravitate more to colors I see and experience in nature — a lot of rich earth tones that bring warmth and comfort to balance the shift into cooler temperatures.” 

Atlanta and New York-based Atelier Davis’ principal designer Jessica Davis agrees. She specifies that the fall-themed shades she most often likes to use include “terracotta, rust, burnt umber, and ochre, along with green tones like forest green; basically, anything evocative of fall foliage.” 

If you’re planning to head to the stores soon or rifle through your decor, it’s helpful to have a list of designer-approved fall-themed colors on hand: 

• Terracotta
• Rust
• Burnt Umber
• Ochre
• Forest Green
• Aubergine
• Dark Indigo
• Olive
• Sage
• Burnt Sienna

While paint is a more permanent way to make your home feel autumnal and “level up your space,” as Heyl puts it (one of Davis’s favorites is Benjamin Moore’s Grazing Fawn), you can also look to more budget-friendly and time-sensitive solutions. Textiles, such as accent pillows, linens, and curtains, along with local flowers in a fall color scheme, offer two less expensive ways to incorporate a fall color palette in your home.

Similar to Heyl’s suggestion of adding textiles, Davis recommends layering in textures on top of incorporating specific colors. “Try adding textured cotton accent pillows, cozy throws, or cotton knit rugs in rich autumn shades to add warmth and depth to the room,” Davis suggests. “You can also hang cotton textiles on the wall to introduce interesting textures.”

If you want to start with one room, Davis says it should be your dining room. You can use “crisp place mats, soft cotton table runners, and napkins in earthy fall hues” to make the space feel cozy. “Don’t hesitate to use fall colors year-round; they can look fantastic on larger statement pieces like a cotton velvet sofa to add a cozy yet elevated feel to your home,” she adds. 

If all of this romanticizing of a fall color palette is making you want to bring out (or shop for!) autumnal decor, consider these tips from Heyl and Davis on curating the coziest space. 

Davis says to bring out “comfortable fabrics in rich hues,” like flannel sheets or cotton knit throws and pillows (she also suggests hanging curtains that extend to the floor to add warmth). Heyl agrees, adding that you should work in “natural elements or items that have personal meaning to you, whether it’s family heirlooms or [even] rocks you’ve collected over the years.” 

“Incorporate lighting that gives you more capabilities,” Heyl explains. “Smart bulbs are one of the easiest ways to do this, and it allows more control over color temperature and dimmer options to create a warmer atmosphere.” Davis suggests another way to brighten up your space: Add colorful cotton with a nubby texture and incorporate gorgeous fall foliage. 

Fall foliage doesn’t mean orange, yellow, or deep red florals in a typical vase. While you can (and should!) traditionally display them, you can also get creative with your fall decorating ideas. For example, instead of florals, opt for wooded stems (like something you’d find in a forest!). Additionally, if you have a fireplace mantel, that’s the best place to display a fall-themed garland, think: pumpkins, dried leaves, and florals.