Give Your Hot-Climate Home a Fall Feel
If soaring temperatures are putting a damper on your fall decorating, try these lighter takes on autumn style
A friend of mine who lives in south Florida joked recently that she had to travel to her hometown in Georgia to remind herself that it's the middle of autumn. Fall is her favorite season, but the things she loves most about it, such as hot cocoa, toasty fires and apple picking, aren't really feasible when the temperature is pushing 90. I can empathize — I know how much I'd miss settling in with a mug of cinnamon-laced cider or watching the leaves take on a spectrum of jewel-like colors. (Don't feel too sorry for her, though; she'll be hanging out on the beach when the rest of us are shivering in our sweaters.)
In honor of her and all the rest of the Houzzers who crave a hint of fall in a hot climate, I've gathered a few ideas for bringing that cozy touch to your home. And I'd love to hear how you celebrate autumn in your own warm-weather way. Share your thoughts in the Comments!
In honor of her and all the rest of the Houzzers who crave a hint of fall in a hot climate, I've gathered a few ideas for bringing that cozy touch to your home. And I'd love to hear how you celebrate autumn in your own warm-weather way. Share your thoughts in the Comments!
This outdoor fireplace provides the sense of a hearth without heating up the house in steamy weather. S'mores, anyone?
Create a Spot for Getting Cozy
Suspended from chains, this outdoor bed combines the breezy comfort of a hammock with the cuddle-up style of a cushioned chaise. The persimmon-orange fabric adds a nice autumnal note.
Suspended from chains, this outdoor bed combines the breezy comfort of a hammock with the cuddle-up style of a cushioned chaise. The persimmon-orange fabric adds a nice autumnal note.
The view features Pacific waves and coconut palms rather than brilliant red maples and snowy pines. But this window seat still calls out for an afternoon with a good book and a cup of something hot (or an apple-cider slushie, if you prefer).
We're used to seeing mosquito netting draped around canopy beds in humid climates, but try a more substantial fabric for a truly enveloping feel.
Drape a Throw or Two
Whereas you might reach for a tartan blanket or hand-knit afghan in colder climates, a lightweight throw in a fall color adds a little touch of the season, even if the weather is better suited for shorts and bare feet.
Whereas you might reach for a tartan blanket or hand-knit afghan in colder climates, a lightweight throw in a fall color adds a little touch of the season, even if the weather is better suited for shorts and bare feet.
A sweater-style blanket adds a snuggly note to a comfortable chair.
Mix in Autumnal Hues
If you can't get to New England for leaf season this year, fake it with color. This bathroom feels like a giant cup of spiced cider (that's the name of the paint, in fact).
If you can't get to New England for leaf season this year, fake it with color. This bathroom feels like a giant cup of spiced cider (that's the name of the paint, in fact).
Rusty orange-red poppies dance across this bedroom's wallpaper. Throw in the chocolate-brown sheets, and you have a palette reminiscent of pumpkin pie and molasses.
Sprinkle in Classic Cool-Weather Accents
An antique scraped cider barrel doubles as an end table in this space. You could also keep an eye out for cider presses, firewood baskets and other finds.
An antique scraped cider barrel doubles as an end table in this space. You could also keep an eye out for cider presses, firewood baskets and other finds.
What announces fall more clearly than pumpkins? Even if your landscape is dotted with lemon trees and bougainvillea, don't miss the chance to pile pumpkins on your front porch. If you can get them, try albino versions such as these, which have a crisper and cooler feel than the traditional orange type.
Stock up on apples, another of autumn's greatest treasures. Mass them in a grouping of vessels, tuck them along bookshelves, pile them in a woven basket or arrange a few on a pretty tray.
This lovely arrangement features kumquats, a fresh way to add a shot of fall color.
They're every bit as welcoming on the shoreline as they are at a mountain cabin or ski chalet. Pillows in autumn-leaf colors warm up the seaside palette.