Seasonal plants
If you have enough foresight–and the appropriate landscaping options–edge into autumn by planting perennials around your patio: angelica, aster, and salvia are all as lovely as their names and more or less take care of themselves. To bring the season within the fold, think about incorporating dried hydrangeas onto the patio with the use of glass jars or baskets.
Invoke the harvest
Depending on the size of your seating space and how far you’re willing to go with a motif you may want to wrap yourself and your guests with traditional sights of the season. Pumpkins, gourds, and dried Indian corn not only signify fall but also provide a wonderful palette. Splashes of turned leaves can bring corners alive, or if you’re especially ambitious, fashion a fall wreath.
Fall furniture
If the gourds and pumpkins aren’t enough, a bale or two of hay not only makes the scene complete but can also function as a charmingly rustic seating arrangement. For something a little less makeshift, think of a switch to dark wood furniture, such as chairs and tables recycled from old barrels. Should switching out your furniture layout sound like too much of a hassle, you can still make a subtle shift in mood by draping your existing furniture with colorful quilts or afghans, which will warm up the eyes as well as the shoulders as the seasonal chill sets in.
Outdoor fireplace
Depending on where you live, the inclement temperatures of winter seem to set in as soon as summer comes to a close (even in the desert states, the sudden drops in temperature at sundown make the nights seem even colder). However, don’t surrender those spellbindingly moody evenings outdoors any sooner than you have to and invest in an outdoor fireplace. Of course, if you have the time and resources and brick fire pit is hard to beat, but more realistically, an easy-to-install tabletop fireplace will deliver heat efficiently, intimately, and beautifully.
Mood lighting
There’s no season when candles don’t add panache to an outdoor setting and the flicker of flames against fall hues is incredible. For an even better effect, hang candles in metal lanterns with die cut patterns to cast dramatic shadows. Any candles will do, but burgundy shades are great for fall, as are fragrances such as pine needle, fig, or pumpkin.
Fall never seems to last long enough, and in fact you may ask yourself why bother revamping your living space for such as fleeting period. Even just a few new highlights can dramatically shift the atmosphere, but after all a little work is worth it — remember you won’t be able to enjoy your outdoor space for some time.
Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from Southern California. She’s excited about the recent season change and can’t wait to incorporate fall themes into her home decor. She currently writes for Soothing Company.