What Is The Perfect Cozy Interior For Fall?

SOURCE: Sotheby’s

Layering textiles and lighting, plus the rich use of color and pattern, can enhance a sense of autumnal comfort, writes Francesca Perry

It’s not just the natural landscape that transforms in fall. The changing of the seasons outside our windows is often the prompt homeowners need to switch up their interiors, too. Attention moves indoors, where hearty meals are consumed, movies watched, books read and social gatherings ignited. It’s no surprise that U.S. adults repeatedly name fall as their favorite season.

Wherever the autumnal period finds you, there are ways to style a home that maximize coziness, from textile layering to richer colors and warmer lighting. As San Francisco-based interior designer Michael Hilal says, a cozy interior is “a space that invites you to stay—to slow down, stretch out, lose track of time.”

Reflecting the hibernating tendencies of the season, soft furnishings are paramount. Curved sofas and chairs can make an ideal option, even in the sunny fall of southern California. Throughout the five-bedroom Rutherford House in Beverly Hills, for example, lounge furniture is elegantly rounded, inviting residents to sink in for the entire afternoon. 

Cooler temperatures encourage many people to layer their clothing. The same approach can be adopted for fall-friendly interiors: drape throws and blankets over sofas, chairs and beds; add tablecloths or runners to bare tables; and opt for rugs underfoot. Heavier, craft-forward fabrics are ideal to convey both luxury and comfort—think textured wool and cashmere, rather than light cottons and linens. 

“As fall arrives, we bring out our wool and mohair blankets,” say Cy and Genevieve Carter, co-founders of bicoastal interiors firm Carter Design. “We replace our summer throw rugs with sheepskins, layering them on chairs or next to beds for extra coziness.”

Traditional rugs can be seen throughout the Peary Homestead in Germantown, New York, even in the kitchen and bathroom, suiting the natural charm of this 19th-century country manor. And in an impressive mountaintop retreat in Stratton, Vermont—arguably the perfect spot to watch the fall colors unfold—large rugs offset the wooden floors, adding warmth and texture to the interior. 

Rugs are an easy way to introduce patterns, which many designers recommend for a cozy home. New York-based interior stylist Mieke ten Have advises embracing multiple busy prints, while Salt Lake City designer Shea McGee opts particularly for plaids and stripes. 

Patterned wallpaper can also bring this approach to life, with the revival of wallpaper highlighted in Houzz’s 2025 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report. In a historic canal residence in Amsterdam, colorfully patterned wallpaper, upholstery and a large rug come together in the sitting room to create an effective sense of coziness beneath the tall, beamed ceiling. 

The colors of an interior can have a big impact—and are an effective way to make a seasonal change. Rich hues such as russet, forest green, ochre, burgundy, mustard yellow and earthy browns can bring warmth in fall, while creating subliminal connections to the outdoors. This needn’t necessarily involve a repaint: seasonal hues can also be introduced through simple styling. 

“We place large bowls filled with seasonal fruit, such as pomegranates, with their beautiful blush pinks and deep burgundies, on our kitchen counter, while saffron-colored candlesticks find their way to our dining table,” say Cy and Genevieve Carter. Darker colors, too, bring drama, with deep jewel tones trending in the latest Houzz report. 

And in the same way that textiles and patterns can be layered, so can lighting. “Coziness is about building a mood—and light does most of the heavy lifting,” says Hilal. Lamps are key but you can incorporate a range of warm lighting sources: at the Peary Homestead, candles and sconces are complemented by lanterns and fireplaces, while in Vermont, a statement lighting feature above the dining table brings together dozens of tall candles.

With decorating, a more maximalist approach tends to suit the season. Consider putting collections of antiques, homeware and books on prominent display. Cabinetry and furniture can enable this— as seen in the sweeping in-built bookshelves of the Vermont property—hosting artful arrangements of belongings to perfect a comfortable, lived-in aesthetic.

This is a time to celebrate natural materials: think carved hardwood furniture, handwoven baskets, clay homeware, rough-hewn stone tabletops and wooden paneling. This brings a textured, earthy atmosphere to the interior, keeping cozy while maintaining the connection to nature outdoors. 

Finally, with fall comes an increase in indoor gatherings and festive celebrations, so think about schemes that facilitate convivial get-togethers through the grouping of furniture or features such as conversation pits—a space that invites conversation and connection is the coziest space of all. 

SOURCE: Sotheby’s