Daria Orth, Staff Writer | 

When fall reaches its prime, and the leaves start transitioning from green to orange, it means some redecorating is in order. With autumn’s arrival, there’s a multitude of ways to decorate your place for the season. 

Alana Packwood, an interior designer based in the UK, has been working in the industry for over 12 years and knows all the tips and tricks to make a home feel cozy. She especially loves styling her clients’ homes with moody, gothic, and historically inspired aesthetics to transform once-regular rooms into beautiful, unique spaces. 

Colour palette 

Packwood noted that rich, dark colours are an excellent way to alter your home style. Though it’s definitely a commitment rather than a temporary change, it ensures that the place of residence has a warm harvest feel all year round. 

“The darker moodier tones create a very punchy, atmospheric kind of look, which is sort of my niche I suppose,”said Packwood in an interview. 

Deep crimson reds, dark forest greens, navy blues, and cedar browns are only a few examples of accent wall shades that are perfect for creating that dark academia fall feel. Incorporating these colours through paints is the most prominent way to achieve artistic gloom, but introducing them through objects can add a different kind of charm. 

All in the details

A lot of fall decor comes from various accessories to add to table tops and shelving units. The classic pumpkin spice scented candles or candles in general, immediately present a mysterious ambiance. Vintage lamps and other light fixtures can create a similar effect. 

“A lot of my stuff is secondhand. So if I wanted to add warmer wood tones, most of the time I would go find something secondhand or something antique,” said Packwood. “It just has a lot more character. And I think that’s what creates the cozy, more personable space.”

Replicating an autumn forest can be done by incorporating an assortment of plants around the interior. Why leave the leaves behind when they can be brought indoors?

Books and library nooks often bring an inviting fall environment, so having a book collection for reading or for visuals matches the aesthetic beautifully. Coming back to old-fashioned looking trinkets, older and rustic books can especially add an autumn charm with the dustier neutral covers and tales of classic literature. 

“You can buy the beautiful leather-bound books and then put them on your shelf and they look fabulous,” said Packwood.

She says that Home Sense is a great store for purchasing new accessories, and antique shops are fantastic for finding rare collections. 

Pumpkins are perfect for a simple autumn change in the household. They are a staple in fall decor, however they are a very seasonal item. Like the paint colours, if the end goal is to permanently keep the welcoming but moody style, selecting other natural items in their place would be the most beneficial. 

“We have a huge amount of mushroom decor at the moment. My top tip is to not make it too obvious so that you can keep it out for a bit longer than just a couple of months,” said Packwood. 

Welcoming scents

While giving your interior a fall makeover is mainly about the physical appearance, transforming the space is also about the pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon type of smells that are often associated with this time of year. 

As previously mentioned, candles are wonderful for the aesthetic and smell, but there’s also the option of aromatherapy vaporizers—which are longer lasting.

“I make my own diffuser oils, which I change depending on the season. At the moment, we’ve got a lot of things like amber and tobacco scents. But I also do a lot of baking, so I do a lot of spiced apple crumbles and cookies and things like that,” she said. 

All of the fruity and squash flavoured baked goods are a comfort food alternative to make the space smell fall coded. 

Depending on the homey design plans, these trends are inspiring ways to revamp interiors in an inviting autumn way.

“I would say for me, I like to create more classic interiors, so something that’s never gonna date.”

Daria Orth is a Staff Writer for The Reflector 2024-2025.