Hey friends! I’m not sure how the weather is where you are, but here is the first week it’s finally cool enough to feel like fall. I don’t love the cool weather, but I do love all the pumpkins, fall candles and warmer colors.

Speaking of all things fall, today I’m excited to share a fall-inspired guest post from my friend Elizabeth! Not only is she one of the sweetest people I know, her home is also one of the coziest, most welcoming places. She is an expert on creating the perfect balance of having a well-decorated home that still gives off a “come as you are” vibe. I love going to her house for our weekly Bachelorette viewings. She has an adorable blog and Instagram called Blooming Kindly with some more great content, so make sure to follow her!

How to Welcome Fall with the 5 Senses

Fall is my favorite season. I love the cooler weather, changing leaves, seasonal flavors, and all things cozy. Now that fall is in full swing, it’s time to make the most of the season before the holidays hit. We tend to rely on decor and what we can see in our homes for each season, but there are so many more ways to fully experience each time using all of our senses. I learned so much about this from Myquillyn Smith’s book Welcome Home: A Cozy Minimalist Guide to Hosting All Year Round. I put together some of my favorite ways to celebrate fall using taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. I love that these can also turn into traditions that your family can recognize and enjoy year after year. 

Taste

• Make warm, cozy dishes for dinner. Here are some great fall recipes from Half Baked Harvest. Bring on all the soups!
• Bake seasonal pumpkin and apple treats. Here is my favorite pumpkin bread recipe!
• Heat up some apple cider with mulling spices to serve to guests.

Touch

• Add textures in knit throw blankets and pillows. These are some options from Target!
  • Chunky Chunky Cable Knit Throw Blanket
  • Boucle Windowpane Throw Blanket
  • Chenille Throw Pillow
  • Euro Boucle Decorative Throw Pillow
  • Oversize Cable Knit Design Square Pillow
  • Printed Pumpkin Lumbar Throw Pillow
• Another easy way I love to change things up for the season is with cute dish towels

See

• Add touches that reflect nature like stems, pumpkins, and colors. I love this red maple stem and oak leaf branch from local Lynchburg store Katrina and Co. Or this nandina fall stem or this hops stem from Target.
• Watch your favorite movies or shows that remind you of fall. For me that’s Harry Potter, Gilmore Girls, and You’ve Got Mail. 

Smell

• Make a simmer pot on your stove. Here are some ideas to try!
• Find a seasonal-scented hand soap for your kitchen. I love Mrs. Myers Apple Cider scent.
• Light a fall candle and enjoy the scent and warm glow.

Hear

• Have a playlist playing softly that sets a cozy mood. I like Jazz for Autumn or Autumn Acoustic on Spotify.

I hope you learned some great tips from Elizabeth on how to welcome fall into your home! I know I’m inspired to make a trip to Target and do some baking 🙂