Almost one-third of Americans agree: fall is the best season. From cozy sweaters to pumpkin spice everything, the chill-but-not-cold season fills so many of us with pure joy.
Turns out there’s some science behind our obsession with all things autumn. Speaking to the Huffington Post, professor of sociology at Dartmouth College Kathryn Lively explains that Americans have been conditioned to love the fall season since childhood. “As children, we come to associate fall with going back to school, new school supplies, seeing friends. It’s exciting, for most. We still respond to this pattern that we experienced for eighteen years.”
Since autumn also comes with a host of holidays–Halloween, Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving (the Super Bowl for some)—we tend to associate the season with social gatherings and time with loved ones. “From a sociological lens,” says Lively, “our emotions are tied inextricably to the meaning that we make about ourselves, others, events and times of year.”
Lastly, thanks to the drop in both temperature and humidity, fall gives us a much desired reprieve from the summer heat, allowing us to pull on comfy layers, snuggle under thick blankets, and eat and drink warm foods. And since many of us are missing out on back-to-school fun and holiday togetherness, creating a cozy, inviting space is more important now than ever before.
We asked NYC-area interior designer Jennifer Muirhead for easy, affordable tips on cozying up the home for the season.
1. Throw a throw on it
The quickest way to cozy is to pull out all your softest blankets (or splurge on a few new ones this season!) and add them to every armchair and sofa. Don’t forget to fold one across the foot of each bed for the nappers in the house.
2. Cast an amber glow
Swap out any bright white light bulbs in your table lamps for ones with a softer, warmer cast. You can take this step even further by changing your lamp shades as well, too; a pretty, gathered fabric shade in a warm color like pink will create an even cozier glow.
3. Light up
Candle light is the coziest light around, so invest in some high quality, long burning ones that will last all season long. Bonus points for woody warm scent, such as Diptyque’s Feu de Bois.
4. Ready, set, fire
Be fire-ready for whenever the mood strikes. Keep dry logs stacked in the hearth and stash fatwood sticks in a pretty container nearby so that all you need to do is to strike the match.
5. Cheat sheets
Flannel bed sheets are such a treat in the chillier months, especially once they’ve been washed a few times. Cozy up and enjoy a cup of coffee in them on a lazy autumn morning.
Small changes can make for BIG cozy! What are some ways you make your home fall-ready?
Featured image: @allisoncarols