Quick Wins: 30-Minute Autumn Updates for Any Room

As we start to say goodbye to those warmer summer months and the evenings begin to grow shorter, a lot of us begin to think about the autumnal season and cosy up our homes.

Decorating for Autumn doesn't need to be messy or expensive, nor does it need any major renovations. Instead, a few smart swaps and switches, along with some styling tricks, can give any room a seasonal overhaul in around half an hour.

Whether you want to introduce some of those warm Autumn colours, update your decor with something fresh or get the family in the mood for all of those later year activities, this guide is full of quick tips and tricks that can help you achieve this.

From swapping out lampshades to styling up your shelves, here are some instant updates that will make your home feel ready for sweater weather in no time.

Swap Your Cushion Covers

One of the easiest, and often most satisfying, updates you can make is swapping out your cushion covers. Swap out the lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton for some richer and heavier textures like velvet and wool. You should also opt for warm colours and hues like rust, olives and burgundies.

The majority of cushion covers slip on and off in an instant, and are fairly inexpensive too, with new covers costing from around £8 to £25 each. Mixing textures and patterns, think checks, herringbone, or autumn florals, creates that warm, layered effect we all crave at this time of year.

Light a Seasonal Candle (or Two)

Nothing signals the autumn months more than the flicker of a candle and the scents of spiced fruits and vanilla. Switching out those summer scents of cotton and herbs, for these latter year scents creates an instant ambience and mood in your spaces, for both fragrance and visual aesthetics.

You can group candles together in a tray or shelf, or you can opt for the larger, standalone candles. You can even pair candles with a glass holder and other ornaments to get the best visual effect. Seasonal candles typically cost between £5 and £20 each, and if you reuse your holders, you can simply replace the refills.

Update Your Lampshades

An often overlooked aspect of interior design for the changing seasons is lampshades, which have quite a big impact on the décor of a room. For the Autumn, swap out the clean and neutral tones of summer for those brighter and richer hues, like burnt orange and forest green. You should also opt for tactile fabrics like velvet, linen, or natural weaves that diffuse the light for a warm, cosy effect.

Lampshades are generally easy to fit, and many actually clip on and off, making them perfect for quick updates with no requirement for an electrician. Prices for table lamps start at around £15 and go up to around £20 to £50 for pendant and larger floor lamp shades. With just a few twists or clicks, your lighting will feel perfectly suited to the season.

Roll Out a Seasonal Rug

Much like a new lampshade or new cushions, a new rug can instantly change the look and feel of a room, and as the weather cools, it’s a great functional addition to layer up with a cosy rug that feels soft and comforting underfoot. If you already have carpet or a base rug, you can layer a smaller one on top to create a pop of colour, pattern or texture.

For this, you should opt for some autumn-friendly materials like wool and jute, and don’t be afraid to experiment with deeper colours like dark greens and navies. The majority of budget-friendly rugs can be unrolled and placed in under 30 minutes, with no measuring or tools needed. You should expect to pay between £40 and £200, depending on the size and style of the rug.

Add a Statement Art Piece

If you feel that your walls are looking a little bare or in need of a refresh, a new piece of art can create a key focal point, and break up any scarce spaces. You should choose a piece that features the essence of autumn, such as golden landscapes and abstract, warm tones. These art pieces don’t need to be expensive or rare, and you can find incredibly pieces of artwork in most homeware shops.

You can hang art quickly using command strips or swap out a frame on a picture ledge. For an even faster option, you can print your own digital artwork and pop it into an existing frame. Framed prints typically cost £15 to £60, or you can print your own for just a few pounds.

Refresh Your Bed or Sofa Throw

A new throw on your bed or sofa can make it look entirely new, and is one of the quickest ways to add a new look to your spaces. Chunky knits, fleece, flannel and brushed cotton textures all create an inviting autumnal look, and by draping a throw casually across the foot of your bed or over one corner of your sofa, you create a relaxed, lived-in feel.

For autumn, rust, mustard, olive and berry tones work beautifully, and try to look out for fringe details or subtle patterns like checks and plaids to tie the look together. Most throws can be added in under a minute and cost between £20 and £60.

Layer Up with Table Linens

Much like swapping out your cushions and throws, switching out or adding a tablecloth, runner and placemats are other great ways to introduce the autumn season into your home. You should look for light linens that feature orange and forest colours, or you can go for more earthy tones like tan and greens.

On top of this, you can add some ornaments like mini pumpkins and candles to complete the look, giving it an unmistakable autumnal look and feel. You can achieve all this for between £10 and £40.

Restyle Your Shelves

Shelves are as much decorative as they are functional, and are great ways to add some seasonal charm. You can either remove everything from the shelves and start from scratch, or simply introduce some other items to bring in the autumnal vibe.

For this, you can use natural elements like pinecones, acorns, autumn leaves or mini pumpkins alongside stacked books, amber glass bottles, and framed autumn prints. A quick restyle takes no more than half an hour and can be done without spending a penny if you forage or repurpose what you already have.

Introduce Autumnal Flowers or Foliage

Everyone loves to have fresh flowers around the house, and it’s a really impactful way of bringing Autumn indoors. Opt for flowers that have deep reds and burnt oranges, along with those that integrate yellows and purples. For dried options, look for pampas grass, wheat, eucalyptus and hydrangeas.

Pop your stems into a vase made from ceramic or terracotta and place it on your dining table, mantelpiece or hallway to create an instant impact. Supermarkets, florists and even garden centres stock seasonal bouquets from around £10, and arranging them takes less than 10 minutes.

Warm Up with New Towels

Don’t forget to refresh your bathroom while you are introducing autumn into your home. By switching out your regular towels with some that have warmer and softer tones, you can make the space feel more inviting and comforting.

Look for plush textures like moss green and cinnamon, hanging them on a door or folding them up into a wicker basket for an even greater effect. Most towel sets cost between £20 and £60 and are available from high street retailers and online shops.

Switch to Cosier Bedding

There is nothing more satisfying than lying on new bedding, especially as the months begin to grow colder. Brushed cotton duvet sets are the perfect choice for autumn to create those extra cosy nights, and by selecting sets that are autumn-inspired, you can entirely change the look and feel of the room.

Look for warm, breathable fabrics in those orange and green hues, and mix in cushions or a textured throw for a layered look. You can change over your entire bedding in under 30 minutes, and most brushed cotton sets cost between £30 and £80, depending on size.

Add Mood Lighting

As the natural light begins to grow more scarce, updating your lighting can have a massive impact on your home's ambience and decor. If you already have lamps in place, you can swap out the bulbs with amber-toned LEDs that mimic candlelight to create a calming glow in your spaces.

Another alternative is fairy lights, battery-operated lanterns and salt lamps, which all achieve quick wins for creating a cosy vibe. These can be added to sideboards, shelves, headboards or mantelpieces in just a few minutes, and prices range from £10 to £40 for these lighting options.

Updating your home doesn't need to be costly, time-consuming or difficult, and with these simple 30-minute updates, you can bring in the cosy, comforting feel of the season without turning your weekend upside down. Whether you opt for new bedding, fresh throws, beautiful artwork or anything else from this list, the small changes will build up to have a massive impact.

If you’re looking to go a little further with your autumn makeover, maybe you need help hanging shelves, installing new lighting, or putting up wallpaper, you can find trusted, local professionals at www.MyJobQuote.co.uk. Compare free quotes and let the experts handle the bigger jobs, while you enjoy all the fun of seasonal styling.

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