How to Make Your Home More Inviting This Fall
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I love to have guests over to my house, and even more so in the fall. It’s such a joy to gather with friends and make them feel welcomed. I live in Colorado Springs where all of my friends except for one are “transplants,” people who have moved here from other states. Most of these friends are also newer to the area like I am and are looking for friends. With the busyness of a new season, it’s easy to get swept up in your own life and neglect others. However, I’m here to tell you that practicing hospitality is an incredible way to show you value others and to make them feel valued.
Having others over doesn’t need to be a huge, show worthy extravaganza. Heck, you don’t even have to serve dinner! A simple invite for coffee and pastries goes a long way. You also don’t have to be a veteran homemaker to show hospitality. In fact, the sooner you start, the more experience you will gain. This week, we are looking at how to make your home more inviting this fall, and I’m so excited to show you how you can easily applies these ideas into your home.
If you love this post, consider checking out some of my other content:
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FAVORITE REASONS TO LOVE FALL (2025)
USEFUL HOSTING TIPS FOR THE FALL SEASON
EASY WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME FEEL COZY DURING THE FALL
Make sure to be an inviter.
Here is my most important tip to make your home more inviting this fall: Be an inviter. Months ago, I was listening to a podcast episode which featured Sally Clarkson, who’s basically the GOAT of homemaking. The one thing I remember from the episode is that she said most people won’t get up the courage to invite others over, so we need to be the ones to do that. Going out to dinner is fun, but it’s not as personal as inviting someone over to your home. When you have someone over to your home, you get to show more of your personality, plus you save money! Most of us just want a friend, so reach out and be the one to initiate.
Tidy and declutter regularly.
To make your home more inviting this fall, be sure to tidy and declutter regularly. For homemakers, this is pretty much a given, but it can be hard to actually make it happen. We let life and its distractions get in the way and messes seem to pile up. Tidying and decluttering on a regular basis don’t have to feel taxing, though. In fact, there are so many ways you can work through avoidance and make sure you’re regularly doing these tasks. If you haven’t yet, consider taking the Clutterbug Organizing Style Quiz. You will get great insight into your organizing style. It certainly helped me! Here are some other tips to help you stay on top of decluttering and tidying.
- Place a basket in a high traffic area. Put in items that don’t have a home. Midway through the day, spend a few minutes and put those items away.
- Find creative ways to store items. Carts and cubbies can be a game changer.
- When cleaning up, start with items that are easiest to put away and require the least amount of work.
- If you see an item out of place, immediately put it away.
Clean high traffic areas before guests arrive.
Your home does not need to be spotless before guests arrive, but there is something to be said about entering a clean home. It’s more peaceful and makes guests feel more at home. Even though you are not striving for perfection, cleaning high traffic areas is one way to make your home more inviting this fall. I follow a cleaning routine, so these areas usually get cleaned throughout the week anyway. However, if you don’t currently have a cleaning routine, I recommend finding one. I’m not perfect with mine, but it’s helpful to know what needs done throughout the week.
High traffic areas you will want to consider cleaning include:
- Downstairs floors
- Guest bathroom/powder room
- Kitchen
- Living room/family room/parlor
- Downstairs hallways/entryway
- Porch
Set the mood.
One of my favorite things about fall is that it feels so cozy. Your home can easily reflect these cozy vibes. A great way to make your home more inviting this fall is to set the mood for your guests. When guests come to my home no matter what season, I want them to be in a place where they feel like they’re in a second home. I always strive for cozy vibes, whether it’s putting on some acoustic music, burning a fall-scented candle, having fluffy blankets and pillows, or setting out autumnal treats. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it reflects your personality and interests and the overall feel of your home.
Add natural or nontoxic fragrances.
I love candles, but I don’t love ones that contain toxic ingredients. Thankfully, there are now so many options that are better for you. If you don’t like scented candles, try beeswax or fully unscented. They give off such a nice glow, and beeswax candles are actually known to produce negative ions, creating a similar effect to walking barefoot in the sand. Other options include diffusing essential oils, or creating a simmer pot. Simmer pots are one of my favorite ways to impart natural fragrances into a home. They smell so good and only use edible items. Check out some options below.
It’s Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus
Have food and beverages prepared.
I think it’s reasonable to expect food and/or beverages when you go to someone’s home. Even if it’s just tea or coffee and pastries, it’s always a nice gesture to provide your guests with food and beverages when they come to visit. However, this does not mean that you are required to put on a full spread and spend hours cooking or baking. You can keep it as simple as you want to, or feel free to create a smorgasbord! Here are some ideas you can consider preparing for your guests.
- Coffee or cocoa bar
- Apple cider
- Spritzer bar
- Iced coffee
- Bagels and cream cheese
- Fall charcuterie board
- Pumpkin bread
- Pumpkin coffee cake
- Apple cake
- Pecan pie cheesecake
Create soft lighting in your home.
By now, we all know bright, blue lights are not only not good for your eyes, but they also just feel harsh and cold. One way to make your home feel more inviting this fall is to create a sense of soft lighting in your home. This can be done very simply in a few ways. The first way is to draw open your curtains and let in natural light. There is nothing more inviting than natural light. Another way is to turn off overhead lights and use standing or table lamps. Opt for incandescent lightbulbs or at least lightbulbs that are low wattage and give off a warm glow.
Keep blankets and pillows out in the open.
A great way to make your home more inviting this fall is to keep blankets and pillows where guests can easily access them. Most of us probably keep pillows on couches already, but not necessarily blankets. In the fall when the weather gets cooler, guests may want to keep warm with a blanket. It’s typical for guests to not ask if they don’t see blankets because they don’t want to impose. Keep them where guests can easily see them and make sure you invite them to use one. Check out these great blanket and storage ideas.
Snuggle Sac knit throw blanket
Add decorative touches.
While you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars or need to decorate every inch of your home, having decorative touches is a nice way to make your home more inviting this fall. Decorating doesn’t have to be expensive, and there is a lot you can do with what you already own. Here are some ideas.
- Add pumpkins to different surface areas
- Add candles throughout your house and light them for a cozy glow
- Hang up some fall kitchen towels
- Put some fall faux hydrangeas in a vase or pitcher
- Create a cozy fall kitchen vignette
- Hang a fall wreath on your front door
Greet each guest at the door.
This is a very simple way to make your home more inviting this fall, but I don’t think it can be overstated. Especially if you are hosting a group, it’s important to greet each guest as he or she enters your home. This is a way to tell them that they are important to you and that they are valued. It’s a simple gesture that goes a long way.
Make sure guests aware of where to find things.
There is nothing more awkward than hosting guests and having them aimlessly look around for something. A great hostess will make sure her guests know where to find things in her home. Think about the areas where guests will visit and interact, then make sure you mention these to guests if needed. A big one is where the bathroom is. If guests need to open doors or cabinets to find things, make sure you let them know. Since it’s fall and guests might have jackets, also take their jackets and let them know where they can find them.
Take an interest in your guests.
Hosting can be time consuming as you are juggling many different tasks at once. You have guests to greet, food to serve, and areas to keep clean and tidy while guests are in your home. However, to make your home more inviting this fall, you will want to be sure to spend time with each guest, even if it’s just for a few minutes. When I host gatherings, I often will have at least one person who comes to my home and doesn’t know anyone else. Guests who are willing to go somewhere where they don’t know anyone are courageous, because it can be stressful and there is often a risk of guests feeling lonely. After spending time with your guests, make sure you introduce them to each other and help them make connections. This will often diffuse any awkwardness or risk of guests feeling uncomfortable.
Well, friends, I hope you are enjoying fall as much as I am this year. The weather has been beautiful and I am taking part in as many fall activities as I can. I am so excited to move into hosting season, and I hope you are, too. My goal for this post is that you will walk away inspired with some different ways you can make your home more inviting this fall. Until next time, Kayla.
If you love this post, consider checking out some of my other content:
PRACTICAL TIPS TO BE A BETTER HOMEMAKER THIS FALL
INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO MAKE FALL FEEL EXTRA COZY
FAVORITE REASONS TO LOVE FALL (2025)
