Interior Design - The Five-Minute Fall Makeover

J.West September 2006 Newsletter


The Five-Minute Fall Makeover

Last week, I overheard a woman say, “The kids are back in school, summer is history, and suddenly the house feels empty!” If that describes your feelings, you’re not alone! This month, we are taking a look at what I call “The Five Minute Fall Makeover.” These are three simple, inexpensive changes that can make your home feel fresh and ready for the new season.

Look Down. Do you have seasonally appropriate rugs? Whether you have hardwood floors or wall-to-wall carpet, rugs add character and serve an important function. They anchor your furniture, provide clear focal points for seating, and establish traffic patterns for your daily activities. Several of my clients roll up their rugs for the summer because they prefer the crisp feeling of a bare floor during hotter months. Now is the time to bring them out again! Just avoid using too many rugs. The idea is to complement your flooring, not entirely hide it.

Add Life. Now that you have your floor covered (no pun intended!), take a few minutes to add life to your room. You can do that literally by adding plants. All interiors, from the most traditional to contemporary, can benefit from greenery. The quickest, most high-impact way accomplish this is to simply add a potted tree to soften a neglected corner. However, I urge you to be more creative. Think about the changing season and incorporate some fall floral arrangements (see this month’s Ask J.West.)

Work those baskets. The natural textures of baskets are a great way to connect with nature and inspire feelings of an autumn harvest. Instead of placing baskets haphazardly in a room, really make them work for you. For instance, a few small, rectangular baskets in the kitchen can conceal your car keys, toothpicks, and other small items. Use a larger basket with a lid to hide cell phone chargers, headsets, and remote controls. In the family room, consider a flat basket that is wide enough to hold two stacks of magazines side by side. It will look attractive placed on the coffee table but may also slide under the table when necessary. Recently, I saw a very clever use of a basket in a bathroom. The homeowner had turned a beautiful square basket upside down and placed a plant on it. Under the basket, she had hidden a short plunger and toilet brush! What a terrific way to conceal unsightly cleaning tools.

Each one of these ideas takes only a few minutes, but has the power to transform your room. Give them a try this weekend. I bet you’ll be amazed at the refreshing change. Still need some help with your makeover? Feel free to call us. Our experienced team has many ideas that will make you home look beautiful and feel exciting again.


Ask J.West


Dear J. West,
I just purchased some beautiful mums. I usually place a few pots on my porch each fall. This year, I would like some ideas for indoors too. Sincerely, Sue S.

Dear Sue,
Because the use of Chrysanthemums is very traditional in the fall, it is fun to display them in untraditional ways. Fill a wide, shallow bowl with water and cut the flower stems just long enough to touch the bottom of the bowl. Fill the entire surface with these short stems, allowing the blooms to rest on top of the water. The effect is breathtaking. For an even easier display, treat your mums like a more expensive bouquet. Gather a bunch in your hand and tie them near the top with raffia or a ribbon, then place them in a simple vase along with some brilliantly colored fall leaves. Next month, get rid of the vase and use a pumpkin. Just hollow out the pumpkin, place a jar of water inside, and fill it with mums!