Fall into a new season at home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network

In Southwest Florida, fall is mostly unnoticed except the days slowly begin to get shorter. I think of fall as a season of hope and good things to come. It’s the hope that cooler weather is on the way in another month or so as we anxiously await that first cool evening that makes us look through our closet for a jacket and that first day when we can open all the windows.

Pick your fall color palette of yellows, oranges, greens with Pottery Barn’s faux yellow beech leaf branch. Photo: Pottery Barn

But until then, we dream of fall. And look for ways to make a few subtle changes in our homes to acknowledge the season. If you have shopped lately, you have noticed that yellow is having a moment. In fashion. Home décor. Nature.

Why?

Pretty entry brings the sunshine inside with Chestertown Buff paired with Atrium White wainscoting. Photo: Benjamin Moore

• It boosts our mood. Think about sunflowers. They are happy, warm, and optimistic.

• Muted shades of yellow are an alternative to traditional whites.

• Major fashion brands are showing a lot of yellow on runways.

• It pairs well with other colors. More on that below.

Tips for using yellow this fall

Say hello to fall with a beautiful bouquet of happy sunflowers and greens. Photo: Pottery Barn.

I always tell my Southwest Florida home interiors clients that a little yellow goes a long way. My own experience was a yellow bathroom that I loved and a beautiful muted yellow in a primary bedroom that I paired with greens and whites.

• Start small. Try yellow in accessories (lamps, mirror frame, artwork, rug, pillows, bath towels, ceramics) before repainting a room.

• Painting a room yellow. Go with a bathroom or powder room and use with a beautiful wallcovering.

• Paint the front door Benjamin Moore’s Sunny Days.

The sun is always shining with this front door in Benjamin Moore’s Sunny Days.

• Layer yellow with stronger contrasts such as dark woods to create interest.

• Go with softer, muted shades of yellows.

• My favorite Benjamin Moore yellows:

Barely Yellow, a soft, subtle. Barely-there shade with green undertones. Works well in minimalist interiors.

Man on the Moon, a pale and luminous yellow that adds a touch of sunshine to dimly lit rooms.

• And if you want to ease your way into using yellow, think about the 60-30-10 rule:

60% for the neutral color; 30% for a secondary shade and the final 10% as a pop of color such as yellow.

How to pair yellow with other colors

• Deep earth tones. Pair yellow tones with rich, grounding hues and contrasting accents to create a balanced fall palette. Warm and earthy combinations make yellow look sophisticated and seasonal.

Feel the sunshine with this HAND-PAINTED, sunflower wallcovering from Serena & Lily. Photo: Serena & Lily

• Jewel tones. Combine yellow with eggplant, burgundy or emerald to add richness to an interior.

• Neutrals. Balance yellow with soft whites, beiges, taupes and grays to let the yellow “pop.”

• Contrasts. Pair yellows with slate blue, navy or black for a modern, dramatic feel.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Fall is a time to refocus and find comfort at home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network Oct. 21, 2023

 Fall sort of slips in without a lot of fanfare and for a while, the changes are subtle. But there are so many things to love about this season and it’s important that even in Florida, we acknowledge the shift in seasons, both personally and in our homes.

 Fall reminds us that Halloween is only a couple of weeks away. We begin dreaming about cooler days. Pumpkin spice is all the rage. Farmers markets have returned. Days are getting shorter and we “fall” back on Nov. 5. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. Hurricane season ends on Nov. 30. And I won’t tell you how few days we have until Christmas!

Pretty and simple, a bouquet of sunflowers will bring a touch of fall into any home. Shown: Portside expandable beach house dining table with chairs in sage. Serena & Lily

It’s the time of year when I like to head to North Carolina. My fall memories there are very sweet and always make me think of heading to college, football, beautiful leaves and the anticipation of change. It calls to me and my heart tells me that it’s time to go look for fall. And so I do each year.

 For me, fall, even more than New Years, is a time to reset, readjust and refocus. It’s about finding thing those things that give us comfort. Just as the trees shed their beautiful leaves, we’re reminded that it’s important to let go of what no longer serves us or supports us. And that’s what fall is all about. Letting go. Hope. Comfort. Change.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the most difference when it comes to making changes to mark the coming season. Pumpkins and fall colors from Benjamin Moore. 

 As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I make homes pretty. Solve problems that bother the homeowner. Pull everything together for a calm, cohesive look. The ultimate goal: happiness when you walk in the door. And sometimes it’s the little things that make the most difference when it comes to making changes to mark the coming season. Some of my favorites include:

·       Start with a good decluttering. It will make you feel better. Say goodbye to anything that no longer makes you happy or supports your lifestyle.

·       Go to your closet, bring the long sleeves and jackets and boots to the front.

·       In the pantry, clean out all of the old spices and make room for the new as we get ready for the coming holidays.

·       Visit fall art shows and flea markets to invest in a new piece of art or an accent piece.

Fall fabric and pine cones. Photo: Kravet.

·       With shorter days, now is a good time to take a look at your lighting and perhaps add a new lamp or two. As the days become shorter, I like to add more candles in the evenings.

·       The change in seasons is a perfect time to invest in new linens, towels, throws, blankets.

·       For an outdoor space, add string lights. They are cheerful and add atmosphere to an outdoor dinner.

·       Change your fireplace mantel or tablescape with creamy neutrals accented with seasonal tones, gourds, pumpkins, leaves, baskets, accents.

·       As you spend more time outdoors, add some new pillows and throws (for chilly nights) to your chairs.  

·       Start at the front door with mums, a new welcome mat, wreath and faux pumpkins (Tip: spray paint the pumpkins to reflect your color scheme).

·       While you’re at the front door, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. Think about some yummy seasonal colors from Benjamin Moore: Peach Cider, Caramel Apple, Pumpkin Seeds, Autumn Cover and Witching Hour. For tips on painting a front door:  benjaminmoore.com/en-us/interior-exterior-paints-stains/how-to-advice/exteriors/paint-a-front-door

·       On the first cool morning: open all of the windows and let the fresh air into your home and breathe it in.

Happy fall!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog