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Fall Decor Done Right: Achieve Cozy Elegance with Simple Styling Secrets
Design & Decor | PUBLISHED 11.07.24 | Tam Tran

As the leaves turn and temperatures cool, it is a perfect time to bring cozy fall touches into your home decor. We teamed up with Nancy Zoleta of @ahomeforkeeps to share her favorite tips for creating a warm and welcoming autumn look.
Nancy’s Fall Styling Tips
Known for her sophisticated yet comfortable style, Nancy’s fall decor ideas mix deep seasonal colors, timeless vintage pieces, and cozy textures to make every corner of your home feel inviting and stylish. Here’s how she brings the beauty of Fall indoors with ease and elegance.
1. Start with Warm Fall Colors
To set the foundation for fall, Nancy turns to rich autumn hues like rustic orange and burgundy.
“Once I choose a fall color, I bring it into throw pillows, blankets, and floral arrangements,” she says.
These warm tones add depth and can make a dramatic impact without overwhelming the space. By weaving these colors through different elements, you create a cohesive fall palette that instantly transforms any room.
dried flowers in a brass bowl, and an amber-toned glass pumpkin.
Fall-themed living room corner with floral and velvet pillows, a textured rust-colored blanket on a white sofa, and a wood coffee table. The table displays a decorative tray with a white bust statue, candles, dried flowers in a brass bowl, and a glass pumpkin.Pro Tip: Try pairing rustic orange and burgundy with neutrals for a balanced look that transitions beautifully from summer to fall.
2. Set a Cozy Fall Table
Taking inspiration from the patterns on her favorite bowls, Nancy crafts a comforting, cozy fall tablescape that feels both personal and seasonal.
If you’re unsure where to begin, follow Nancy’s approach: start with a favorite piece of dinnerware and let its colors and patterns guide your choices.
By building around this focal point, you’ll create a cohesive table setting with candles, florals, and accents that effortlessly evoke the warmth of fall.
To create a similar vibe, Nancy recommends:
- Amber Candlesticks and Black Candles:
These add a warm, moody glow. -
Fall Floral Centerpiece:
Nancy’s centerpiece, made from faux hydrangeas and cream roses in a black urn, is perfect for an autumnal table that feels elevated and seasonal.
3. Add Elegant Pumpkins and Seasonal Touches
Nothing says fall like pumpkins, but Nancy keeps it refined by choosing glass and velvet pumpkins for her side tables, giving an elegant twist to a seasonal staple.
For a more rustic vibe, she places real pumpkins on her mantel, dining table, and kitchen counters. These touches bring a lovely, understated fall vibe to every room, seamlessly blending charm with elegance.
Right: Tablescape featuring gold and black patterned plates on woven place mats. Couple of white pumpkins with one of them having a black ribbon sit around a bouquet of dried faux hydrangeas and cream roses in a black urn. Amber-hued glassware, black candles in a ribbed glass holder are placed around the flower bouquet.
Nancy’s Tip: Mix materials like glass, velvet, and real pumpkins to add visual interest without overcrowding your space.
4. Incorporate Vintage and Antique Pieces for Added Charm
Nancy’s seasonal decorating includes her beloved vintage items, which she keeps out year-round but styles differently with each season. This fall, she incorporated French-style porcelain, antique candle holders, and other timeless pieces alongside pumpkins and fall foliage. These items add warmth, personality, and a sense of history to her space, making it feel both cozy and curated.
stacked books, and a statue, with warm orange flowers in the glass vase.
Pro Tip:
Blend vintage items with seasonal accents for a look that’s uniquely yours. Nancy suggests layering in smaller decor items like faux flowers, pumpkins, and candles to bring out the character of each piece.
5. Use Warm Lighting for a Cozy Glow
Lighting can make or break the ambiance of your fall decor. Nancy recommends warm white bulbs, which add a soft glow perfect for autumn nights.
“Lighting is everything,” she says. “It makes a space feel warm and inviting.” She also uses decorative candles on tables and sideboards, choosing elegant candle stands that add both light and visual interest.
small pumpkins, including one on a cake stand.
Nancy’s Go-To: Look for lighting that complements your decor while adding a cozy touch, like warm-hued bulbs or decorative candle stands with character.
Nancy’s Top Tips for Refreshing Fall Decor
For a quick and easy fall refresh, Nancy suggests:
- Velvet Ribbons:
Tie ribbons around candlesticks, vases, or even pumpkins for an elegant pop. -
Throws and Pillows in Fall Colors:
An easy way to add warmth and texture. -
Floral Fillers:
Faux hydrangeas, branches, or berries add a natural touch to decorative bowls or trays.A lovely sideboard displays a vignette with a classical bust, vintage candelabra, and a charming floral arrangement, complete with a touch of velvet ribbon.
Black Rock Galleries Finds for Fall
Inspired by Nancy's elegant and cozy fall decor, we handpicked a curated selection of pieces from our Fine New Jersey Online Estate Auction to help you achieve the same warmth and sophistication in your own home.
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Pair of Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Five Lite Marble Candelabrum, Mounted as Table Lamps (item #: 321478)
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Hand-Knotted Serapi / Heriz Wool Area Rug (item #: 331099)
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French Transitional Style Parquetry Veneered Side Table (item #: 321488)
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Antique French Louis XVI Style Three Piece Mantle Clock and Compotes Garniture (item #: 321496)
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Vintage Set of Five Finely Carved Louis XVI Style Dining Chairs (item #: 321485)
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R. Bennington Oil on Canvas, Floral Still Life (item #: 321543)
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French Louis XV Style Fruitwood and Caned Fauteuil de Cabinet (item #: 321531)
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Set of Fifteen Tiffany & Co. 26265 9" Service Plates (item #: 331048)
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Great Mid-Century Chesterfield Style Upholstered Sofa (item #: 321483)
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Vintage Henredon Folio 10 Burl Walnut Secretary Bookcase (item #: 321528)
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Signed Carved Marble Bust (item #: 331259)
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Antique German Figured Oak Musical Mantle Clock Marked W & H (Winterhalder And Hofmeier) (item #: 331023)
From vintage French-style furniture to vintage lamps and charming antique pieces, each item reflects the timeless beauty that Nancy incorporates into her seasonal styling. These carefully chosen pieces can elevate your space, adding character and a touch of vintage charm that will carry you through the fall season and beyond.
Explore to find the perfect items that bring cozy elegance to life in your home.
It is a great time to enjoy the beauty of fall decor. Many people love to keep their autumn-themed decorations up through Thanksgiving and into the early weeks of December. This gives you more time to savor the rich, cozy tones of the season before fully transitioning to other holiday decorations.
Even if you start to introduce a few festive touches, you can easily blend fall elements with early winter or holiday decor. So, if you’re not quite ready to give up those warm fall hues and cozy textures, there’s no rush—let your fall style linger a bit longer and transition seamlessly into the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons.