Interior Experts Offer Simple Autumn Home Refresh Hacks

As summer transitions to autumn, interior design experts are sharing straightforward strategies to refresh homes and create a cozier atmosphere, with potential benefits for property value. These tips range from color palette adjustments and decluttering to lighting and texture enhancements.

According to Elaine Penhaul, founder of Lemon and Lime Interiors, the period after the summer holidays is an opportune time for a home refresh. She advises shifting interiors from a summer airiness to a focus on warmth as autumn arrives. "Shifting your interiors away from the airiness we rely on in summer and prioritising warmth as we move into autumn is key before it hits the market," Penhaul stated.

Experts highlight the impact of color choices. Melanie Whetstone, an interior design expert at Get Laid Beds, suggests incorporating deeper tones like warm taupe, tobacco, olive, oxblood, rust, and chocolate brown as accents. Johanna Constantinou, an interiors expert at Tapi Carpets and Floors, recommends terracotta, citing its resemblance to changing leaves, alongside rich browns and deep greens. Looeeze Grossman, founder of The Used Kitchen Company, favors warmer, muted hues such as olive and sage greens, warm neutrals, soft browns, and deeper earthy tones. Grossman notes that repainting a kitchen could potentially add up to 5% to a home's value.

Intentional decluttering is another key recommendation. Penhaul emphasizes decluttering without sacrificing a room's identity, warning that excessive tidiness can make a space feel clinical. "A cluttered room can drastically slow down the selling process and decrease the property's value," she said. For those not planning to sell, seasonal tasks like packing away summer décor and washing stored textiles can also contribute to a fresher feel.

Refreshing windows and doors can also significantly impact a home's appeal. Penhaul suggests that repainting existing window frames, assuming the wood is in good condition, could add up to £10,000 to a property's value. A refreshed front door, especially with updated house numbers, might add between £500 and £4,000. Alternatively, updating curtains with softly textured, full-length options can visually soften a room and improve warmth, according to Melanie Whetstone.

Creating dedicated spaces, such as a reading nook in an unused corner, can add to a home's coziness. Looeeze Grossman suggests that even a small comfortable seating area in a larger kitchen can help break up the space and enhance comfort.

Adjusting lighting is also presented as a quick and effective autumnal update. Johanna Constantinou advises switching from bright, overhead lights to moodier alternatives. Melanie Whetstone recommends using multiple smaller light sources, such as table and floor lamps with warm-white bulbs, to create depth and atmosphere. Jeffrey Escobar, founder of House AI, agrees that layering lamps makes a room feel more inviting.

Painting can also significantly influence a home's saleability. According to The Paint Shed, nearly one in five buyers might be put off by the wrong color scheme. Experts advise against dramatic or overly bright feature walls, instead suggesting tonal, neutral colors. Blanca Sanchez, Director at Halo Design Interiors, adds that refreshing skirting boards, window, and door frames can sharpen a room's appearance, recommending a soft off-white over stark brilliant white.

Experts also suggest paying attention to the entryway to maintain tidiness. Johanna Constantinou recommends practical solutions like washable runners or carpet offcuts by the door, along with shoe racks, to manage mud and wet leaves.

Incorporating varied textures is highlighted as a crucial element for autumn design. Swapping lightweight summer fabrics for materials like wool, boucle, and chunky knits can add depth. The advice is to layer contrasting textures subtly, for example, pairing crisp cotton bedding with a linen bedspread and a wool throw. For harder surfaces in kitchens and bathrooms, accents of wood, linen, and woven materials can make spaces feel less clinical.

Finally, enhancing home fragrance with autumnal scents like spiced or woody aromas is suggested as a way to transform the atmosphere. Johanna Constantinou notes that swapping light citrus and floral notes for seasonal scents can create a more inviting environment without major changes.