The seasons bring changing moods, needs, and feelings. Scents, sounds, and colours shift, the sun’s hue warms and cools, and the air feels different. Embracing the unique beauty of the seasons allows us to experience them more deeply, and find purpose and pleasure in each.
And while the best way to truly feel the seasons is to head outdoors, you can reflect the energy within your home, too. With just a few simple seasonal decor swaps, your space can exist in perfect harmony with all the wonderful changes happening outside.
Even better is that freshening up your decor season to season doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg, or take up much room in the attic. The devil is in the details and just a few clever touches throughout your home can make a world of difference.
From fresh spring colours to cosy autumn vibes and sparkling festive touches, here are 10 easy decor swaps to take you through the seasons.
1. Change your textiles
Throw pillows, cushions, table linens, blankets, and throws are easily stored, affordable items that can bring an immediate sense of season to your home. A few well-chosen blankets and cushion covers can easily fold away in a cupboard until it’s their time to shine.
Colour, texture, and function all come into play when choosing each season’s look. For example, fresh, pastel-coloured linens and cottons are perfect to usher in springtime – picture them billowing on the clothesline on a sunny spring day. Spring is also about growth and blossom, and floral patterns are a lovely way to reflect this indoors. In summer, breathable natural fabrics in bright colours or bold patterns can also work well.
Come autumn, everything can start getting chunkier, thicker, and cosier. Think cable knits, faux furs, and velvets – or, if you want to be extra cosy, Dreamland does a wonderful faux fur electric blanket that’s perfect on couches and beds. If you love autumnal colours, you’ll be in your element with rusts and greens, too, but any deep tones can bring warmth and work throughout winter, too.
Come December, try not to shy away from festive reds, greens, sparkles and Christmas motifs if these appeal to you – check out John Lewis’ range of charming Christmas decor for inspiration.
2. Update your rugs
A carefully selected rug can tie your room together and evoke the perfect ambience for each season. Rugs are easy enough to store, though understandably you may not want to change them four times a year so this tip won’t be for everyone!
The trick is to choose statement rugs. A beautiful Christmas runner like this one by Next for the hallway, for example. Or a plush and cosy high-pile rug can make your winter living room wonderfully snug.
These can later make way for bolder patterns when the days get warmer and brighter, or a natural hand-woven jute rug in spring and summer – Oliver Bonas has one we love.
3. Swap your wreaths by season
They’re not just for Christmas – a wreath is always a beautiful addition to your home. With so many fantastic wreaths out there to suit all budgets, you can easily have a seasonal wreath ready to adorn your door year-round.
If you’re creative and enjoy an art project, wreaths are something you can try to make yourself. There are lots of great wreath-making tutorials online (we love Martha Stewart’s) and you can easily find the flowers and leaves you need outside, or buy a kit with everything you need; the Flower Boutique do fabulous kits for all seasons. Best of all about making your wreath is how delighted you’ll be to see your handiwork hanging proudly on the door.
Choose spring blossoms and wildflowers in spring, lavender is wonderful for summer, and move towards rustic vibes in autumn and winter – think pine cones, berries, and even some holiday decorations.
4. Bring the seasons inside
Bringing fresh seasonal greenery and flowers inside, whether from your garden or the supermarket, is a wonderful way to embrace the season’s natural offerings.
Daffodils, daisies, and tulips will make your home feel fresh and ready for longer brighter days in spring. Sunflowers are abundant and a joy to have around the house in late summer and early autumn. Lots of lush plantlife that feels a little tropical (think orchids, freesia, and anthuriums) can also add some summer to your indoor living space.
As the season turns to autumn, dried flowers and pampas or pussy willow bring a beautiful and muted sense of things slowing down. And, in winter, pine or holly and mistletoe are the perfect festive mood setters, as are beautiful, deep red poinsettias.
5. Switch out your artwork
Some people can feel a little resistant to this one because they love the art they have and don’t want to change it or don’t feel they have enough pieces to swap out seasonally.
But if you relish the change, or you simply don’t have the wall space to hang all of the pieces you’ve collected at once, seasonal swap-outs are a great way to keep your space fresh and give all of your art its time on the wall.
Spring and summer is a time to showcase your brighter pieces; art that shows flowers, summer scenes and stunning landscapes. In winter, try hanging art with darker, warmer tones, a rustic feel, or nighttime and winter scenes.
6. Introduce themes
Introducing a theme for each season can bring your home to life. Though, you don’t have to go overboard with this. Too much and you risk the novelty wearing off but a few accents and details can make all the difference to your house, no matter the season.
For example, spring might be all about birds or cherry blossoms. In summer, a tropical, beach/seashell or nautical vibe can make the most of bright, long days.
Autumn is a theme unto itself, and you can bring so much rustic beauty to your home with a few simple touches. A food-inspired theme could lend way to ornamental pumpkins and cinnamon-scented candles. And, of course, snowy or Christmas themes will work well in winter – white furry rugs and blankets can help create a winter wonderland while Christmas decks can add warmth and sparkle.
7. Fill your home with seasonal scents
One of the most powerful and evocative ways to convey a sense of seasonality in your home is through the fragrances you use. Just as the air smells and feels different depending on what time of year you step outside your door, it can smell and feel different inside, too.
Flowers are always a great way to bring beautiful fragrance into your home, but you can also swap out your scented candles, potpourri, and reed diffusers to suit the time of year. In spring, Lilac, lemon, linen, rose, and gardenia will set a fresh and floral ambience. Try some bolder scents for summer like orange blossom, jasmine, or citronella.
Autumn can be a little spicier and muskier; think cedarwood and cinnamon, sandalwood and bergamot. And, in winter, black cherry and plum set a warm and cosy ambience, as do cloves and ginger – or you could take a tip from the three wise men with frankincense and myrrh. The M&S mandarin, clove and cinnamon botanical candle is a real winter favourite here at Rest Less.
8. Dress your bed for the season
Dressing your bed for the season is a quick, easy way to completely alter how your bedroom looks and feels the moment you walk into it. If your bedroom is fairly neutral, you can have some fun and allow your bed – already the focal point of a bedroom – to make a seasonal statement.
As with the rest of the textiles in your home, you’ll naturally want to lean towards fresher, brighter colours and lighter fabric weights in spring and summer. Keep cool with cotton, and look at patterns featuring birds, blossoms, and other delicate and pretty illustrations – Laura Ashley is always a good place to find these. Pastel and light colours bring a wonderful air of peace and freshness to a spring or summer bedroom.
Autumn bedding can be spectacular, particularly with richer fabrics – rusts and ochres in a sateen fabric are just beautiful. Look for woodland scenes and deep greens, which feel inviting and warm, and it’s also time to introduce some layers.
Throughout winter, it’s all about being cosy and warm – a faux fur throw on the bed looks fantastic and will keep you toasty on cold nights too. For more inspiration, check out our article: 5 ways to make your bed look and feel more luxurious.
9. Change up your shades
A few key lamps and lights in your home can cast a whole new seasonal glow with a change of shade at the right time of year. A cream or neutral lampshade in the living room can be swapped out for something deep and warm when the evenings get darker, or a statement hallway light shade can set a seasonal ambience the moment you walk through your front door.
Wayfair and Next are great for finding attractive and atmospheric shades at an affordable price. You can play with texture here, too. Velvets and satins in winter could give way to bamboo or beading when springtime comes. With the right shades, you’ll love the difference in light and mood that a simple swap brings to a room.
10. Make some moves
A changing season is a great reason to move some furniture around for a fresh feeling – especially if you have to make room for a Christmas tree anyway! You might like to make the most of the light in spring and summer, with a reading chair close to the windows. In winter, that same chair might find its way to the fireside, with a chunky blanket draped across it.
You might prefer your bed closer to an open window in summer, too, or positioned so that a higher, earlier sun isn’t waking you up earlier than you’d like. Choices like these are very personal, so take time to notice how the light works in your home and how you can make the most of it.
You don’t have to do anything dramatic. But a few small moves can make a big difference, and help set a seasonal tone that reflects throughout the rest of the decor.
Final thoughts…
The seasons are important, not only to nature and wildlife but also to us as human beings. They are part of our internal clock and tell us when it’s time to work, rest, celebrate, and grow. And while your four walls may fundamentally stay the same throughout those seasons, that doesn’t mean your decor has to.
Embracing the uniqueness and beauty of the seasons allows us to really feel each one, and find joy in what each brings. We hope this article has given you some inspiration for how you can incorporate seasonal joy throughout your home, and embrace each chapter of your year.
Do you like to match your home to the seasons? What do you think of our suggestions? If you have tried any of these or have an idea you’d like to share, please let us know in the comments below.