Aurelia Butler

When the leaves shift from green to orange and you begin to pack away swimsuits in favor of chunky sweaters, it’s time to give your living room a little refresh, too. While your porch or stoop begs for pumpkins and rustic wreaths, interiors call for rich textures, saturated tones, and spicy scents that bring to mind crackling fires and freshly baked apple pies.For tips on how to bring the welcoming energy of the season into your interiors, we tapped Louisiana-based interior designer Lance Thomas. From quick and easy arrangements to plush and welcoming living room decor, each of his ideas will help you savor the season.Rotate fabrics to bring on the cozyCavan Images//Getty Images“Textures are the first thing I would swap out,” says Thomas. “Crisp and cool linen throws can be replaced with heavier cable knits and wools.”Stock up on a selection of affordable and comfy blankets in complementary colors and patterns (like solid ochre and a simple plaid) and fold them neatly in a basket by your sofa. The move adds a touch of texture without feeling weighty. Switch up your home’s signature scentWhen making a summer-to-fall transition, Thomas suggests you lean into the impact scent can have on your home. “Swap out candle fragrances seasonally,” he suggests. At this point in the year, “Sea salt candles have reached the end of their burn and it’s time to bring in muskier leather and black pepper fragrances to cozy up the space.”Bring in the colors of the season Yes, fall leaves are a trusty go-to. But they’re not your only options for color palette fodder. “This year, I’m feeling inspired by fall cocktails for my home accessories and paints,” says Thomas. “The deep, sexy red of mulled wine, golden hues of a barrel-aged whiskey, and muted green of a pear martini, to name a few.” Classics like the cinnamon and pumpkin tones of seasonal spiced lattes will also never go out of style. To add a little bit of edge, set off all those warm tones with a moody navy area rug in a plush pile, a deep velvet armchair, or an overstuffed ottoman that invites putting your feet up. Turn to dried flowers to beat any heatEva-Katalin//Getty ImagesAs a designer based in the South, Thomas understands the plight of loving fall but not actually feeling those crispy temperatures until the final days of the year. Whether you’re facing the same latitude issue, or simply experiencing an unseasonably warm October up North, Thomas suggests making the longer growing season work to your advantage. “Our location allows beautiful botanicals to extend their stay in the garden,” he says. “My go-to is saving all our fresh hydrangeas well after they have dried up and using them for fall arrangements. Dried florals are the perfect decor for getting in the autumn spirit when it still feels like summer outside.”Think outside the pumpkin patch Some people love to go all in on Halloween cobwebs and Thanksgiving cornucopias but don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to holiday themes. “Incorporate seasonal fruits, which are a bit less on the nose than a pumpkin,” suggests Thomas. Some equally festive, but more unexpected, options for living room mantles or window sills include mottled Asian pears, vibrant persimmons, dusky purple figs, and even orange and red peppers. Celebrate the seasonNatalia Ganelin//Getty ImagesWhen fall holidays do roll around, choose simple, elegant elements that remind you and your guests what the season is all about — warmth, togetherness, and appreciation for the beauty of nature.“Avoid overworking arrangements and decor,” says Thomas. “It should look effortless. Simply cut a branch, for example, and stick it in a vase of water. Show the intention, not the labor.”To make the most of this beautifully simple philosophy, seek out vases, jugs, and vessels with narrow openings, which helps hold a single branch or a few stems upright. More

Winter is right around the corner in much of the world, bringing frustratingly dry and staticky air along with it. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix: Setting up a humidifier. Whether you opt for single-room appliances or a whole-home system, humidifiers increase moisture levels in the air, making the room feel warmer and your skin feel more hydrated. To further break down the benefits of humidifiers — and explain how to get the most out of yours — we turned to YORK® Product Manager, Catherine McMurray, and Dan DiClerico, Director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.Here’s what they had to say about finding the perfect option for your space. There is an ideal humidity for health and comfort The temperature and comfort level of your home are directly affected by the amount of humidity in the air — and, although the perfect level ultimately comes down to personal preference, it typically falls between 30% and 50%, advises McMurray. For reference, she adds, “the average humidity in the Sahara Desert is 25%, while the average in the Amazon rainforest is 85%.”Finding the right balance isn’t just about making your home more comfortable. There are health issues to consider, too. “When the humidity level in your home is too high, it can lead to mold growth and other allergens,” DiClerico says. “Conversely, when the air is too dry, it can cause itchy eyes, sore throats, and cracked skin.”Insufficient humidity can also make you feel colder, tempting you to turn the thermostat higher than necessary — and leading to a higher heating bill. Not all humidifiers are created equal If the word “humidifier” brings to mind small portable units, you may be missing out the benefits of more powerful options like those from YORK®, which can help maintain a comfortable humidity level throughout your entire home. “The YORK® whole-house humidifiers tie into the home’s existing forced-air system and add moisture to the air as needed,” DiClerico says. “These systems are great because they condition the entire home, not just one room or area.”If you’re not sure if your home is compatible with this type of unit, know that YORK® offers a few different options that work in both older and newer homes. “The Whole House Bypass Humidifier relies on the furnace blower motor to send humidity out to the home, and requires a bypass duct be installed,” McMurray explains. “This style of humidifier requires that the furnace is running in order to operate.” The Whole House Fan Powered Humidifier also needs the furnace to run to push the humidity out to the home, but it has higher humidification capacity due to increased airflow from the built-in fan, and works with your home’s existing HVAC system ducting.If your home doesn’t have a furnace, McMurray suggests a Large Capacity Whole House Steam Humidifier. “These can be installed to either discharge directly into a room or to rely on an air handler blower to push the humidified air through the home,” she says. Since it has its own heating element, this model doesn’t need to rely on heat from a furnace or hot water connection. Bonus: All three of these powerful systems come with a 5-year parts limited warranty to ensure years of durability — and they’re backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal. It’s not just about humidity; air quality matters, tooBeyond installing an effective humidifier, you might want to invest in an Energy Recovery Ventilator. Often referred to as ERVs, these fresh-air exchange systems manage the transfer of heat and moisture between incoming and outgoing airstreams. That helps maintain optimal humidity levels throughout the year, while also improving indoor air quality.“Modern homes have tighter seals, which is great for efficiency but can cause the air to become stale and increase indoor air pollution,” McMurray explains. “[Having] an ERV is like opening a window, except you don’t have to wait for the perfect fall day to do so.”This system removes stale, contaminated indoor air and replaces it with fresh, conditioned, and filtered outdoor air for maximum comfort and improved health. Bottom line: Updating your home with a whole-house humidifier and fresh-air system will maximum comfort, health and efficiency not just during the winter months, but throughout the year.York Whole House Bypass HumidifierYork 18 GPD Whole House Fan Powered HumidifierYork Steam HumidifierYork Energy Recovery Ventilator More

Shelves are the unsung heroes of home design; they do it all, from showcasing treasures to corralling chaos. Whether you’re looking to maximize storage space in a city apartment, or want to proudly show off your plant collection in a spacious sunroom, adding a few shelves to any space can be a great way to declutter and bring interest to virtually every part of your home. If you’re ready to take your display game to the next level, read on for five smart — and stylish — shelving tips from Los Angeles-based interior designer Hema Persad, plus ideas for what to stock up on from The Home Depot (bonus: You can shop everything online!).Select complementary elements for a cohesive lookBy definition, shelves bring together disparate options—vases, frames, coffee table books. In order to make sure all of these items stick together, Persad has some key words of advice. “Choose a color palette and stick to it,” she says. “Choose no more than three main colors — for example black, white and green — and make sure all of the items you’re displaying fall within these color families.” You’ll get a similar effect by working within the same design references; if your style is rustic, you have a weakness for all things Mid-century Modern, or you love Art Deco, let that aesthetic guide you. That way, says Persad, “no matter what’s on each shelf, everything seems like it belongs together without looking too matchy-matchy.”Banish clutter to create more spaceWhen you’re using shelves as display space or decor similar to wall art, less is definitely more. Persad advises that wall-mounted shelves should definitely have some blank areas. “If I am styling a set of shelves, I’ll typically do one with three or four items on it, and the next one down or up might have one statement item on it,” she explains. “You have to give your eyes a chance to rest on something.” Above all, she says to listen to your own instincts. If you feel anxious when your eye lands on the shelf, it’s a sign to edit your collection. Litton Lane Multi Colored Metal Contemporary TraysCosmoLiving by Cosmopolitan Gold Metal Contemporary Geometric SculpturesLitton Lane Aluminum Gold Jacks Sculptures Artistic Weavers Serena Pink Glass Decorative VaseTurn storage containers into stylish decorIf you’ve got a lot of stuff to wrangle, “baskets and cute stacking boxes are your best friends here,” says Persad. “They can be used to corral items like photos, trinkets, or games,” reducing the amount of objects on display while still keeping all of your beloved things handy. You can also rotate souvenirs in and out of the boxes to mix up your decor when you’re ready for a change; think of your home as a gallery with seasonal “exhibits.”Trays are another fun addition to shelves — in bedrooms, use them to show off a pretty collection of perfume bottles (and keep liquids from dripping onto, and staining, your furniture). In the kitchen, arrange some of your most colorful spices on trays as art you can use. Bring your shelves to life with plantsIf you have a green thumb, shelves are an ideal way to display that plant collection. (And if you don’t have plants already, consider starting with one or two to bring greenery and oxygen into your home—or go for faux.) For maximum impact and healthy foliage, choose plants based on the shelf location. “Pothos and other trailing plants tend to do really well on shelves because they don’t need a lot of water or light, and they trail as they grow instead of getting taller,” says Persad. “If your shelf sits high on the wall and beyond arm’s reach of a window, think about going for a faux option or a succulent like a string of pearls or a small echeveria.”Peach & Pebble Tan Ceramic Planter SetNearly Natural Artificial Pothos with Decorative VaseFlora Bunda Artificial String of PearlsPeach & Pebble Ceramic Indoor Planter Plus Medium Wood Stand Save some headspace above your books and objectsWhen assembling shelving, “I leave a minimum of 16 inches between shelves, which leaves enough room for taller items. You want that variation on heights of things to add interest,” Persad explains. “If there’s not enough space between shelves, you end up with a bunch of short items which can fall flat, visually.” A certain amount of blank space serves as a frame, spotlighting the objects on display and making the whole room look more serene. More

There’s nothing like a big score — you see “the one,” place a bid and wait. After refreshing and refreshing (and refreshing some more), the auction ends and the treasure is yours. Whether you shop eBay to build your library of 1950s comic books or you’re on the hunt for more Depression-era milk glass, investing time and money in a collection of objects you love can be a hobby that sparks both joy and decorating inspiration. Your treasures should have pride of place in your home, but incorporating dozens of antique teapots seamlessly into your decor can pose a challenge.To help you parlay your collectibles into a stylish display — and give guests the pleasure of marveling at your online shopping prowess and your excellent taste in vintage movie posters — we turned to Washington-based interior designer Jessica Nelson. Here are her expert tips on how to best show off a beloved collection.Play favoritesNelson recommends starting with what you love the most. For her, that would be a collection of vintage mirrors in her hallway that she regularly updates. “It’s so fun to keep adding to this and building it out with new finds,” she says. HomeSquare Stratton Home Decor Metal Eye Wall MirrorMoe’s Home Collection Remi MirrorGDFStudio McKay Contemporary Bell Shaped Wall MirrorIf your weakness is European posters for American movies, choose the most special few pieces and hang them — nicely framed, of course — in the living room. When the mood strikes, swap out the posters so the display is always fresh. That way, you’ll get to have some of your prized possessions on display without turning your space into a poster museum. Put like items with likeOne souvenir plate from Portugal is, well, one souvenir plate from Portugal. But 10 souvenir plates from countries all over the world? That’s a collection.“Try to find something in common with the pieces — like color or texture — and display them in an interesting way,” says Nelson. “Hanging things in a group can make something feel cool and fresh.” Another method is to dedicate an entire shelf or bookcase to your treasures. For a modern look, eschew the dated glass-door cabinet and opt for open shelving. Keep the display from looking cluttered by placing items in a single row per shelf, evenly spaced. Boom! You just turned your pepper mills into artful sculptures.Bridgevine Home Fully Assembled Home Office BookcaseMoe’s Home Collection Vancouver BookshelfGDFStudio Jahzir Scandinavian Design EtagereColor coordinateAn easy, impactful way to make a small collection feel cohesive and a large one feel organized is to keep things grouped by color, says Nelson. That doesn’t mean you have to set an eBay alert exclusively for books with blue spines, of course, but arranging your vintage cookbook collection by color can be a great way to focus the eye — and help you keep track of which books you already have before you click “Buy It Now.” Take your timeCollections aren’t built all at once, even when the item you seek is in steady supply. Take jadeite, for example. It’s a highly collectible material, often seen in kitchen wares — think salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes, and cake plates in that signature shade of pale green. It’s wildly popular, and also easily accessible (there are usually more than 100,000 listings for jadeite items on eBay at any given time). But you don’t want any piece of jadeite you can find — picking the ones that are most beautiful to you, or that fit in with your current favorites, is what makes collecting fun. If your collection is getting started, says Nelson, don’t rush to fill it up. “It’s okay to build your home as you go,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be perfect or totally finished, in my opinion. Part of the beauty of the home is layering and creating spaces over time. If you think your collection isn’t ready yet, don’t let that stop you from displaying it.” More