The Whimsical Item I Hang on My Curtain Rods to Make My Home Feel Cozy

By mid-August, I find myself wishing for summer to be over and for fall to be here. I like to refer to this awkward period of seasonal transition as “hotumn” (aka hot autumn). I feel the itch for chillier weather, all things pumpkin spice, and cozy sweaters, but summer still hangs on. I could set the mood with a simmer pot, but it’s too hot to run my stovetop. Still, I’m ready to transition my space for fall.

Whenever I feel like this, I like to start to transition my space without going over-the-top. I’m not a big fan of autumn wreaths or pumpkins. They feel forced to me, especially at the beginning of the season. Instead, I lean into the natural changing textures of nature with fall herbs, flowers, and dried botanicals to give my space a fall scent and help me feel like the seasons are changing. It grounds my space with a cozy, rustic charm that’s perfect for the season — especially when I hang some some herbs from my living room curtain rod.

Unlike the jarring, sometimes artificial tones of mass-produced seasonal items, dried botanicals and flowers offer a more sophisticated range of colors, and, pressingly, refresh my space with a crisp seasonal scent. In the spring, I tend to stick to lavender, airy wildflowers, and pastel botanicals. But when fall is knocking at the door, I turn to seasonal varieties and plants whose colors scream autumn (think: fall herbs, like rosemary, sage, and thyme). Evergreen eucalyptus is also a must for its lingering, clarifying scent. To add height and movement, I reach for pampas grass, wheat stalks, and dried bunnytails. As for flowers, I stick to autumn blooms, such as mums, dahlias, asters, sunflowers, dianthus, or sedum. Sometimes, I just pick flowers in pigmented shades of oranges, crimsons, yellows, and burgundies. In some areas I use DIY dried flowers, and in others I arrange fresh bouquets. 

If you want to add a little bit more structural drama, you can tuck in an oak branch or pinecone here and there. Looking to add another olfactory layer? Tie cinnamon into your bundle! And in case you don’t want to create them yourself, you can shop for curated bundles at your local florist, on Etsy, or even on Amazon. 

I like to scatter these botanicals throughout my home; I place them in vases, Mason jars, and glass bottles, and hang others. First and foremost, I set them out in main zones: the entryway, kitchen, living room mantel, and other high-traffic areas that I pass by all day long. Because I sit at my breakfast table every day, I keep one as a centerpiece throughout the whole season. But the real magic happens when I tuck these bundles into overlooked spots — for instance, a bookshelf, windowsill, staircase banister, curtain rod, or end table. They also work wonders draped over the corner of a mirror or hanging from a coat rack. 

By embracing what nature is actually doing outside, my home warmly transitions into fall. I can honor the season, without making my space feel like the Thanksgiving aisle of a home goods store. Best of all, I can bring that autumn essence indoors as soon as I’m ready for it — no need to wait for the temperatures to drop. This alternative to traditional, artificial decor helps me ease into the new season, while slowing down to appreciate the shift.