It's not surprising that interior designers love updating their homes in honor of the start of a new season. That said, these changes should be intentional, explains Jennifer Baxter, founder of Baxter Hill Interiors. "Seasonal updates should feel purposeful, not performative," she says. "The best changes to make are the ones you actually use, need, or delight in."
Here, designers share five areas of the home that always deserve a bit of a seasonal switch-up and provide tips on how to do it in a sophisticated—not cheesy—way.
The Living Room
As a new season arrives, use this as an opportunity to switch out your living room pillows, suggests Liz Kirby, founder of Surf Road Interiors. "I'll keep in mind current trends, and replace bright summery pillows with warm autumn tones in the fall," she says, citing cranberry, olive green, and navy blue as her go-to picks for the cold-weather months and pastels as a top choice come springtime.
The Powder Room
The powder room—a "typically small but often heavily trafficked space," according to designer Katie Wolf—is an easy area of the home to update as the seasons change. Wolf likes to refresh the powder bath by bringing in a new hand soap, a fluffy hand towel, some paper guest towels, and fresh flowers.
It's easy to go season-specific while still keeping this space looking tasteful and elegant, not chaotic. Try a peppermint hand soap and red and green striped towel in December, for example. As Baxter says, "Don’t add bulky seasonal items that create more clutter than joy."
The Bedroom
Updating your sleep space for a new season can be as simple as swapping out your bedding, says interior designer Laura Benson. She will bring in darker, printed sheets for the fall and winter, and then switch to lighter and brighter sheets in the summer.
Don't just tackle your bedding, though; pay attention to your floors, too. "I love layering a rug over carpet for extra warmth underfoot," interior designer Mara Silber says regarding winter decor updates. "It adds both visual and physical comfort and is a simple change that makes the entire room feel more inviting and layered."
Consider swapping out accessories as you wish, too, adds Margie Kaercher, founder of Hearth & Honey Homes. "Maybe it’s switching out the artwork above your bed or mixing up the lampshade from time to time," she says. "It's like a seasonal mood swing—but cute."
The Dining Room
The dining room deserves plenty of seasonal touches, Kelly Collier-Clark explains. "The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the dining room is the pulse," says the founder of House of Clark Interiors. "If it’s designed for entertaining with festive decor for the respective seasons, it creates a more inviting, welcoming feeling for the family and guests."
Practice the art of switching up your tablescape, as designer Courtney Aleksa did in the space shown above. "Each season provides opportunities to incorporate new colors, textures, and prints," she says.
Better yet, swapping out your table decor is an excellent tactic for small space dwellers and those with larger homes alike, as it's easy to store seasonal linens and small decorative items in a bin when they're not in use. "Use runners or placemats switched out seasonally," says interior designer Kelley Kolettis. "The centerpiece is a great way to update the whole room instantly with each season or holiday!"
The Front Porch and Entryway
The front porch is your home's chance to make a first impression and is a fun spot to jazz up as the seasons change. "Lean heavily on natural elements," instructs Julie Mishler, founder of Bon Air Studio, who likes to display potted plants, pumpkins, wreaths, dried flowers, and the like, depending on the time of year.
No front porch? No problem. Extend the concept of making a strong first impression to your home's entryway. "The great thing about refreshing the entryway is that it normally doesn't take more than a few pieces to give this space a whole new look," says Esther Ellard, founder of Effortless Designs. You can still spruce up this area of the home with greenery and natural items, as the designer recommends, while also being thoughtful when it comes to your traditional decorative items.
"Switch out table decor like decorative books that reflect the season and bowls and vases that are light and textured (or dark and moody) depending on the season," Ellard says.
Chandler Hammons, founder of Chandler Helms Designs, agrees with both of these approaches. "Refreshing your porch and entryway is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting first impression," she says. "Simple updates like seasonal potted flowers, fresh landscaping, or a new centerpiece on your entry table can instantly brighten the space for you and your guests, without the need for a full renovation."
Read more at Real Simple
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