It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. It’s time to think about fall decor. If you like to switch your interiors around with the season, then there’s no better time than now. Read on for ideas of things you can do to create a warmer ambience in your home during the cooler months.

Switch out your accessories with warmer colors. This includes pillows, curtains, throw rugs, dishes, etc. If you’ve been using a lighter palette, just stay in the same color family but go deeper in hue. Pastel blues can become royal blues. Spring greens can become hunter greens. Sunny yellows can become golden yellows. Pinks can become deeper shades of rose or burgundy. Doing this keeps the colors in your home the same, but adds the coziness we tend to gravitate toward in cooler temperatures.

If you need guidance picking colors, then just go to any paint store and find the paint strips that match your current palette. Go down one or two hues on each strip to find deeper colors to warm up your home. Take this strip with you when you go shopping for new accent pieces so that you stay within your chosen color scheme.

If your home already has these deeper hues, then you might just want to exchange your accessories with different ones to shake the decor up a bit. Switch out your photo frames or plants. Add some throws and extra pillows to your sofas and chairs. Swap out a few art pieces. For the ultimate fall ambience, light a fire in the fireplace.

There's no need to pay a lot of money for seasonal decorating. If you start collecting a few things at a time each year, you'll begin to accumulate the look you want. Watch your favorite stores for end of season closeouts. Visit thrift shops for cheap and interesting accessories. Visit your local arts and crafts store to get ideas for things that you can make yourself. If you know the colors and look you are going for, it's pretty easy to find budget-friendly deals anywhere.

If you are saving for a few bigger purchases, then begin with a few simple accents. For example, add yellow potted mums next to your fireplace, a fall wreath on the front door, pumpkins on the porch or a bowl of unshelled walnuts to your coffee table. Using scented candles in pine or cinnamon can also give your home a seasonal lift.

As you can see, it's not that difficult to transform your home with autumn touches. When you start with warming up your colors and take your time choosing the accessories, it's easy to accomplish a whole new look even on a shoestring budget. Whatever you do – have fun with it. Remember, as always, decorating should be about making your home the way you want to live!