The chill in the air and the fresh fallen leaves call us to take a breath and realize another season is upon us. Fall is a season of comfort and warmth. It is a season when we spend a little more time indoors. We enjoy bringing the fall season and all its color palette inside.

For seniors, it’s important to create a cozy, safe, and aesthetically pleasing home. But, beyond being pleasing to the eyes, decorating with seasonal decor helps us to stay connected to the world around us, especially those with cognitive decline. Bringing in cues to our environment, like seasonal decor, helps us to be aware of what is going on. For example, decorating with pumpkins and autumn-colored leaves, reminds us that it is autumn. By creating these kinds of spaces in our homes, it can lift our spirits and also remind us of past autumns, giving us moments for reminiscing.

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So, what are some fall decor ideas to use in senior homes?

Incorporate Warm Autumn Colors

• Include colors like oranges, deep reds, mustard yellows, and earthy tones. 
• Integrate colors through couch pillows, throws, fun table runners, and table placemats.

Use Seasonal Nature-Inspired Decor

• Use wreaths to hang on a door and use dried flowers or leaves in vases on a table.
• Use pinecones, pumpkins, and gourds to set on a table or around the house. If small enough, you can add these to a basket or wooden tray to set on a table. Take a walk to find pinecones in the neighborhood or find scented ones here.

Cozy Comforts

• Pillows, lap blankets, in warm, soft textures like fleece or knit are nice to have in living areas. Throw blankets like this one adds a lot of charm, but also adds a bit of visual appeal and stimulation. (You can point out things from the pictures on the throw and talk about them-kind of like conversation starters and reminiscing.)
• Fall scented items like potpourri can come in scents of cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin spice. These cute mini pumpkins look great in a wooden bowl.

Include Personalized Touches

• Crafts that are handmade can add personal touches to a home. Encourage family members to create seasonal decorations such as paper garlands or painted pumpkins. Encourage children in the family to color fall pictures to give to a grandparent.
• Create photo displays and rotate seasonal family photos, perhaps from past fall outings or holidays. Use botanical photo frames to display photos.
• Use decorative chalkboards or notice boards with Fall activities and decorations to remind seniors of appointments or daily tasks.

Bring the Outdoors Inside

• Create a window garden with fall flowers like mums or herbs. Plant them in new fall planters.
• Add fall themed window decorations like suncatchers, wind chimes, or wind spinners.
• Open curtains for natural light and to see the visiting birds that visit during the fall months. Add a bird feeder you can see from a window.

Creating Activity Spaces with Fall Activities

• You can create activity spaces anywhere in your home. These spaces are great for adding seasonal activities.
• Set up a table with a Fall jigsaw puzzle.
• Set activity puzzles, such as fall word searches on an end table in a living room.
• Set up a craft area on a table with things like fall coloring pages and colored pencils to color anytime. These activity spaces are also great for the grandkids who come to visit who want to join in on the fun!
• Set some Autumn Reminiscing & Conversation Cards in a basket on a living room or dining table and reminisce about past fall seasons.

Decorating for fall can be a fun joint endeavor between a senior and their family or caregiver or those in senior homes. Plan and take time to decorate but also enjoy the decorations daily. Point out different fall things like pumpkins and ask if they have ever grown pumpkins in a garden. Make a fall craft that you can also enjoy. Invite children over to make crafts or color in pages as well.

Doing small things can make the home a reflection of warmth, nostalgia, and comfort for the fall season and can make a big difference in their living space and home.

Need more Fall Inspiration? Check out this Etsy Fall Decor Essentials List