The Soft Welcome Guide to Autumn Hosting 🍂

There’s something about autumn that makes me want to invite people home. Maybe it’s the cooler weather, the darker evenings, or simply wanting to stay in and get cozy.

Autumn is my absolute favorite season. Maybe I’m a little biased because I was born in autumn, but I love everything about this time of year. Autumn hosting feels like the season for lingering around the table, opening a bottle of wine, putting something warm in the middle and letting dinner stretch a little longer than planned.

And when I want to bring that feeling into my home, I start with the table.

You don’t need to completely redecorate for the season. A few small changes in color, light and atmosphere can make a home feel warmer, cozier and ready to welcome people in. 💜

Bring autumn to the table

Start with what you already have and add a few deeper, warmer colors. Think burgundy, chocolate brown, olive green, aubergine and the rusty oranges of autumn leaves.

This could be as simple as changing your napkins, adding a tablecloth or bringing out a serving bowl you haven't used in a while.

For the center of the table, I love taking inspiration from what's in season. A bowl of apples 🍎 or pears 🍐, a few little pumpkins 🎃, seasonal flowers or branches gathered into a vase can be enough.

The table doesn't need to be perfectly styled. It just needs to make people want to sit down.

Soften the light

Autumn is when I start lighting candles again.

A few tea lights on the table, smaller lamps around the room and fewer bright overhead lights can completely change the atmosphere.

Candlelight makes even the simplest dinner feel a little special.🕯️

Create an autumn atmosphere

What makes a home feel welcoming isn't only what we see.

Put on some music before everyone arrives. My penpal Danny Penev, from Dear You Mail Club, put together a September playlist that I’ve been loving and would happily recommend for an autumn evening:

Apple Music

Spotify

Yes, I know it’s October now, but I think we can let that slide since good music doesn’t really have an expiration date. 🎵

Then bring out the blankets and throws. Leave them somewhere people can actually reach them rather than neatly tucked away.

Serve something warm and simple

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons for uncomplicated hosting because the food can be so simple.

Make a pot of pumpkin or squash soup and serve it with good bread. Make pasta or risotto. Roast something and put the whole dish in the middle of the table.

Add a bottle of red wine, warm apple cider or hot chocolate later in the evening.

It doesn't have to be a dinner party. It can simply be dinner, with a few more chairs pulled up to the table.

Add one seasonal detail

You don't need pumpkins in every corner of the house.

Choose one or two things that make the season feel special to you: an autumn wreath on the door, a bouquet in deeper colors, a favorite candle, a cozy pillow or a bowl filled with whatever looked beautiful at the farmers’ market that week. 🍁

Small changes are often enough to make you notice the season without feeling like you've redecorated your entire home.

Start with what you have

The nicest thing about autumn at home isn't really the candles, flowers or blankets.

It's what they help create: a place where someone feels comfortable taking off their coat, accepting another glass of wine 🍷 and staying a little longer than they meant to.

So start with the table you already have.

Light a candle. Put something warm on the stove. Turn on some music.

And invite someone in. 💛