While summer officially goes well into September, there’s something about Labour Day that signals transition – back to school, back to a routine and back to spending more time indoors. And while it is bittersweet to wave good-bye to summer, it can be fun to get the home ready for fall!

Here are our Top 10 ways to welcome fall into your home and embrace the fresh new season ahead:

Add green indoors. Bring summer into your home! Now’s the time to buy some new indoor plants and greenery. Nothing extends the season better. Fresh cut flowers are gorgeous indoors year round, but are especially lovely as the annuals in our garden start to fade.

Display nature. Beyond greenery, find other ways to add reminders of the great outdoors. How about a bowl of fresh apples or gourds? Maybe some simple twigs in a vase? Consider a piece of driftwood – it’s wonderfully evocative of the ocean and summertime.

Decorate with a trendy new colour. Some of the trendiest colours for fall are bright cobalt blue, cognac and metal grey. But don’t forget old fall favourites like burnt orange! Whether in your accessories, wall colour or furnishings, new colours inject plenty of excitement in your space

Bring on the candles. As evenings lengthen, candles add ambience and light. Have plenty on hand in many shapes and sizes. While it’s still warm, bring candles onto your patio and enjoy a glass of wine at twilight.

Add layers and texture. This is the tried and true easiest way to welcome fall. Add more cushions (perhaps in a heavier material), more substantial draperies and plush rugs to instantly make your home cozy and cool weather friendly. Place a throw across your sofa and a beautiful blanket at the base of your bed.

Don’t overlook white. It may seem counterintuitive to add white for the cooler seasons, but layers of white signify luxury and comfort – like abundant white cotton pillows on a bed, a thick ivory mohair afghan and classic white table linens.

Buy a patio heater. Extend the season and enjoy the outdoors well into fall! A patio heater makes morning coffee and late night conversations on the patio toasty warm.

Choose a new piece of furniture. Of course we can’t change our furniture with every new season, but fall is definitely the best time to add something new. Designers often introduce their new lines in the fall, so you’re bound to find something exciting. Maybe you’re in the market for a large purchase like a sofa or a bed, or maybe something smaller like an accent chair, ottoman or coffee table. Either way, explore your options as the new season starts!

Look for storage options. Autumn means organization! Source new ways to manage your family’s things – whether it’s new bookshelves, pretty bins or even a bed with built-in drawers.

Change one element in your foyer. First impressions matter! Your foyer shows your guests your style and what waits ahead in your home – make it special! With the new season, change it up. Maybe add a new hall bench (with storage!), a glamorous new chest, a new light fixture, or simply a large bouquet of fall posies.

Enjoy your fall planning – and in the meantime – get out and savour the last weeks of summer!