6 Tips That Will Get Your House Fall-Ready

Get your digs just as ready for fall as you are.

By: Kayla Suazo

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We still have quite a few weeks left of warm weather, but those chilly months are right around the corner. I mean, it’s already mid-August! While the temperatures are still in the upper 80s, you can start prepping your house for the cooler season. We've got six tips that will give your house some TLC before the crisp, fall months are here.

Cozy Bedding

BPF_original_make_all_white_room_work_textured-fabric_h

Varying textures is the key not only to using white effectively, but also to packing a white-on-white room with a strong textural story. When a roomâs major focus is color, for instance in a bold red and blue room, the contrast becomes the Aha! moment of the design. Since white-on-white spaces are void of strong color, the best way to add visual interest is to ensure the space is packed with a plethora of textures. The bed-scape of this guest bedroom combines whites in many different ways; the bed pillows are ultra-white cotton, the Euro shams are made of a casual, washed beige-white linen, the accent pillow features rouged silk, the ultra-white duvet has a faint waffle pattern, and the woven throw blanket is made from yellow-white cotton.

It’s time to take out those down comforters, cotton sheets, knits and shake the dust off. Give them a good wash and store them in a convenient closet, so when the icy nights come, you’ll have your blankets ready to go. There’s nothing worse than roaming around at midnight, half asleep looking for your warmest blanket.

Tend to the Fireplace + Chimney

Cozy Gray and White Fireside Sitting Area

Brian Patrick Flynn designed this cozy sitting area with brick fireplace, modern furniture and vibrant patterned, gray-and-white wallpaper. The purple accent pillows add a fun pop of color and texture.

Ah, the fireplace. The cornerstone of family hangouts during the chilly months. For my family, there was never a fall or winter month when we weren’t around the fire at least once a day. Now is the ideal time to schedule a chimney cleaning to avoid chimney fires. Give them the love they deserve, because they’ll be working around the clock come fall!

Stock Up on Firewood

Build your own industrial style log rack

Industrial Log Rack

Create your own industrial style log rack

From: Sam Henderson

Photo by: Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

Speaking of fireplaces, now is a great time to start your firewood pile. When the winter months roll around you’ll be glad you did. Make a firewood rack outside and a carrier to transport the wood inside. Look at all that DIY-ing.

Make It: Industrial Firewood Rack + Firewood Carrier

Check the Furnace + Boiler

White gas boiler mounted in wall cupboard

Photo by: iStock/brizmaker

iStock/brizmaker

Whether you have a furnace or a boiler, it’s good to make sure everything will run smoothly this fall when the temperatures drop. Get it inspected and make sure to change the filters on a furnace regularly throughout the fall and winter. This will help keep energy costs down and wallets happy.

Plant Fall Bulbs for Spring Flowers

Planting flower bulbs (tulip) in the flower-garden in autumn

Photo by: iStock/OlgaPonomarenko

iStock/OlgaPonomarenko

There are a variety of flowers to plant in the fall that will bloom in the spring, so get some fall gardening done before the ground freezes. Consider planting these bulbs during fall for spring flowers: tulip, iris, daffodil, hyacinth and lily.

Fall + Winter Toolbox

Now is a great time to rummage through your garage or shed and get all your fall and winter tools in one, easy accessible location. Nothing is worse than trekking through the snow in search for a snow shovel.

Neat garage tools hanging on a storage rack

Photo by: iStock/jodiejohnson

iStock/jodiejohnson

For fall: leaf blower, broom, rake, gardening tools (bulb planting!)
For winter: ice scraper, ice salts, snow shovel, snow blower

Once you've rounded up all the essentials, clear out a space in the garage or shed and store them. You'll be thankful you did when the next snowstorm hits!