Lean into the season: Cozy fall ideas and activities

An illustration of cozy ideas and activities to make the most of fall, including lighting a fall-scented candle, buying a new or putting on an old, soft sweater; learning a new craft; making homemade soup; starting a tricky puzzle; and watching Hallmark Channel's Fall into Love event.

When fall comes around—bringing chillier days and earlier nights—the instinct to nest and rest kicks in hard and lots of folks start looking for cozy fall ideas to foster the autumnal energy that makes home a magical place to be.

Why? Because after a day full of crunchy leaves, crisp air and delicious lattes, returning to a home that continues the celebration of the season helps you make even more memories. Plus, fall-ifying your home is a fun way to express yourself.

If a fall overhaul sounds like something you’d be into, read on for cozy fall ideas related to home décor, wardrobe, recipes and more! 🍂

Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.

Fall decor ideas  

Decorating for fall doesn’t have to feel like a full-on renovation. Here are some quick and effective ways to make your home feel more in tune with the season:

Fall entertainment ideas  

One of the great things about being cozy at home is all the time you have to catch up on content and revisit fall-themed favorites. Here are some ideas to get you started on a watch list!

  • Classics: What qualifies as a classic is totally up to interpretation. Maybe you have a few favorite rom-coms or sitcoms with a fall setting, maybe you watch your Halloween movies early since you’re busy on Halloween, or maybe there’s certain not-fall-related media that you just happen to watch every fall. All are good options.
  • Fall Playlists: There are oodles of fall playlists out there with seemingly endless subcategories to choose from (witchy, ’90s, cozy, upbeat, etc.). If curating your own perfect fall playlist sounds like fun, you can get double the enjoyment from making it and listening to it.
  • Hallmark Channel: We don’t just do Christmas! Fall into Love starts in September, and you can catch movies like Autumn Dreams, Harvest Moon, Falling for Vermont and so many more. Lovely people falling in love during one of the loveliest seasons? What’s not to love?!

Fall wardrobe ideas  

The ’fits are arguably one of the most beloved aspects of fall. Whether or not anyone outside your home sees you, it feels good to style yourself for the season.

  • Sweaters: A classic fall staple you can always count on to maximize coziness levels in your heart and home. Knit them, thrift them, buy them—whichever suits you best! For folks who are sensitive about fabric, the finer the wool the less scratchy the sweater. 🧶

If it’s still too hot for sweaters: A less catchy nickname than sweater season might be flannel season! There are always some super lightweight flannels to be thrifted and, if you go a size or two up, they’ll be extra breezy while still giving you that fall look.

  • Socks: Save cold feet for your wedding day! Just kidding. But for real, don’t let your tootsies catch a chill. Whether you go fuzzy, knit or just themed, socks are a crucial factor in the equation of comfiness. 🧦 And we’ve got a pair for just about every fandom or interest imaginable.
  • Jewelry: Sometimes that little extra sparkle is all it takes to feel like you’re leaning into the season. If you’re feeling extra festive, you can try some themed dangly earrings like these or anything in your favorite fall colors. If you want extra accessories but no extra discomfort, you can opt for soft, threaded bracelets. Bonus fun if you craft your own!
  • Hats and scarves: Use fall as a chance to break outside your comfort zone in small ways that won’t break the bank with some new accessories! The cool weather makes it easier to pull off heavier (but incredibly fashionable) hat styles. You could slip on an angora beret and some big, dark sunglasses for a Parisian look. And knit beanies do wonders to pull a fall outfit together…get a few in different colors! Big scarves in bold prints or bright colors do the same. Learn how to tie them different ways for endless styling options.

Fall activity ideas  

Fall fun doesn’t just happen in the pumpkin patch. There are so many wonderful activities you can do from home while still leaning into the season.

  • Puzzles: You, PJs, a steaming mug and a fuzzy blanket, tucked at home with a jigsaw puzzle. Imagine a cozier scene…I dare you. If jigsaw puzzles aren’t your jam, you can do crossword puzzles, sudoku, word searches, etc. 🧩
  • Games: If it’s an inside day, you can always play some board games or card games with some favorite fall snacks and drinks. There are even board games and RPGs that you can play solo—so you can still get your alone time. If it’s a beautiful day outside, yard games are a must. Scavenger hunts, a few rounds of Ghosts in the Graveyard, even just telling a few riddles around the firepit (or a device with a looping fireplace video).
  • Sit fireside. Have a fireplace? Build the first fire of the season and make it a big deal. Put together a playlist, make some yummy, tummy-warming drinks and have some conversation topics handy. You could even roast marshmallows and make s’mores!
  • Crafts: You can make your own fall decor and accessories, knit some of those hats and scarves as the weather gets cooler, make fall potpourri, start a fall journal or any other crafty thing you like to do! If you want some more inspiration, we have tons of great blog posts to help.

Fall food and drink ideas  

Fall comfort food is some of the best there is. Read on for some food and drink ideas that are the crushed tortilla chips on top of any soup-filled fall day.

  • Meals: Soup, stew, chili—all are nourishing, all are delicious and all feel so fall! Plus, they all have a huge range of ingredients for different tastes and dietary needs. If you’re a soup-season enthusiast, we offer you this delicious chicken and chickpea stew. If that’s not your taste, we have so many other recipes here.
  • Drinks: Pumpkin spice lattes aren’t the only delicious drinks around to celebrate fall, though we do have a delicious recipe for them. There’s hot chocolate and mulled cider and so many other options that we wrote a whole article about hosting a fall drink bar. ☕️
  • Snacks: Whether you love it, hate it or feel completely ambivalent about it, fall is the season of football. One thing everyone can agree on loving: snacks. We have specific football food if you’re hosting the game and plenty of non-football fall snacks for other hangs.

Fall fandoms to get into  

We live in a content-dense world, so we’re all bound to be part of a few fandoms. And sometimes those fandoms fit perfectly into a particular season—the way the following do with fall.

Do it for the bit: One of the fun things about fandom is getting to make references. You can amuse yourself and connect with fellow fans by expressing your nerdiness in fall décor, clothes and more. It can be as simple as putting a bunch of rocks inside this adorable Snoopy candy dish.

  • Disney Hocus Pocus: Though it’s a decidedly Halloween movie, Hocus Pocus can still play a major role in your fall season as a whole. After all, you’re going to spend many days drinking cozy drinks like mulled wine or warm apple cider—you might as well do so in our new cauldron mug and contour glass set. Add the ambient light of this witchy water globe and your fall is set.

Ideas for if you kind of hate fall  

There are all kinds of reasons fall might not be your favorite. Maybe you have seasonal affective disorder, allergies or even grief surrounding the season—all of which are extremely valid reasons to struggle with enjoying yourself this time of year. Read on for a few ideas that could help make the season easier on you.

  • Seasonal affective disorder: We are not mental health professionals, so first on this list is to speak with someone who is—particularly if your symptoms are severe and interfering with daily functioning. If you feel functional but still in need of a boost, most articles agree that light is your best friend. Sitting by windows to soak in sunlight, going for more walks and getting a UV lamp are all great options. Cheesy as it may sound, keeping a gratitude journal can also help with difficult feelings (during every season). And we can definitely help with supplying those!
  • Allergies: I was the kid who regularly had to leave to get Benadryl during class and bring an emergency med bag to every sleepover, so I used to kind of hate fall. Then I moved and my allergies got a little better. If you can’t up and move, there are still things that can help! Once again, seeing a medical professional is #1. If you already have that checked off and have some medications or natural remedies that help you, great! We have a few extra tips, particularly around décor. First, beeswax candles. Multiple articles can vouch for how beeswax candles are great for folks with allergies. Some say they purify the air, some say they just don’t release nasty toxins into the air—pretty much all agree they’re a great option. Second—and this one’s annoying—dust and vacuum more. Sorryyy. 🧡
  • Grief: A lost loved one can make it hard to enjoy fall. Even if they didn’t pass away during fall, there are a lot of big holidays in the works that can make you miss them even more than you already did. It might help to be intentional about remembering them so that the memories don’t feel like they sneak up on you. Maybe that looks like dedicating a spot in your home to them and the things they loved, reminiscing with other loved ones at a time you all agree on or writing about them to get your feelings and memories on paper. If you’re feeling like you need more guidance, grief counselors and support groups are a wonderful resource.

 

We hope these ideas help you lean into the fall season in the perfect way for you. Please feel free to tag us if you share your cozy fall spaces, creations and activities online—we’d love to see them!