Hi Friend!
The leaves are starting to fade and fall, the garden is slowing down, and I can feel the season gently nudging me to prepare our home for the colder months ahead. This time of year always inspires me to shift into a slower rhythm — adding warmth, soft textures, and little comforts that make home feel like a retreat when the weather turns cold. Each year, we like to take a weekend (or two) to do a little “home prep” before winter really settles in. This past weekend, we started tackling some of those tasks to prepare our home and garden for the colder months ahead — and it reminded me how much it can make the season feel calmer and more intentional.
Adding Warmth
As the temperatures dip, I always start with the basics. I swap out my throw pillow covers from summer colors and textures to ones that remind me of fall. Chunky knit throws get draped on the corner of the sofa and chairs all around the house. Nothing beats curling up under a blanket when the wind is howling outside. I layer in warmth room by room – adding extra quilts and flannel sheets to our beds so we are ready for the colder nights ahead.
Clean Up Outdoor Spaces
All those comfy throw pillows and cushions that were brought out in the spring are now ready to be put away. I gather any remaining cushions and pillows from our porch and patio area and bring them inside to store for winter. Planters get emptied and stored in our barn to keep them safe from snow and ice that could cause them to crack during the winter. I remove any annual plants, while my perennials are transplanted into raised garden beds.
Create Cozy Corners
Fall and winter are all about slowing down. I love creating little cozy corners around the house — a chair by the window with a stack of books, the sofa with extra pillows and a knitted throw, or a reading nook with warm lamplight. Small touches make such a difference when you’re spending more time indoors.
Get the Fireplace (and Scents) Ready
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace or wood-burning stove like we do, we get ready for the season by stacking cord wood in the wood ring and kindling nearby so we are ready to light that first fire. For everyone else, candles and simmer pots bring that same comforting warmth. A pot of citrus, cinnamon, and cloves on the stove makes the whole house smell like winter memories.
Don’t Forget the Garden
Preparing your garden for winter is just as important as getting your home ready. After the last harvest, I like to:
- Cut back perennials and remove any spent annuals.
- Add a fresh layer of mulch to protect roots from freezing.
- Plant spring bulbs like tulips or daffodils before the ground hardens.
- Drain garden hoses and store them inside to prevent cracking.
- Clean and put away tools so they’re ready to go next spring.
If you have raised beds, covering them with fresh mulch or leaves helps insulate the soil — and makes for an easier start when planting season rolls around again.
Embrace the Slow Season
More than anything, preparing for winter is about creating comfort and embracing the slower pace that comes with it. It’s about softening your spaces, layering warmth, and tending to both your home and garden so they feel cared for through the quiet months ahead. When the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, those small moments of comfort — a glowing lamp, a tidy garden bed, a simmering pot on the stove — become the heart of home.
So take your time, settle in, and let the season unfold gently. A warm home and resting garden make winter feel not just manageable, but meaningful.
