The arrival of autumn is the moment of the year when we love to embrace the ease and comfortable feeling of being at home. The colorful hues on the horizon are simply at peak perfection. And the crisp, cool days bring sweater weather, cozy fireside moments, leaf peeping and foliage hikes, apples, hearty soups, and pumpkin treats.

October marks a turning inward as the colors change and we shift our mindset from the carefree spontaneity of summer to embracing warmth, shelter, traditions, and connection. We look for inspiration in our fall family favorites and seasonal rituals. Above all, we look forward to taking the time to slow down and savor the simple autumnal pleasures of nature’s bounty and to share moments of joy with our loved ones.

A Fall Refresh

Autumn Style Edit — A change in seasons is the ideal time to edit our personal style and home spaces, and this year we’re all about effortless classics. We’ve found that fall styling, both for the home and for ourselves, starts with foundational basics—a tailored blazer, a great pair of jeans, a butter-soft cashmere sweater, the perfect trench coat, an oversized cardigan to layer over a dress or silky long skirt… Paring down is the secret, focusing on timeless pieces that are versatile and a snap to accessorize—like a beautiful scarf, a new pair of boots, or a pop of fall color with cute Mary Janes, a statement jacket, or a new leather bag.

Our Tip: A seasonal wardrobe change is the perfect opportunity to organize our closets. We know, it’s nobody’s favorite task… but it’s SO worth it! Take out what you no longer wear (and remember to donate gently worn items) and categorize and arrange your closet by color. We find this quite therapeutic, actually, in addition to making your closet pleasing to the eye —and finding what you’re looking for when getting dressed becomes much easier. Achieving simplicity through organizing, removing clutter, and going back to basics offers us a refreshing start—the cozy, welcoming feeling that autumn brings. 

These concepts also apply when designing our fall living spaces, where we love to pair down to basics then add a layer of warmth and texture. Start by removing any clutter. Next, take inventory of what you have—now look at repurposing elements of design that you like to keep—sometimes relocating or incorporating a piece from one space to another can bring a whole new look to a room. Now to refresh! Select a new paint color or wall paper, replace an area rug, update artwork, or add a new mirror. We like to incorporate seasonal elements: an earth-tones vase, new faux stems, scented candles, textured linens and soft throw blankets—all of these go a long way to capturing that fall vibe and filling your home with an inviting feeling for the cozy gatherings ahead. 

Make Fall Plans

October Outings —  This month, especially in New England, is the peak for leaf peeping, apple picking, autumn picnics, pumpkin carving, hay rides, and so much more. Be sure to get out and enjoy this picturesque season to its fullest! Gather your family and friends for a nature hike to enjoy the beautiful foliage. A little reminder to think ahead if you plan to send a holiday card with a family photo—there is no better moment for capturing magic moments with loved ones than autumn’s stunning backdrop. 

Starry fireside nights — Although the days are getting shorter, the longer nights are spectacular. On October 6th, the Hunter’s Moon will brighten our sky. It’s a supermoon, so called because the moon is at its closest to the earth in its slightly elliptical orbit. So grab a sweater and celebrate by hosting an outdoor fireside gathering with friends. Spruce up your outdoor space by adding details of warmth and comfort. With fall plantings in your containers, scatter soft, textured blankets around your fireplace or patio, hang string lights, and place lanterns and fall-scented candles on tables. Outdoor heaters are also a great idea if you’d like to extend your outdoor gathering time. Make an autumn-inspired cocktail (check out our epicure for a few favorites) and serve warm, festive beverages to accompany a seasonal grazing snack, cheese, and charcuterie board—all that is needed for sharing joyous moments of connection with friends and family.

It’s Game Day — Football season is a great excuse to host a tailgate party or an ideal occasion to plan a game-day gathering at home. Prepare sweet and savory snacks, picnic-style faves, a few seasonal sips, and warm homebaked treats. 

Halloween — Get into the spirit and gather at home for warm cider, homemade pizzas, and some spirited snacks and sips to welcome trick-or-treaters or just celebrate the evening with a festive farewell to the month of October! Visit our epicure for inspiration and recipes.

Focus on Wellness this Fall

Getting a good night’s rest — At plj, we focus a lot on the importance of finding balance and living a healthy lifestyle as it relates to longevity. The start of a new season reminds us to refresh our sleep schedule… Having a restful night is especially important and goes a long way to feeling refreshed and energized for the day to come. 

We’ve been doing some research on this topic, and here’s what we found. Facilitating good sleeping habits starts with a solid bedtime routine. Set a pattern so your body and mind know when it’s time to unplug. Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day. Keep the environment in your bedroom tranquil and calm—a cool temperature, dim lights, stop working and limit screen time. Exposure to blue light can overstimulate the brain at bedtime, keeping us awake. We find using essential oils to promote relaxation helpful as part of a night time routine. A few drops of lavender oil in a diffuser or a warm bath is calming—and if you don’t share our love of lavender, there are many other scents with similar properties. 

Wind down with a soothing herbal infusion (avoid caffeinated drinks late in the day or drinking too many fluids near bedtime). Soft music, meditation, reading and journaling are also helpful in promoting relaxation. Finding ways to quiet our minds is an integral part of a restful night. If you tend to lie awake or wake up thinking about something you have to do, try keeping a small notebook next to your bed and simply jot down those thoughts. Putting them to rest this way can let you get to sleep. 

Also, consider textural sensations. Wear soft, comfortable loungewear and layer soft, breathable linens on your bed. Body temperature tends to fluctuate during sleep, so be mindful of layers—make sure they can be easily added or removed. Finally, we find it helpful to keep a small tray on a nightstand or bedside table with a few bedtime essentials: a small pitcher of water with a glass, a soothing scented hand cream and/or foot lotion, lip balm, our sleep spray, and a simple bud vase with a flower (for a little extra🤍).

Autumn Design Notes

Simple, sweet fall foliage — Add brightness to your outdoor greenery with vibrant chrysanthemums, sedum, and a variety of wispy wheat grasses. Small pumpkins and gourds bring a seasonal accent to window boxes and outdoor planters. Fill your vases with a variety of dahlias, ranunculus, hydrangeas,  sunflowers, ornamental greens and branches. Incorporate woven containers, interesting vessels and elements from nature in your arrangements. The sweet, quiet simplicity of fall is just the inspiration we need for our blooming arrangements. 

Set a harvest table — Layering is key to designing an autumn table. Set the table basics and let your personal style shine in the details by incorporating fall hues, patterns, and textures with your choice of glassware, napkins, plates, and servingware. Olive wood and woven elements work well in creating warmth. Look to your outdoor space for inspiration and bring in elements of nature. Branches, greens, leaves, autumn blooms, wheat sheaves, and various ornamental pumpkins or other seasonal produce all bring a signature flare to your design. Use candles, mini lamps, and lanterns to create a relaxing and cozy ambience. Shop our home collection here for relaxed linen and cotton napkins, kitchen accessories, and olive wood tapas boards and napkin rings, along with woven accessories to compliment all your fall entertaining plans. 

Holiday Happenings — It’s that time… when suddenly it’s not too early to start organizing plans for the holiday season! Make design notes on how you’d like to decorate your home for the holidays and what type of gatherings you plan to host this year. As you transition your home to fall, envision how you can make simple edits to add a layer of holiday cheer later. Simplicity is the key to stress free design and by using natural elements as a base—like greenery and branches—it is easy to transition pumpkins and fall elements to winter garlands, wreaths and trees. 

Looking for inspiration with holiday planning and design? At partager la joie we’re here to help guide you along the way. Let us inspire you to design a gathering and holiday home that suits and showcases your style. Learn more about our personalized Inspiration Workshops.

Our Fall Finds

This month we’re highlighting our favorite basics across our collections. The season’s golden glow is on our soft but sturdy recycled Leather Everyday Tote—a classic go-to for years to come. Cozy up with our berber fleece loungewear, travel sets, and super soft Italian herringbone blankets—perfect for October’s chilly nights. Our wellness collection is full of sleep essentials. Stock up on our signature hand cream, our Calm and Relax bath and body salts and oils, and our lavender eye pillows—ideal for the relaxing fall moments we’re all after. Elevate your dining table with layers of texture this cozy season—our beautiful table linens, woven and olive wood table accessories invite warmth to our seasonal style and home. 

And if you’re ready to get a start on your holiday shopping— we’ve got adorable wool bags and pouches, super-cute winter accessories, journals and so much more, all just the right little gifts for those VIPs on your list!

Gather and Graze

Fall’s cooler temperatures inspire us to warm up and add some comfort to our menu. Autumn baking is also here and hot beverages make their cozy debut this month. Healthy and hearty home cooking is the theme for our seasonal dishes, which highlight our favorite ingredients—pumpkin, squash, apples and so much more.  Here’s a few of our favorites:

Autumn Epicure

Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding

Brown Butter Pumpkin Seed Granola

Overnight French Toast with Pears

Pumpkin Nut Milk Creamer

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Kale, Brussel Sprout, and Apple Salad

Autumn Roasted Vegetables

Pumpkin Energy Bites

Pasta e Fagioli

Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna

Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Personalized Pizzas

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Autumn Apple Cake

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Apple Cider Mimosa

What We Love Most About October

With the changing of the seasons, we can’t get enough of the contentment and cozy feeling of being home. October light is our cue to find solace in the bright beautiful days and the peaceful cool evenings that this month brings. It’s an opportunity to take comfort in the mindset that who we are is enough and that what matters most is the time we spend with the people we care about. 

Let’s focus our intentions on the simplicity of life and the joy in our everyday moments. Taking time to slow down to appreciate the beauty in harvest season reminds us to recognize the abundance in our lives and celebrate the love and connections in our families, friends, and communities. Join us in reflecting on the goodness autumn offers and looking forward to the holiday season ahead with gratitude and kindness in our hearts.