When it comes to updating your home going into cozy season, it's not all about the colors you pick, or the style of decor you incorporate; designers say that the key to coziness this fall is all about materials.
All cozy decorating ideas start with proper material selections. The materials you select (and the textures they create) not only impact a room's atmosphere, but also how you feel in it. I'll give you an example: imagine walking into a home with marble floors, marble walls, and plastic furniture. The space probably feels quite cold and uninviting, right? That's all because of the material choices and the lack of tactile appeal. But a room filled with layers of wood, rattan, wool, and bouclé? That instantly feels warm and welcoming.
So, when you are shopping around for those key pieces you update your home for fall, which materials should you be looking for? Here's what designers recommend.
1. Natural fibers like cashmere, wool and mohair
I think we can all agree that natural fibers are key materials in making your home more cozy any time of year. That includes cashmere, wool, mohair, and fleece – materials that are inherently soft and warm and ones that can give your home an effortlessly cozy feel.
As interior designer Nicole Cole explains, 'these natural materials are visually interesting, draw you into a space, are soft and inviting to the touch, and provide physical warmth for things like blankets and throws. The comfortable and welcoming feeling of these materials encourages people to sit, stay a while, and relax in a room.'
These are also really easy decor pieces to bring into any room. Throw a cashmere throw over a couch or at the end of a bed, bring in some soft mohair throw pillows, or hang some heavier wool drapes to keep your rooms warm and cozy.
Nothing screams comfort quite like a cashmere throw blanket. This one can keep you warm on chilly fall nights. Leave it draped across your couch when not in use to let the cozy vibes filter through your space.
Who doesn't love plaid details for fall? This pouf is complete in a rust and navy plaid pattern, and it's made from wool. It's a furnishing that will add instant warmth to a bedroom or living room
This pillow is made from the softest mohair and wool blend and promises the utmost comfort. This pillow comes in over 10 different color variations, but this terracotta brown is perfect for fall.
2. Wood
Decorating with wood is timeless, but bringing extra wooden accents into your home in the cooler months is always going to make it feel warmer and more welcoming. It's a material that many of the designers I spoke with recommended using at this time of year.
Interior designer Michael Abrams recommends keeping an eye out for wood details that can add unique textural appeal to your space. 'We’re loving fluted and decorative wood to bring warmth, coziness, and something different for fall,' he explains. 'Whether used on a feature wall or ceiling, these wooden elements help define and differentiate areas in a home, creating visual depth, texture, and architectural interest without overwhelming the design.'
It's also a good idea to consider unique wood details on furniture and decor. Take the twisted wood trend, for instance. The twist detail can add character and cozy charm to any space. Just like twisted wood, scalloped wood, carved wood, and bobbin wood furniture can add character to your home, and in turn, make the space feel warmer.
Michael mentioned how fluted wood details can make a big impact on the overall coziness of a home. This table is the perfect example. Its fluted base can add character, warmth, and a bit of textural difference to your interiors.
I'm a big fan of the scallop decor trend, especially when used on wood. It's a detail that can add charm to your interiors, regardless of how it's used. Here, scallop details complete a wall-mounted shelf and coat rack.
I've already mentioned my love of all the twisted wooden furniture that's featured in so many new fall collections this year. It just gives a simple wooden piece more interest, like this mirror that would be ideal for adding warmth to an entryway.
3. Bouclé
Bouclé is a highly debated material in interior design – some love its nubby look, but others find it's been a bit overused in recent years. However, no one deny the textural appeal of bouclé – it's soft, inviting, and a material that can definitely make your home cozier.
As designer Jennifer Lynn explains, 'people experience autumn through physical contact with its sensory elements.' Jennifer mentions bouclé as one of the materials that can instantly add warmth to a room and create a layered feel. 'Bouclé is a material that welcomes you to take your time while you settle into a comfortable position and stay for a bit.'
Just imagine yourself curled up in this chair, reading a good book on a chilly fall evening. Sounds like a dream, right? This chair's bouclé material and warm, nubby texture can ensure a soft spot to relax, in style.
If you don't have the space for more furniture, but you still want to make your home more layered, look to the small details. This bouclé pillow is effortlessly stylish – it'll add textural elegance and refined coziness to your couch this fall.
This bench makes a case for bouclé being timeless and sophisticated. From the dark wood frame to the white bouclé cushioning on the seat and arms, it's a furnishing that's elegant and sophisticated without neglecting comfort.
4. Grasscloth
You might see grasscloth wallpaper and instantly think of summertime. I certainly do – I associate this material with the warm weather season because of its frequent use in beach houses and tropical vacation hotels. However, grasscloth is a material that interior designers love because of its versatility. It can, in fact, help create a cozy fall interior.
As interior designer Marli Jones explains, 'Covering an entire room in grasscloth – this natural, textured material – softens the space and reduces the stark dominance of white drywall,' she explains. 'It can bring a subtle, organic rhythm to the space that feels lived-in yet refined, and is an approachable, budget-friendly option when considering wallcoverings for the entire room.'
And grasscloth isn't just for walls. You can find furniture and decor that's covered in this lovely textured finish too.
Although not entirely made of grasscloth, this console table features a grasscloth top surface – it adds a stylish touch of texture to the table's overall design. The textured detail tastefully complements the grain on the legs, making it a furnishing that can benefit a cozy fall interior.
Grasscloth wallpaper has been a big wallpaper trend for 2025, but it's a timeless look too, so while designers recommend it as a material for fall decorating, it's not going to date any time soon.
You certainly don't need to hang grasscloth wallpaper in every room of your home to make it feel more cozier. But because of its unique textural appeal, small grasscloth details here and there can go a long way. Try mounting artwork with a grasscloth background – it'll emit the same cozy textural aesthetic on a smaller scale.
5. Metallic accents
According to interior designer Sarah Goesling, metal accents are a material to bring into your home this fall.
'We love unconventional metal treatments for fall,' Sarah explains. 'Think etched brass, molten chrome, and reverse knurled steel, applied to door panels, lighting, and hardware. Not only does it invite a closer look and a longer touch, but the longer you have them in your home, the more customized, beautiful, and full of character they become – especially when in high-touch areas, like kitchens and bathrooms.'
This is also a really easy material to bring into your home in an instant. Look at any new fall launch and you will find something metallic – a vintage-style silver frame, a brass wall sconce, a worn gold candle holder, the options are endless and usually affordable.
Light fixtures have the capability to instantly cozy up a space. However, light fixtures made in warm metals can go the extra mile – just like this warm brass wall sconce. Its warm color and ambient light output can make any space instantly warmer.
Silver has been making a comeback this year, and as such you will find it all over the new fall 2025 collections. These beautiful silver handles look like something you could score at a vintage store and will instantly make a set of drawers look more characterful.
When I picture a cozy fall home, I immediately think of a warm and inviting living room with a roaring fireplace. But to block that fireplace, you need a screen that can add some aesthetic appeal. This one sure does the trick. It's made of steel and aluminum with a brass finish, and around its frame are vine details.
Now you know the materials that can help make your interiors more cozy for fall, but are you aware of what can make your home less cozy? Spoiler alert – material choices are a key factor.
