As we start to wave goodbye to summer, I find myself more and more excited to start my annual fall movie marathon. There’s nothing more comforting than snuggling up on a miserably rainy day with your favorite movie world unfolding in front of you – aside from recreating those cozy interiors in your own home, of course.
I’ve long tried to capture that instantly inviting warmth of the best movie interiors, but my attempts have often fallen flat. So to help inspire my own fall decor ideas, I turned to interior designers to share design secrets they’ve stolen from their favorite fall movies.
Here, they share four iconic fall movies and how they have shaped the way they approach seasonal decorating to help us all decorate every room for fall. From the charming cottage kitchen in Practical Magic to the nostalgic, layered warmth of Nora Ephron classics, each movie offers unique ideas for colors, textures, lighting, and fall touches.
4 fall movies to inspire your fall decorating
From golden-hued park strolls to candlelit period interiors, fall films are a treasure trove of design inspiration.
Whether you’re simply adding in a new rug or trying out a new wall color, these cinematic inspirations will help you create a space that feels as comforting, story-rich, and visually captivating as your favorite fall films.
1. Practical Magic
(Image credit: Alamy / Practical Magic (1998))
Designer Melissa Oholendt, founder of Oho Interiors, says she wouldn’t be a child of the 90s without loving the Owens sisters’ kitchen in Practical Magic.
‘You’ve got all the elements of a traditional kitchen (that often find their way in various forms into our designs) – the tiled range alcove, apron-front sink, the furniture piece island, the classic butcher block and a cozy neutral color palette with warm wood beams (and always, always an overflowing bowl of fruit or vegetables on the island top),’ Melissa describes.
‘Honestly, it is a classic English cottage with the nothing-is-too-precious design and nostalgia at its core.’ It feels like a space you could step into and immediately start cooking, chatting, or curling up with a cup of tea.
To translate this country kitchen style in your own home, you don’t need to set out to buy a new kitchen island or an AGA cooker. Instead, think about incorporating a few new touches like open shelving for your favorite dishes, rustic wooden chopping boards, and earthenware vases and bowls filled with seasonal blooms or fruit for a cozy kitchen look that casts a spell this fall.
As simple as it might sound, a trio of wooden cutting boards does wonders for adding natural warmth and texture to your kitchen counter. Plus, they’re functional too.
Ceramic Cauldron Decorative Object
I couldn’t pen an ode to Practical Magic without including a cauldron. Elevate your Halloween decorating ideas with this ceramic cauldron finished with 22k gold luster from Anthropologie.
Salt and Pepper Crank Grinder Copper Finish
The Owens sisters’ kitchen is filled with copper pots and vintage accents. To add your own touch of copper, pick up these grinders from Joanna Gaines’ Heath & Hand™ with Magnolia collaboration at Target.
2. Nora Ephron’s entire works
(Image credit: Alamy / When Harry Met Sally (1989))
Nora Ephron’s films capture the essence of fall like no one else. There’s a softness to the light, a romantic glow to every street and window, and a feeling that even the smallest moments of the day – like taking a stroll, making coffee, or opening a book – are all the more magical.
‘When I think of autumn films, I always come back to that scene in When Harry Met Sally where they walk through a golden Central Park,’ says designer Lauren Gilberthrope. ‘Fall on screen so often captures a feeling of warmth and intimacy that translates beautifully into interiors.’
‘Layered textiles, wool throws, and the glow of a fire all evoke that sense of comfort as the nights draw in. Translating those ideas into the home can be as simple as filling shelves with books and collected objects, adding a plaid blanket or a richly patterned rug, and creating pools of soft light with table or floor lamps,’ she advises. ‘These small gestures bring a cinematic quality to a room and make it feel instantly more inviting.’
‘There’s a Nora Ephron kind of fall, when light softens through the windows and the smallest rituals feel like their own love story,’ adds designer Kara Childress. ‘I love designing bathrooms with that spirit in mind, layering stone, timber, and soft textures that bring warmth to the everyday. True luxury is found in the comforts that nurture and restore, turning daily routines into moments of pure magic.’
Floral Earthenware Dinner Plate
Whether for serving up comforting meals a la Julie & Julia or for hanging on the wall like in Meg Ryan’s apartment in You’ve Got Mail, these pretty brown floral plates from Zara Home can be bought as one or a set.
Have you heard of a bookshelf light before? This slender yet weighty marble lamp slots in between the books on your shelf to add a warm glow and some enviable bookshelf wealth style.
Maisie Velvet Floral Lumbar Pillow
Upgrade your summer floral pillows for something cozier, like this velvet pillow from Anthropologie. Its soft orange tone gives nod to the falling leaves and will warm up your cozy reading nook.
3. The Summer I Turned Pretty
(Image credit: Erika Doss / Prime Video)
While it’s a summer story at heart (and technically a TV show), The Summer I Turned Pretty offers design inspiration that’s perfect for autumn too – warm, layered, and beautifully lived-in.
‘I recently did this video on The Summer I Turned Pretty beach house, which is a perfect example of how film sets capture that warm, lived-in feeling,’ says Kailee Blalock of House of Hive Design Co. In her video, Kailee explains how the home has ‘elements of cottagecore, traditionalism, and Americana style. I kind of like to think of it as the Nancy Meyers aesthetic meets coastal. What’s magical about this house is how palatable it is – it gives a sense of childhood home nostalgia.’
‘Some design takeaways: don’t be afraid to layer patterned furniture, use more than one type of drapery in a room, and mix in heirloom pieces that tell a story,’ she suggests. ‘Slipcovered furniture also plays a huge role; it instantly makes a house feel approachable and homey. These film-inspired interiors tap into our sense of nostalgia, which is exactly what makes them so inviting.’
Consider adding some thrifted vintage furniture, wall panelling to add dimension, hanging your favorite plates on the wall, rattan pieces for warmth and texture, and piling up your bed with mixed patterns, and completing the look with a bed skirt.
Striped Cotton Farmhouse Bedskirt
Make your bed like Belly with this farmhouse-style bedskirt that adds a casual look, a pop of print, and grounding color to your bedscape. The ticking stripe keeps it feeling fresh while the moody color is great for fall.
The warmth of rattan is always welcome in the winter months, and this one is super unique. Made to mimic Neoclassical designs, it has a familiar urn shape and brings texture to a neutral scheme.
Sweater Knit Cream White Throw Blanket
Whether your home is by the seaside or resides in the city, you’re going to want a super soft throw blanket to cuddle up with. Especially for watching fall movie reruns. This one has been designed to mimic your favorite sweater with a wide stitched border.
4. Little Women
(Image credit: Alamy / Little Women (1994))
‘There’s a reason autumn films feel so cozy: they’re steeped in texture, warmth, and mood, offering endless inspiration for your own home,’ says designer Nina Lichtenstein. ‘I’m always inspired by the flickering candlelit interiors of Little Women.’
‘Fall color schemes are a natural place to start to evoke this look. Rich ambers, burnt oranges, deep burgundies, and mossy greens evoke that unmistakable autumnal glow on screen. Layering these shades in rugs, throw blankets, and accent walls instantly lends your home a cinematic warmth.’
‘Texture is another key element. Tactile items like chunky knit throws, patchwork quilts, rustic wood tables, and soft wool rugs make a movie set feel inviting and lived-in. Mixing these textures creates depth and a sense of comfort that mirrors the on-screen magic.’
‘Don’t overlook the power of lighting,’ she adds. In fall films, soft, diffused light from lamps, sconces, or a fireplace often defines the mood. Recreate this effect with warm-hued bulbs, layered lighting, or even a statement candle display to evoke that cozy, storybook feeling.’
Give the look of a traditional English cottage bedroom with this green floral patchwork quilt. It has been made in India using 100% cotton and celebrates early American patchwork motifs.
Mia Etched Brass Wall Sconce
While we might be blessed with electricity, unlike the March sisters in Little Women, modern spaces will always benefit from the glow of candlelight. Made with an antique brass finish, this intricate sconce has enduring appeal.
Complete the look with a rustic side table, like this solid pine one that is perfect for housing books, a mug of hot tea, and a little lamp next to your favorite chair. It has been made with turned wooden legs and lacquered for protection.
Across all these films, the common thread is warmth, texture, and personality. ‘By borrowing from your favorite fall films, you can turn your home into a space that feels as comforting, layered, and visually captivating as the scenes you love to watch, making every corner worthy of its own close-up,’ adds Nina.