Home Sweet Lake House
Celebrating the Season with Autumn Decor
When Veronique Rouleau and her husband first bought their lake house, they had to make DIY updates in stages—but the cozy results were worth the wait. “We did not have the budget to renovate all at once or to hire anyone, so we tackled project after project until every room in the house was complete,” she explains. The full-time working mom and visual storyteller calls the style of her home “very cottage,” and come fall, she leans into the style with decorative accents that speak to the season.
Rouleau shares some tips from her creative approach to all those lovely layers. “Bring the outside in with dried flowers, leaves, and mums,” she says. “I also love using the lush greenery from the summer on my fall porch. This can add a fresh and vibrant touch to your home decor. As we transition into fall, coziness and textures become key elements. Think about incorporating warm blankets, soft pillows, and textured rugs to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.”
For her fall palette, Rouleau takes cues from nature with deeper shades like red, orange, brown, and mustard yellow. “I look at the colors we have outside the home and bring those same colors inside,” she explains. When it comes to materials and textural elements, various accents set a seasonal tone, such as wood, foliage, copper, baskets, and candles for mood.
Elements such as autumnal containers and wreaths at the front entrance or fall flourishes—like a hand towel with a leaf motif and a glass vessel filled with foliage—in the primary bedroom and bathroom connect the lake house to the scenic landscape beyond. Rouleau tweaks these seasonal pieces each year for a fresh perspective.
If you want to celebrate the season in your own home, Rouleau has some suggestions. “Don’t go to the store and buy all the fall trinkets and fake-looking decor,” she says. “Instead, invest in a few quality things you can reuse every year and then use things from outside. I dry a lot of my hydrangeas and use that. My friend has deep-pink [hydrangeas] that I love using, too.”
Even a minor refresh can have an impact. “Some fall throw blankets and throw pillows can change a room completely,” adds Rouleau. “[Candles and] a few baskets with some wood can add such a coziness to any room.”
/ Written by Jeanine Matlow
Photography provided by Veronique Rouleau / @homesweetlakehouse
Themed table settings can elevate special occasions. “We do try and entertain at Thanksgiving if we get the chance,” she says. “I love making fall tablescapes; they are so fun to make. Again, I use a lot of natural elements on my table and a lot of candles.”
From florals to pumpkins, Rouleau supplements natural elements with artificial selections. “I prefer real, but I do have a few faux pumpkins I use in my decor,” she explains. “Same with the florals; I will only use faux if they are good quality and look real.”
These seasonal embellishments make it easy to embrace fall without spending a fortune. “Be creative! Also, check out the thrift stores! I have my eye open all year long for fall decor when I hit the thrift stores. You would be surprised what you can find,” says Rouleau. “Don’t be shy to bring elements from nature inside the home. … I love matching the inside with the outside.”
Amazon Faves
Veronique Rouleau shares her top home finds on Amazon. Check out her Instagram for links to the frequently updated product list!
