Fall 2025 Kitchen Decor & Makeover: Cozy Cottage Style for the Season
Welcome back to my Fall 2025 Home Tour! Today I’m sharing my Fall 2025 Kitchen Decor & Makeover: Cozy Cottage Style — and I couldn’t be more excited about how it all turned out. I would’ve had this post up sooner, but we were making some changes to the kitchen! New countertops, a beautiful brass faucet and sink, a fresh backsplash, and a painted island have completely transformed the space. My husband also built me the sweetest vintage-style kitchen cart that tucks under the island’s overhang and can be pulled out as an extra work surface.
I’ll be sharing all the details of the kitchen updates soon in a separate blog post, but for now, I couldn’t wait to show you how it looks decorated for fall. I also have to mention — my new pantry and baking nook turned out better than I ever dreamed! My dad came out and helped me build it in January, and it’s exactly what I’ve been envisioning for years. You may have caught a couple glimpses of it, but I have yet to share the whole proccess. That to will be coming in a blog. I’d like to say I have a favorite corner of the kitchen, but truly, every inch feels like what I’ve been dreaming of for so long.
Fall Decorating Details
Once the updates were complete, I put the finishing touches on my fall decorating. I kept things soft, warm, and cottage-inspired — with layers of creamy whites, muted rusts, and cozy natural textures. Many of the pieces will look familiar — my drop cloth pumpkins that have been part of my fall décor for years, and the textured pumpkins I painted in a recent DIY tutorial and of course my DIY fridge magnets!. Many of my pieces are reused year after year; a quick refresh with paint or a new spot to display them makes them feel brand new.
The kitchen feels collected and charming, with hints of nostalgia in every corner. From thrifted treasures to handcrafted accents, each piece feels like part of our story here at home.
Above-the-Cabinets Styling — Vaulted Side
I decorated above the cupboards again this year, and it adds so much warmth and character to the kitchen. It’s one of those spaces that truly completes the room — full of charm, texture, and those little touches that make it feel like a cozy cottage kitchen.
My favorite new additions are the pieces of vintage thrifted art displayed above the cabinets. They were a bit of an unexpected choice, but I love how they fill the space and give it that cozy fall look I was hoping for. Nestled among them are layers of pumpkins — everything from my DIY textured pumpkins to the soft drop cloth pumpkins I’ve been using for years. A sweet little fox with his bowtie adds a whimsical touch, and my repainted roosters fit right in with the warm autumn palette.
The pinecone topiaries add wonderful height and texture to the display. I love that I can use taller pieces here thanks to the vaulted ceilings in our kitchen — it lets me create layers that really draw the eye upward. In front of them, I’ve stacked a pair of antique sewing machine drawers, draped with a delicate vintage lace doilies. I’ve tucked fall florals inside and around them, adding another layer of warmth, texture, and nostalgia.
Just down from that, my wire cloches hold candles on timers that flicker on in the evenings, giving off the softest ambient glow. Behind them sits a weathered window from my grandparents’ farm — it’s been up there for years, and I simply hang a new wreath from it each season. For fall, I chose a grapevine wreath I made with coordinating florals in soft creams, faded rusts, and gentle greens to match the rest of my home’s autumn décor. Everything ties together so seamlessly, creating that cozy, collected look I love.
I love how this taller section of cabinets lets me play with height and layers. Next, we’ll move around the kitchen to the other side — where smaller vignettes and a few unexpected pieces add even more charm.
Above-the-Cabinets Styling — Around the Kitchen
On the opposite side of the kitchen, the décor continues with more of those warm, layered textures I love. This area might not have the same height as the vaulted side, but it’s packed with cozy cottage character.
One of my favorite touches here is the vintage scale, draped with a crochet doily and a pumpkin on top surrounded fall leaves. It’s such a simple piece, but it adds that perfect timeworn charm to the space.
Another unexpected favorite is a thrifted milk glass lampshade that I turned upside down and repurposed as a vase. Filled with soft fall florals, it adds just the right touch of whimsy and texture — proof that even the most ordinary finds can become something special with a little creativity. Last year I used all different sizes and displayed my drop cloth pumpkins in them.
You’ll also spot an old wire crate turned on its side, filled with vintage books, smaller décor pieces, and a vintage coffee grinder beside it. The mix of wood, metal, lace, and greenery gives this space a collected, well-loved look that ties it back to the rest of the kitchen.
As I’ve said before, I love reusing my décor from year to year — sometimes I simply move things around or give them a fresh coat of paint so they feel new again. Mixing those timeless favorites with a few new thrifted finds keeps everything feeling fresh yet familiar, perfectly cozy, and uniquely ours.
Pantry & Baking Nook
This area has quickly become one of my favorite spots to decorate — and to work in! It’s everything I’d hoped it would be. On the counter, my white pumpkin soup terrine sits, surrounded by soft autumn touches. My Spicy Floral tea towel hangs from my KitchenAid bowl, and nearby, you’ll spot my Heritage Collection canisters and cutting board, along with my DIY cookbook holder.
The butcher-block countertop and open shelving make this space feel both functional and beautiful, especially with a bit of greenery and a few collected dishes tucked in. It’s the kind of spot that makes baking days feel extra special. Be sure to keep an eye open for a blog post on our pantry/baking nook, build.
Decorating the Shelves for Fall
The open shelves in my baking area were so much fun to style this season. I carried over that same cozy cottage feel from the rest of the kitchen, layering in soft fall tones, textures, and a few of my favorite collected pieces.
On the top shelves, a mix of DIY pumpkins, floral topiaries, a dough bowl tipped on its side with fall greenery and pumpkins spilling out, and printed fall artwork creates a warm, welcoming backdrop. I love how the art adds a gentle pop of color against the white shelves.
You might recognize the hand-painted ducks from my fall gallery wall last year — I’ve brought them into the kitchen this season, and they feel right at home here. Their fall tones and vintage charm fit beautifully with the soft, cottage-style palette. Alongside them, my thrifted duck and goose that received a fresh paint makeover have become year-round favorites. I simply change out their little bowties each season, and it’s such a simple way to keep them feeling fresh and festive.
A few thrifted finds, including old books, milk glass pieces, and petite doilies, add texture and nostalgia. Small details like pinecones, dried florals, and bits of greenery tucked into bowls and pitchers make the shelves feel layered and lived-in — just the cozy, collected look I love for fall.
Behind the glass cabinet doors, you’ll find all my glass canisters filled with baking staples neatly lined up and ready for use. In amongst them, I’ve displayed a few of my grandma’s handwritten recipes, and every time I catch a glimpse of her familiar handwriting, it makes the space feel even more special. For fall, I tucked in a few pumpkin soup bowls, which add just the right seasonal touch while still feeling timeless and practical.
Plate Rail Display
On the side of my baking area, I have a plate rail that of course needs to be decorated for each season. It’s the perfect place to display the wooden cutting boards my dad has made — pieces that I now sell in the shop. My rectangle trivets fit perfectly here too, along with pretty plates I’ve picked up over time (the ones here are actually from Dollarama!).
I love layering these pieces with a bit of seasonal charm. My mom and I made these wood pumpkins together when she came out for a visit — they turned out so sweet and fit perfectly among the boards and plates. If you’d like to see them as a DIY kit or tutorial, let me know in the comments!
The little railing that keeps everything in place was a simple DIY project as well, and I’ll be sharing all the details when I post the full blog about the pantry and baking nook soon. It’s a small space, but it’s filled with meaning and creativity — just the way I love it.
Kitchen Cart Styling
This idea came together completely spur of the moment — and it couldn’t have turned out any better! We thought we were simply replacing the shelves at the end of the island with regular shelving, and this is what we came up with instead. My husband built the cart to fit perfectly under the island, and I love that it can be pulled out for extra prep space or used as a display for seasonal décor. There will be a full blog post on this project coming soon!
Right now, I’ve styled it with a white ceramic pumpkin pie plate resting on a wooden vintage riser, a few of my favorite cookbooks, and some thrifted pieces that echo the warm tones throughout the kitchen. One of my favorite details is the single corbel I thrifted and gave a makeover — it now serves as a charming bookend. In front of it, a turkey figurine sits on a thrifted doily.
On the bottom shelf, a fall vignette that includes brown transferware plates, and bowl wit a pumpkin, an amber-colored jug filled with fall florals (tied with one of my DIY leaf charms). A pot of fall florals adds softness and balance to the display, bringing the entire cart together with that collected, layered cottage look I love.
And because I always like to add a touch of practicality with a little charm, I’ve used a vintage curtain ring to drape one of my tea towels through, then hung it from the side of the cart using a simple 3M hook. It’s such an easy way to add texture and function while keeping the look soft and homey.
Desk Area
In one corner of the kitchen, my little desk area adds such warmth and charm. The thrifted goose artwork caught my eye the moment I saw it — I knew right away it would be perfect for fall. Beside it sits a petite lamp that I love to turn on first thing in the morning when I’m grabbing my first cup of coffee; it casts the softest, welcoming glow to start the day. A few seasonal florals and cozy cottage accents make this space feel so inviting, along side som eof my grandma’s old recipe books and my Magnolia ceramic tissue holder adds a pretty, practical touch that ties in beautifully with the rest of my fall décor.
Next to the desk is another great thrift find — a vintage chair with soft autumn tones in the fabric. Layered over the back is a vintage lace table runner, with one of my fall tea towels draped over the top for a soft, seasonal accent. The mix of textures adds just the right touch of charm. The chair fits perfectly into my fall décor and has turned out to be the ideal spot to hold my basket of freshly picked vegetables before they’re washed. I love that little blend of practicality and beauty.
The Kitchen Island
I’ve always loved having an island in the kitchen — it’s the perfect gathering spot and adds so much charm to the space. During our recent kitchen makeover, we added beadboard panels to each end, which completely transformed the look and gave it that cottage character I love. On one end, the new kitchen cart tucks perfectly beneath the overhang, adding both beauty and function. On the other end, I hung a vintage accordion hanger, layered with a few of my fall tea towels, a copper pan, one of my trivets, and a hanging brass pot filled with soft fall florals. It’s such a pretty and practical way to display seasonal pieces — adding warmth, texture, and just the right touch of nostalgia.
On top of the island, my DIY Lazy Susan (tutorial coming soon) holds a cozy little vignette with the new fall florals i mentioned above, a pair of vintage salt and pepper grinders that once belonged to my parents, my Heritage Collection coasters, and an X Small canister filled with sea salt — a detail I use daily. I love that it feels collected yet purposeful, bringing together old and new in such a natural way. This whole area truly ties the kitchen together, blending beauty and function in that cozy, layered cottage style I love.
Coffee Nook
This little corner has become one of my favorite spots in the kitchen — especially in the mornings. My candle warming lamp clicks on, casting the softest glow while I pour my first cup of coffee. Underneath, I’ve placed a vanilla candle I made inside one of my small canisters, which smells heavenly and adds that cozy cottage touch I love. I’ve even been thinking about trying a fall simmer pot in one of my small canisters this season — watch for that coming soon!
A vintage mug tree holds my collection of autumn mugs, and I’ve placed one of my glass cutting boards underneath the setup to catch any drips when pouring coffee. Behind it, a fall tray brings in warm seasonal color and blends beautifully with my fall collections, while a large rooster canister I’ve had for years adds the perfect touch of charm.
The only thing missing here is a canister full of coffee — I’m not sure how I forgot that one, but it will be added soon! My medium canisters are just the right size for holding coffee beans or grounds. A vintage swan filled with gold spoons sits nearby, and a small or extra-small canister would be perfect for holding sugar. This cozy little corner feels so inviting, and I can’t wait to share more ideas for a coffee bar styling coming soon. ☕️
Towel Bar Styling
At the end of my main kitchen counter, I’ve added a towel bar that’s become one of my favorite little spots to decorate each season. For fall, I’ve hung a basket brimming with flowers and tucked in a few vintage rolling pins for that perfectly timeworn touch. Beside it hangs a vintage cheese grater tied with a simple ribbon bow — a small detail, but one that always makes me smile.
I’ve also added a few engraved fall cutting boards from my collection and one of my seasonal tea towels to finish the look. It’s a pretty yet practical corner that feels so full of personality — another example of how even the smallest areas can be styled with warmth and charm.
Even the Pets Dine in Style
Even our kitties dine in style around here! They have a bench in front of the big kitchen window where they sit, eat, and watch the birds outside — it’s their favorite spot in the house. I’ve even decorated underneath the bench for fall, adding a few simple touches to tie it in with the rest of the kitchen décor.
This bench will soon be getting a painted makeover — I’m not sure yet if it’ll happen before or after Christmas, but keep an eye out! It’s one of those little projects that I know will make this cozy corner even sweeter.
As I look around the kitchen this fall, I can’t help but feel so thankful. Not just for the updates we made, but for all the layers of meaning tucked into every corner. From thrifted treasures and family pieces to the handcrafted details that bring it all together, this space truly feels like home. It’s where creativity meets comfort, where memories are made, and where every season feels just a little more special.
Shop the Look
You can find many of the pieces featured in my kitchen through my collections at At Home With Chic & Grace — all designed to mix and match beautifully for a cozy, collected fall home.
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Heritage Collection Canisters – timeless for kitchen or pantry storage
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Heritage Collection Cutting Board – a functional accent for display or serving
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Spicy Floral Tea Towel – soft watercolor pumpkins and florals, perfect for fall baking
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Fall Tea Towels – “In All Things Give Thanks” and other scripture-inspired designs
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Coasters & Mugs – seasonal touches for a cozy coffee nook
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Trivets & Glass Cutting Boards – add texture and warmth to countertops
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Happy Fall Decorating!
With Grace,
Kimberly
