Truly welcome the new season by switching out summery colors and patterns on your cushions and throw pillows for rich, warm fall shades. Quality indoor/outdoor fabrics, like the kind we offer at our luxury furniture store at the Lake of the Ozarks, can withstand the elements easily, but still look beautiful enough to belong indoors among your other home interiors. Add a few mums and pumpkins to finish the look and you've created a lovely fall escape that can take you through Halloween and Thanksgiving.

Once the sun sets, autumn weather can get pretty chilly, but not so much so that you need to head indoors if you make arrangements to stay warm. Firepits and outdoor fireplaces not only provide that warmth, but they are also great gathering spots for hanging out with friends, toasting marshmallows, telling stories, and making memories. If you are not able to add a permanent fireplace or firepit to your yard, there are portable options that do the same job nicely. You might also consider storing a few cozy throws or blankets outside to warm you up both in the evenings and on those mornings when you feel like enjoying your cup of coffee outside.

The sheer beauty of summer turning into autumn will soon be all around us as the leaves change into a rainbow of glorious colors. You will be encouraged to spend more time outside enjoying the view if there is plenty of comfortable seating around your outdoor living space. If you have limited space, furniture that does "double-duty" is an excellent solution. Look for pieces that can have more than one purpose, like storage ottomans that also work as extra seating or can be used as a tabletop.

Sunset comes much earlier in the fall, so you will want to make sure that you have proper lighting for spending evenings outside. There are several options that help add to your style and functionality... Solar lights charge during the day and automatically come on at night, so you don't have to do a thing. String lights hung from a pergola make for a festive atmosphere. You can also find many portable lighting options that can be moved around easily to where you need them in the summer and then stored away for the winter.

John Elliott Interiors is known as the best interior designer at the Lake of the Ozarks, but we also excel at creating beautiful and functional outdoor designs that your guests will "Ooo" and "Ahh" over. Come visit out store to take a look at our high end outdoor furniture and to talk to a designer to get started on the space of your dreams!