Seasonal Living in September: Welcoming the 'Ber' Months

 The Seasonal Home in Early Autumn

The approaching autumn brings a gentle shift in the air—a coolness in the mornings, the first golden leaves crunching underfoot, and a quiet turning inward that seems to come quite naturally as we prepare to welcome in a new season.

Early autumn always brings with it a sense of settling. The light softens. The evenings come sooner. The pace slows, just a little. There’s a deep comfort in the changing season, a rootedness I always look forward to.

In my Seasonal Living in August post, I mentioned how I would mark each month with seasonal themes that helped shape our learning and home life. Now, though the season of homeschooling has passed, I find myself still looking to the calendar and the natural world as gentle guides for how I care for my home and heart.

Autumn invites us to look inward—not just within our homes, but within ourselves. And in a world that often rushes headlong through the year, I want to pause and dwell in this moment. I want to notice the beauty, the comfort, and the provision. To let the Lord remind me that He is present in every season, both around me and within me.

🍂 Biblical Encouragement for the Homemaker’s Heart

There’s something profoundly spiritual about this time of year. The harvest season has long been a symbol of gratitude and dependence on God's provision. As the trees let go of their leaves, I’m reminded to let go too—to release the things I don’t need to carry, and to trust in the One who provides what I do.

“Come before Him with thankful hearts. Let us sing Him psalms of praise.”

—Psalm 95:2

In these quieter days, when the world outside begins to hush, I’m turning my attention more intentionally to home and heart. I’m asking God to make me sensitive to His rhythms, to help me honour Him in the small, unseen acts of homemaking, and to fill this season with His peace.

🍁 Early Autumn Homemaking Rhythms

Autumn homemaking doesn’t need to be grand or hurried. It’s the season for softening, for making things cosy and warm, and for drawing our families close. Here are a few gentle shifts I’m making around our home this season:

✨ Create a Cosy Atmosphere
Soft blankets are finding their way back onto armchairs. Candles are being lit earlier in the evening. I’m tucking away the lighter summer décor and pulling out warm amber tones, soft browns, and rusts. Even something as simple as a small pumpkin on the kitchen windowsill feels like a quiet celebration of the season.

🍂 Autumn’s Bounty
The kitchen begins to fill with richer scents—cinnamon, apple, roasted vegetables, and slow-cooked suppers. I find joy in baking again. A batch of apple muffins or a simmering pot of soup on the stove fills the house with warmth. I might even attempt a new recipe or two—something comforting and nourishing to match the mood of the season.

🌾 Preparing the Home
As we begin spending more time indoors, I like to refresh the spaces we’ll be using most. I’ll give the sitting room a bit of a tidy, perhaps add a seasonal cushion or a dried flower arrangement. These aren’t tasks so much as gentle rituals that help me mark the changing days.

🍎 Simple Autumn Joys

The beauty of autumn is that it doesn’t demand much—it simply invites us to notice. Here are some quiet pleasures I’m leaning into this month:

• Wandering through crunchy leaves with a warm scarf and a brisk breeze

• Collecting conkers and acorns on a walk through the park

• Sipping hot tea while reading by a rain-streaked window

• Lighting the first fire of the season

• Setting the table with seasonal touches—a mini pumpkin here, a linen napkin there

• Pressing leaves between the pages of a book, just like I used to as a girl

🕊 Tending the Heart

As the world quiets, I’m leaning more intentionally into quiet time with the Lord. This slower season lends itself beautifully to reading Scripture, journaling prayers, and simply sitting still in His presence.

I don’t want to miss what He might be whispering in these quieter months—those small nudges that are so easy to overlook when life is loud and busy.

And Finally...

Early autumn invites us to return home—to settle into rhythm, to light the candles, to fill the pantry, and to wrap our loved ones (and ourselves) in warmth and grace.

My prayer is that this season will be one of reflection and peace. May we not rush ahead but savour what is. May we be mindful of the beauty tucked into ordinary days. And may our homes, whatever their shape or season, be a haven of comfort, welcome, and faith.

As always, dear friends, thank you for walking this journey with me. I’d love to hear how you’re embracing early autumn in your home—do drop a note in the comments or come visit me on Instagram.

With warmth and gratitude,

Shirley Xx