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Letter to the editor

Spruce up for fall

Out with the pastels, in with the deep, rich colors of autumn. It's time for a clean sweep of the home and patio.

By Times Staff, Wires
Published October 13, 2007

- Be ready to turn off the air conditioning and open windows. If screens need repair or cleaning, do it now.

- Give your entry a once-over. Is the welcome mat bleached or brittle from strong summer sun? Time to replace it.

- Potted plants add welcoming color to the entrance. Your choices range from fall traditionals like chrysanthemums to pansies and snapdragons to vegetables like ornamental kale.

- Get out there with a broom and hose to knock down spiders and clean away dead insects. Clean out the porch light fixture.

- Add a wreath to the door or gate.

- Inside, put away the pastels and florals that gave your home a cool, crisp look during hot weather. Switch out summery throws and pillows for those with richer colors and textures. Bring back the rug you rolled up in May in favor of summertime bare floors.

- If you're into scented candles and potpourri, bring out spice fragrances and pack up the lighter aromas.

- A good any-season pick-me-up: Swap out accessories and art. Give yourself something new to look at.

- If you have a fireplace, have it cleaned before you light that first fire. Add a plant, a fan or some other eyecatching object to the firebox to draw attention when no fire is lit.

- Put away the summery shell-motif dishes and pastel drinkware. Bring out serving pieces, mugs, or a set of chili bowls in fall colors, glassware in amber or dark green.

- Move away from the white and pastel table linens that worked in spring and summer. Try new tablecloths, napkins or table runners. The choice of colors and weight of the fabric convey the changing season. Bring out textured place mats or tablecloths in rich browns, reds and oranges.

- In bathrooms, now's the time for towels in dark green, red, brown or deep gold.

- In bedrooms, check quilts and blankets and buy what you need before cold weather settles in. We may never need flannel sheets in Florida, but pillow shams or accent pillows in warmer covers and heavier textures can help a bed make the transition to winter.

- As the days grow shorter and darker, be mindful of where additional lighting could be helpful: the garage, a hall, an entry, a stairwell. Mark your calendar:We return to Standard Time on Nov. 4.

- You'll get plenty of use out of your deck, porch or lanai all winter long. (Remember why people from up North come to Florida in winter.) Sweep away plant debris, clean wooden decks, replace or repair and clean furniture that has seen better days, clean the grill, replace scorched, leggy and spent plants with fresh ones.

Information from McClatchy-Tribune Newspapers was used in this report.

[Last modified October 11, 2007, 17:15:32]