There’s a lot more to the fall than pumpkin spice lattes and apple picking. This is the time of year when much of the natural world is preparing for colder months. Squirrels are sprucing up their nests with extra twigs, leaves, and grass, while groundhogs are digging deep hibernation tunnels. This is the season to feather your nest to make it warm and comfortable for winter. Follow these tips to significantly up the comfort factor of your home’s interior when temperatures cool.

Throw it on

Add warm throws and blankets to your sofas and beds. Try placing a cable knit throw on your sofa, or perhaps a soft fleece blanket to keep you you warm while reading a book or watching TV. Now is the time to swap out your summer-weight bedroom blankets for warm and fluffy down or down-alternative comforters. You’ll also want to replace lightweight bedsheets for fleece or flannel ones.

Light some candles

Just as fall brings a bounty of tasty coffee flavors, autumn is also associated with delicious candle scents. Think fragrances that mimic woody and leafy hints of a fall forest, or a toasted marshmallow made over a bonfire. Candles can lend a soft glow to your space and fill the room with autumn scents. Place candles in tealight holders, candelabras or lanterns. Flameless candles look much like the real thing, but they can be lit without a match and operated via a remote. They are also less of a fire-safety issue and give off the same ambiance as a flickering wax or soy candle.

Add a shag rug

Place shag or other soft area rugs around your home. These rugs will feel warm and comfortable under your feet and will give your rooms a warmer look. A shag rug by your bedside will be a welcome addition if your room has wood or vinyl floors that get cold.

Spark some atmosphere

Twinkling string lights or a crackling fire in the fireplace are ways to create a soothing ambiance. If you don’t have a wood-burning or gas-fireplace, an electric fireplace offers a similar look and feel. Warm white fairy lights, amber-hued Edison bulb string lights, or strings of mini lights shaped as autumn maple leaves or pumpkins are other ways to create a comfy autumn feel.

Warm up window treatments

Swap out lightweight summer or sheer window treatments for heavier fall ones. Long thermal or insulating curtains can block the cold out and keep your home at a more comfortable temperature. Darker, fall-hued drapes or curtains will lend a cozy feeling to your space.

Soften lighting

Look to get rid of harsh, bright lighting. Switch out extra bright light bulbs for softer ones. If your ceiling lights or floor lamps have a dimming feature, dim your lights. For floor lamps that don’t have a dimming option, add light-diffusing lampshades.

Favor warm colors

Select the natural hues you see outside—golds, oranges, and browns—when decorating your space. Go for throws, decorative pillows, window coverings and area rugs in these colors. Mother Nature knows best after all.

Bring in natural elements

Natural elements such as wood, plants, dried grasses, and eucalyptus infuse the calming qualities of nature indoors. Natural decor like pumpkins and gourds, mums, acorns, and pinecones let you enjoy this colorful season. Have some fun with it—look for these natural hallmarks of the season on a walk, pick flowers from your garden or growing in a wildflower field, or make a centerpiece for your table or mantel with fall branches and foliage.