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Cold weather is a drag, but it can be especially rough if your house is still set up for summer. While nobody likes saying goodbye to warmer days, the fall is the perfect time to rethink how your home functions.
From the entryway to your bedrooms and closets, there are loads of creative ways to store your stuff and make every room more comfortable and functional. That's critical once you start replacing swimsuits and flip-flops with wool coats and winter boots.
Obviously you'll also want to consider things like weather-stripping, caulk, and maybe some new door sweeps, but home improvement stores like Home Depot have a lot more to offer for your whole house. Here are some of our favorite finds so far.
1. A completely new entryway packed with storage... Credit: Home Depot
A full-blown entryway bench can add a ton of storage and charcter to a mudroom in an instant.
One thing you need by your main entryway? Seating. Stop making your guests awkwardly kick off their boots with an awesome entryway storage solution like this one.
Get the Royce Polar White Hall Tree for $1,099 at Home Depot
2. ...or something a little smaller for the basics Credit: Home Depot
If a full-on entryway storage solution is too much, this small bench can add just as much functionality without dominating your space.
If your space is a bit tighter, we also like this compact storage bench. It's less than $200 and has some handsome hardware that sets it apart from similarly priced benches. I also like that the doors flip forward, so you're not awkwardly trying to slide bins in and out all the time.
Get the Home Styles Arts and Crafts Bench for $170.35 at Home Depot
3. A functional, rustic coat rack Credit: Home Depot
The Alaterre rustic coat rack is a perfect way to add storage, character, and function to any entryway.
Adding a wall-mounted coat rack like this has been a game-changer for our previously cluttered entryway. Especially with kids, it's just easier having a place that we can always put our coats, keys, bags, and everyday essentials. This provides enough room for all that and then some, with some flair to boot.
Get the Alaterre Rustic Natural Coat Rack
4. Flannel everything (but especially sheets) Credit: The Company Store
Flannel sheets are a critical part of making your home more comfortable in the wintertime.
Take it from a lifelong New Englander—you need flannel sheets. Even if your winter nights are closer to 50 degrees than 50 below, soft flannel sheets will keep you cozy and warm. They're a great way to make your home more comfortable in cooler weather, and this set from The Company Store is both well-reviewed and affordable.
Get the Velvet Flannel Queen Sheet Set for $112 at Home Depot
5. An incredibly popular down comforter Credit: The Company Store
A down comforter isn't for everyone, but this medium warmth one is lightweight, warm, and well-reviewed.
With over 200 reviews, this down comforter has earned high marks for its excellent warmth, light weight, and top-notch durability. It's not as heavy or hot as other down comforters, but it should keep you nice and cozy well into next spring.
Get the LaCrosse Medium Warmth Down Comforter for $299 at Home Depot
6. A top-rated area rug to tie everything together Credit: Home Depot
This is one of the most popular area rugs on Home Depot, with a perfect fall-themed design that will lend an autumn vibe to any room.
Everyone loves a good area rug, and people really love this perfectly fall-colored option from the Home Decorator's Collection. It's got an excellent color scheme (there's a cooler blue-themed version as well), and plush feel. User reviews indicate it can hold up perfectly to lots of abuse–perfect in a high-traffic area where it'll encounter salt, dirt, snow, and more.
Get the Laurel Canyon Lava 5' x 8' area rug for $208.55 at Home Depot
7. Storage baskets to hold all your cold weather accessories Credit: The Home Depot
These striped storage baskets are affordable and come in a ton of colors, perfect for all the little winter items you'll need to stash.
Fall weather can be tough to predict, and some days you may need gloves, some days you may not. Keeping everything organized and by the door is an easy way to make your life simpler so you aren't trying to find gloves when temps unexpectedly drop 20 degrees. This woven striped bin is less than $20 and comes in a variety of colors so it'll match any style, letting you stash all your little winter essentials wherever you need them.
Get the DII Rectangle Woven Storage Basket for $19.18 at Home Depot
8. A luggage rack for holiday houseguests Credit: Home Depot
A luggage rack is the kind of touch that will make your holiday guests feel truly welcome.
With winter weather comes winter holidays, which usually means a few guests or two. A luggage rack may seem like overkill, but when you're staying in someone's home it's a great extra touch that shows you care. This is one of the best-selling items in Home Depot's decor section, and for good reason: it's affordable, useful, and should last a long time.
Get the Walnut Solid Wood Luggage Rack for $37.63 at Home Depot
9. A storage ottoman for all your extra blankets Credit: Home Depot
This ottoman adds a perfect place to stash extra sheets, blankets, and more in the middle of your living space.
If you're like my family, you've always got extra blankets cozying up your living room. But even if you're not perpetually cold, you may want a place to stash all the extra stuff cluttering up your living space. I have this exact ottoman in my living room and it has held up for four years and still looks brand new. It holds plenty of stuff, it is soft enough I don't worry about my kids running around it, and it's sturdy.
Get the Carlsbad Gray Storage Ottoman for $158.90 at Home Depot
10. Loads of blankets for every room Credit: Home Depot / Eddie Bauer
These handsome cotton blankets are extremely well-reviewed and super affordable for a high-quality blanket.
It's winter. It's cold. Don't skimp on the blankets. You should have an extra blanket for every room in the house. Ever hear someone say, "Hey, I think you've got enough blankets." Of course not. It's never been said.
This top-selling cotton Eddie Bauer blanket would be my pick, with awesome reviews and a great price ($43 for a king-size), but there's a blanket for every kind of person: electric blankets, microfleece polyester blankets, reversible animal print ones with sherpa lining, and a huge array of colorful Company Store cotton ones.
If you need a blanket (and you do), there's one out there for you.
Get the Eddie Bauer Gray Cotton King Blanket for $42.99 at Home Depot
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
