Fall bathroom decor has a clutter problem. Pumpkins on the toilet tank, leaf garlands around the mirror, a seasonal towel set with an embroidered turkey.
Here's the contained version. Everything goes on the bath tray. A chocolate brown candle, a bundle of dried eucalyptus, a small glass, an open book. Nothing on the floor, nothing on the toilet tank. It turns a bath on a cold evening into the best part of the week.
The bath tray
A wooden tray that spans the tub is the heart of this. Walnut, teak or oak. Look for one with an adjustable width and a slot for a book or tablet. It gives you a surface that's only there when you're in the bath.
What goes on the tray
- One chocolate brown pillar candle. Unscented or lightly woody.
- A bundle of dried eucalyptus. It smells wonderful in the steam.
- A small glass of wine, tea or water.
- A book.
That's all.
Eucalyptus in the shower
Tie a bundle of fresh or dried eucalyptus to the shower head with twine. The steam releases the scent every time you shower. Replace it every few weeks.
Towels
Swap white towels for oatmeal, rust or chocolate for the season. Towels are the biggest area of color in most bathrooms, so changing them changes the whole room.
Candlelight
Turn off the overhead light for a bath and use candles, or a single warm lamp or sconce. In a deep-colored bathroom, like the oxblood one here, candlelight makes the walls glow.
Never leave candles unattended, and keep them away from towels.
A small branch
If there's space on a windowsill or vanity, a small vase with a single branch of dried oak or beech leaves. One stem.
Bath products
Decant soap and bath oil into amber glass bottles. They look better than plastic packaging and fit the fall palette.
What to skip
- Anything on the toilet tank.
- Faux leaf garlands around mirrors. They collect dust and look sad fast.
- Seasonal towel sets with pictures on them.
- Plug-in air fresheners. Eucalyptus does the job better.
Fall scents that work in a bathroom
Bathrooms are small and steamy, so strong scents get overpowering fast. The ones that work:
- Eucalyptus: clean and fresh, perfect in steam.
- Cedar or sandalwood: warm and woody without being sweet.
- Clove or orange peel, in a small dish of dried slices, very lightly.
- Unscented beeswax candles, which smell faintly of honey on their own.
Avoid pumpkin spice and heavy vanilla in a small bathroom. They're lovely in a kitchen, overwhelming by a bath.
A small fall shelf
If your bathroom has an open shelf, give it one fall moment: a small pinecone, a folded rust hand towel and an amber bottle. Keep it to three things so it doesn't compete with the tray.
If you don't have a tub
Put the tray on the vanity instead: a candle, eucalyptus in a small vase and amber bottles. And hang the eucalyptus in the shower.
A fall bath ritual
Once a week in October: tray across the tub, candle lit, eucalyptus in the steam, a book and a cup of tea. It's the kind of small ritual that makes fall feel like fall.
What it costs
- Walnut bath tray: $40 to $120.
- Candle: $10 to $30.
- Dried eucalyptus: $8 to $20.
- Amber bottles: $15 to $40 for a set.
- Towels: $40 to $120 for a set.
Mistakes to avoid
- Spreading decor everywhere. Keep it on the tray.
- Candles near towels.
- Busy seasonal prints.
- Leaving fresh eucalyptus too long. It goes brown and brittle.
Fall bathroom decor FAQ
How do I decorate my bathroom for fall?
Keep it contained: a bath tray with a candle and eucalyptus, fall-colored towels and amber bottles.
What colors are good for fall bathroom decor?
Rust, chocolate, oatmeal, cream and olive.
How do you hang eucalyptus in the shower?
Tie a bundle to the shower head or arm with twine, just out of the direct spray.
How long does eucalyptus last in the shower?
About two to four weeks.
