Get your FREE October Home Checklist and discover the home improvements and fall home ideas to make in October!
Helpful tips on what to do the entire month of October, home maintenance checks, fall organization tips and more!
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October Home Checklist – Home Improvement & Fall Home Ideas
The leaves are starting to turn colors and fall, farmer’s markets are filled with harvest bounty and the cozy comforts of home entice us to spend more time indoors!
It’s October and that means raking leaves, making our homes cozy and comfortable and prepping our houses for winter.
I’ve got a fabulous FREE to-do checklist for you to print off and keep to keep you on track all month!
So let’s get to it!
Things to accomplish in an Hour or Less
1. Tidy up the living room
You’ll be spending more time in the living room this month so now’s the time to tidy up!
Put kid’s toys in baskets, their books in a bookcase, remotes in a decorative box or tray.
2. Add some seasonal decor to your home to celebrate fall!
Check out these beautiful Fall Design Trends & Decor Ideas for gorgeous fall decor and color ideas that are popular right now!
3. Start a holiday gift list
Christmas is only 12 weeks away!
It’s a great idea to start getting prepared for the holidays now!
If you want to make some gifts, October is a great time to start!
- Turn Childrens Art Into Tea Towels – great gift idea for family members
- DIY Forest Pine Candle In A Jar
- 26 DIY Sugar Scrubs – great holiday gift ideas!
4. Check safety devices
A very important part of the October Home Checklist is to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house, replacing batteries as needed.
Check the expiration date on the kitchen fire extinguisher as well, and replace it if needed.
Click on the images below to shop!
5. Vacuum radiators, baseboard heaters and heating grates
Get rid of dust and dirt before you turn on the heat!
Vacuum baseboard heaters, radiators and heating floor grates.
Click on the images below to shop!
6. Furnace check
Turn on your furnace to make sure it’s functioning.
Replace your furnace filters.
If your furnace is not working schedule an HVAC service call to repair it.
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Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend
7. Cover or store outdoor furniture and grills
If you plan to leave your patio furniture and grill outside throughout the fall and winter, cover them well and stow them beneath an overhang that will protect them from rain and snow.
Even if you live in a mild climate, covering your grill between uses is a good idea to preserve the finish.
8. Shut off exterior faucets and store hoses for winter
Disconnect, drain and roll hoses before storing them for the winter.
Shut off the water supply to exterior faucets to prevent frozen pipes.
9. Rake and remove leaves
Make quick work of removing fallen leaves with a leaf blower!
We love ours!
Blow them onto a large plastic tarp that’s easy to move to your compost pile or recycle bin.
These Ergonomic Hand Leaf Scoops are also handy!
10. Decorate for Halloween
Get an early start on shopping for Halloween decor for your front door and get your halloween decor bins in the go position!
If you’re hosting a family halloween party make a list of the food, decor and tableware you need!
- Classy & Elegant Halloween Decor: Timeless Ideas to Elevate Your Holiday Style
- 10 Stylish Halloween TikTok & Instagram Decor Ideas
- 9 Apothecary Jar Fillers, Fall & Halloween Ideas
- 12 Halloween Crafts and Treats
11. Get cozy and add Hygge to your home!
Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment!
Here are some Hygge home ideas:
- have a date night indoor picnic by the fire
- curl up with a good book on a sofa set with cozy pillows and throws
- enjoy a hot cup of snowflake hot chocolate
- catch up on Netflix!
12. Create a fire pit seating area
Having bonfires in October is a fabulous way to spend quality family time and enjoy the outdoors a bit longer!
Add some chic Adirondack chairs around a fire pit or fire table and add a cozy pillow or two.
How to Make an Adirondack Chair!
Maintenance For This Month
13. Maintain your wood stove or fireplace.
Get you wood stove or fireplace serviced before lighting the first fire.
Also, schedule an appointment to have your chimney inspected and, if necessary, cleaned.
Order the amount of wood that you need for the fall and winter and clear a spot outside to store it.
How to Paint Dated Fireplace Tile
How To Paint a Fireplace Mantel
14. Clean area rugs and carpeting
Give your carpets and area rugs a thorough vacuum!
I love my Dyson cordless vacuum – it’s so lightweight and durable!
I also love my steam cleaner – it removes stains and dirt in a jiffy!
Rotate rugs after you clean them to ensure they get even wear.
Incredible Wool Carpet Stain Remover & Cleaning Tip
15. Trim dead tree limbs
Fall and winter storms can cause dead limbs to fall which can be a safety hazard.
Inspect the trees in your yard and trim any you find.
Call a professional to trim limbs from large trees.
16. Clean gutters and downspouts
Inspect gutters and downspouts for damage and repair if necessary.
After the leaves have fallen schedule an appointment for a gutter cleaning or use this handy gutter cleaning wand to clean your gutters yourself!
These gutter guards look like they could be very helpful!
GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLE OCTOBER HOME CHECKLIST HERE!
More Design and Decor Ideas
- Fall 2024 Design Trends & Decor Ideas
- Neutral Fall Home Trends
- How To Arrange Furniture With An Open Concept Floor Plan
- 5 Design Tricks To Brighten A Dark Room
- Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Living Room Look Expensive!
- Small Bedroom Ideas To Maximize Space & Style
- How To Arrange Furniture With A Corner Fireplace
- Benjamin Moore Cinnamon Slate Color Review
- 5 Ways To Create A Whole Home Paint Color Scheme
Heather is a Designer, True Color Expert® and proud military wife at 
This was such a helpful post! So many things I need to do on your checklist. I do think I will get a jump on Christmas this year.
I hope you are enjoying a lovely October.
Happy Tuesday,
Laura
Thank you so much Laura – I’m glad you find it useful!! I’m starting my Christmas to do list early this year too! 🙂