15 Simple Ideas to Transition from Summer to Fall Decor
It may sound overwhelming to transition your home decor from summer to fall, but it shouldn’t be! Start getting cozy now with 15 of my favorite easy ideas to transition from summer to fall decor!
The time between seasons can feel challenging when it comes to decorating a home and especially how to transition from summer to fall decor. There are aspects of summer decor that transition easily into the warm tones of early fall home decorating.
However, when it is still really hot outside or we just aren’t in the mood for all of the traditional fall elements, how can we make our homes feel cozy in a comfortable and seasonally appropriate way?
Today, I’m going to share some of my favorite ideas to transition from summer to fall decor. The truth is, fall is one of my four favorite seasons (haha!) and I love decorating for it. However, a slow transition can often be more seasonally appropriate.
I hope these 15 ideas spark some creativity for you to enjoy a slow and cozy transition from summer to fall decor in your own home!
First, let’s address a few big questions about fall home decorating. More than any other seasonal transition, the autumn season (and maybe Christmas) seems to be the most debated when it comes to when and how to give a home a fresh look in a seasonally appropriate way!
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When should I start putting up fall decor?
It’s asked every year and every year my answer is the same! You can start decorating anytime you want!
Trust me, if I lived up north and the air was starting to get that little tinge of fall feeling, you’d better believe I’d be pulling out all the bins and starting to transition from summer to fall home decor!
However, here in sunny South Florida, we are pretty focused on surviving the muggy, extremely hot weather and hurricane season!
(That being said, there’s no better way to get me in the mood to create a cozy home than a tropical storm blowing through some unseasonably cool breezes!)
Can I decorate for fall at the end of August?
Some people prefer to wait until after the Labor Day holiday break, which is also understandable. This is particularly true for those who don’t begin the school year until after Labor Day! Trust me, I like to enjoy summer break to the very last drop too!
Can I decorate for fall in July?
My general answer to this is mid August or early September. However, as I said before, it’s totally up to you! I usually try to have all of my fall decor pretty much done by the beginning of September so I can enjoy it for the next couple of months!
For me, I especially enjoy a S L O W transition from fall to summer with my home decor with small touches as I go along. To be honest, I don’t like to start until after the kids are back in school. I like to keep our “summer home” (see my summer home decor story HERE) for as long as possible.
But once we’ve started back to school, I’m ready for cozy evenings, earlier bed times, and filling my senses with a soft, calm, cozy atmosphere in the evenings!
How do I make my house feel cozy for the fall?
I’m so glad you asked! Creating a cozy feel in my home is one of my favorite ways to begin ushering in the autumn season. Let’s jump in because today I’m going to give you 15 simple and easy ideas to kick off early fall decor in your own home.
Whether you put the pumpkins out in August, September, or wait until October, there are plenty of things you can do to transition your home decor from summer to fall and start getting those cozy vibes whenever you’re ready!
Pro Tip: To me, it kind of feels like I’m creating a simple base of home decor to set the stage for the fall natural elements a bit later, such as pumpkins, cornstalks, corn husks, and dried gourds.
15 Simple Ideas to Transition from Summer to Fall Decor
How do I transition my house for fall?
#1: Transition from summer to fall decor by first removing summer decor.
I like to wait until we’ve started school for this first step and enjoy the “beach cottage” feel of our home as long as possible. However, once school has started, it’s game on!
The first thing to do to transition your home decor from summer to fall is to pack up any summer-specific decor. I collect all the shells, floppy straw hats, chippy blue architectural salvage, vintage seascape art, etc. and pack it all up!
These totes are our favorite for seasonal decor! We’ve collected them over time and now all of our seasonal decor stacks so neatly. My husband especially loves the durability and that they don’t slide around!
I also love using THESE fabric organizers to store and organize all of my throw pillows. Even though I love to use pillow covers, I do have a variety of pillows without removable covers. I highly recommend THESE bins for extra throw pillows and bedding too!
#2: Transition from summer to fall decor by adding wood tones.
I always love pretty wood tones and when I transition my home decor from summer to fall, you’ll find me pulling out more of my dough bowls, bread boards, wooden candlesticks, and wooden risers.
These favorite pieces create the backdrop of warm neutrals for all of my fall vignettes and the wood colors instantly warm up the overall aesthetic. This is true even if you’re going slowly, like me, and leaving a basic, every day vignette that doesn’t include fall decorations.
Remember, we are slowly transitioning from one season to the next. Creating neutral color palettes allow for adding season specific decor throughout your living spaces as you’re ready!
#3: Transition from summer to fall decor by switching up your greenery.
When I start transitioning my home decor for the fall season, I leave my live plants. For faux plants, however, I pull out the brighter greens and begin replacing them with dried or preserved branches and sparse branches cut from my yard.
Fall is really a season that feels especially natural and organic and I try to bring that inside by following the cues of nature.
(Well, for up north, at least. Our grass stays bright and green down here all year, as long as the irrigation system is working correctly!)
Over on my fall decor storefront, you can find my favorite faux greenery options to start swapping out for the seasons. Shop it HERE! Typically, I do not purchase a lot of new fall decor. However, faux greenery is something I like to invest in with upgrades.
I especially love these gorgeous stems that have a softer green and just the hints of the autumn months. They blend perfectly with both seasons!
An early fall wreath is another great way to transition from summer to fall decor. Instead of immediately adding a wreath loaded with mini pumpkins, try more subtle changes like this gorgeous pampas grass wreath.
It was one of the first things that I added to my kitchen last year and I loved it so much that I left it for the entire fall season. THIS pampas grass wreath is an affordable way to make simple changes as you slowly usher in the autumn season!
#4: Transition from summer to fall decor by changing your florals.
Whether fresh or faux, florals are an easy way to make seasonal decor transitions. You can easily transition from summer to fall decor by adding a pop of color with seasonal florals here and there throughout your home.
I don’t use a lot of floral patterns in my home. However, I do love having a simple vase of sunflowers, faux pear stems, or white mums sitting on my kitchen island, dining table, or on a console table!
Sunflowers are one of my favorite ways to marry the sunny colors of the late summer flowers with the cozy vibe this time of year brings!
If you’re looking for great faux florals for fall, I highly recommend these:
- This set of varied pampas grass decor
- These tan eucalyptus stems (love how it matches the color of sun-dried and bleached eucalyptus)
- These faux pear stems (I love the warmth of the color!)
- These dried pods add so much texture to a fresh or faux arrangement!
- Shop a variety of my favorite fall flowers over on my storefront, HERE!
#5: Transition from summer to fall decor by swapping out throw pillows!
Throw pillows and pillow covers are a really budget-friendly way to get a fresh look without having to change out furniture! Transition from summer to fall decor by storing away summer-colored pillows and swapping them with neutral pillows that have a lot of texture, such as chunky knit fabric, soft linen, light velvet, and fringe or pom pom detail.
I suggest starting the transition with neutral pillows and once you’re ready to go all in on fall decor, layer a few fall-specific colors and patterns with your neutral pillows.
Pro Tip: Pillow covers are a small change, yet easy way to give your home a fresh look without taking up much room in storage!
I’m loving these pillows this year:
- These classic pillows with a pattern that will blend with most things!
- These burnt orange aren’t neutral, but I had to include them because I love pulling them out as I start adding some fall touches! Plus, they are only $14 for the pair!
- These vintage grain sacks make the perfect oversized pillows for a sofa or bed and they are super cozy!
- I love the color and texture of these pillows! Definitely my favorites this season!
- This neutral pillow has great detail and the size and shape makes it perfect for layering!
- I added THESE gorgeous block print vintage style pillow covers this year and I love them. They look so high end and come in a variety of fall tones.
Pro Tip: mix, match, and layer a few of these throw pillows together for a curated, designer look! Plus, you’ll be adding a lot of texture, color, and pattern for interest.
#6: Transition from summer to fall decor by adding cozy textures like throw blankets.
No matter the season, I seem to have a few lightweight fabrics out to soften up our spaces. However, the fall and winter seasons are definitely when they get used the most! You can add throw blankets in a woven basket under the coffee table or simply toss them over the arm of a chair. While you won’t find faux fur laying around our home until the winter season, faux fur can be a cozy option if you live where it gets cold early on in the autumn season.
Wherever you place your cozy throw blankets, make sure they are easily accessible and inviting your family to get cozy!
Here are a couple of favorite cozy textiles this year:
- This one is my very favorite! Plus, it is reasonably priced too and comes in different colors and sizes. Since it is light-weight, I enjoy it all year too and layer it in the cooler winter and autumn months.
- Add a soft, neutral like this for instant coziness!
- This basket is perfect to tuck cozy blankets and pillows for easy accessibility, yet tidy when you don’t need them out!
#7: Transition the seasons with wall art!
The truth is, you don’t need a ton of large seasonal art. However, just switching a couple of pieces can instantly refresh a room and add a touch of the new season. I recently purchased this vintage pear painting from my friend Deb over at Seeking Lavender Lane. She has an online vintage shop with a lot of great vintage art options! Small wall art pieces can be perfect to layer on bookshelves or open shelving, like I did here in my dining room.
You can find a similar pear art piece HERE for a great price! Perfect for a seasonal touch or use year round too!
This pheasant print is similar to one of my favorite thrifted art finds and I’ll pull it out a little later in the season! Can’t beat vintage-inspired art for under $15!
I am also obsessed with these curated collections that arrive ready to frame. They are under $20 or even less and look SO much like real paintings. I can’t get over the big impact they make in my decor without spending very much money at all.
You can find some fall inspirations HERE on my storefront!
Pro Tip: A great idea is to keep an eye out at thrift stores and flea markets for small to medium sized seasonal artwork to add to your wall art collection in a budget-friendly way. Switching out a few wall art pieces is such an affordable way to give your living spaces a fresh look!
#8: Add woven texture to transition from summer to fall decor!
Admittedly, I love woven texture and use baskets all year long. I think they get overlooked a little in the fall though.
So, when it comes time to transition from summer to fall decor, I keep baskets a statement piece in my decor. I loved adding these wall baskets with dried gourds to my gallery wall last year.
In fact, most years, some kind of wicker or woven texture makes its way into my fall decorations! The woven texture adds those warm, wood-like tones but in a little softer way. Plus, a woven basket definitely adds texture to your early fall decorative elements!
You can get a similar look to transition from summer to fall decor this year with:
#9: This should probably be #1…
Don’t underestimate the power of deep cleaning your home to help transition from summer to fall decor!
A clean, organized, decluttered home is one of the best feelings and definitely makes physical and emotional space to add all of the cozy favorites for the upcoming seasons!
#10: Bring a cozy vibe to your transitional decor with taper candles!
That being said, I have younger kiddos myself and taper candles on the mantel are just unsafe in every possible way! I love to pull out my set (okay, several sets) of favorite battery-operated taper candles and add to my vintage brass candlestick collection as I transition from summer to fall decor! Brass candlesticks are one of my favorite thrifted things to collect! A combination of brass and a flickering glow make the best early fall living room centerpieces. Plus, it’s easy to add in a little pumpkin or dried gourd later on!
You can find 6 other things I recommend thrifting for the fall season over on THIS POST!
You can find my favorite battery-operated taper candles in white or ivory HERE! Trust me…they are so good! As you transition from summer to fall decor in your own home, you can find all of my favorite cozy flameless candles that I use throughout our home HERE on my storefront!
#11: Transition into fall decor by adding mixed metals.
I might be the odd one out on this, but in my summer decor, I realized I don’t actually have a lot of metal other than a few zinc buckets and wire baskets.
For me, one way to quickly add a touch of that fall vibe as I transition from summer to fall decor is to add some metal texture and colors.
You can transition from summer to fall decor by adding a mixture of vintage brass, silver, and copper. The warm colors of the metallics add a definitely cozy vibe to my living spaces and it can in your own home too!
And yes! You can even mix the three! Of course, my preference is for metal finishes that have some tarnish for more of a vintage style. However, you can always polish them up a bit if you’d like!
#12: Transition from summer to fall decor with amber bottles.
Old amber bottles are a great way to bring in those warm fall hues with warm neutrals. If you’re looking to add a bit of a transitional look, but don’t want to add all the pumpkins, scarecrows, and bright orange color scheme of fall foliage, amber bottles can be a great compromise!
Of course, then you can just leave them out with your fall decor too!
Amber bottles can look great on their own, gathered in a collection, used with taper candles, or holding flower or greenery stems!
Flea markets and antique malls are great places to find old amber bottles. But if you want some right away to help transition from summer to fall decor, these are some great vintage-inspired options:
- This gorgeous amber vase already has pretty foliage stems with it and it’s a great price too!
- This vase comes in 3 sizes and is an excellent price point! Combine the set with each size to make a really pretty vignette!
- This pack of six amber bottles are perfect for a tablescape!
- This set of 6 gives a little taller options and is perfect for flowers or taper candles!
#13: Use vintage books to help transition from summer to fall decor.
You all know how much I love vintage books. In fact, you can find a whole post with ideas for using vintage books in your home decor HERE.
As you transition from summer to fall decor, it’s a great time to use some budget-friendly decor. Old, thrifted books are my first go-to for a great place to start!
You can use vintage books in warm fall colors, such as neutrals, browns, rust, and gold tones to help transition from summer to fall decor. Just swap a stack of lighter, summery colored books in any vignette with your fall-toned books and ta-da! Quick and easy transition!
I always hit up the book section in any thrift store. You can find great deals and use them for all the seasons! I also like to look for titles that could relate to the particular season. It’s a small detail, but one I take great delight in finding!
#14: One of the easiest ways to transition from summer to fall decor is to start with a neutral palette!
This may seem basic, but to transition from summer to fall decor, or for any other season, I peel back the layers of seasonal color and texture. Take my home back to a basic neutral palette, so to speak!
At that point, I can slowly start adding as much or as little, as subtle or as bold seasonal accents.
I always recommend investing in large pieces that you love and have a neutral base. This allows you to play around and experiment with your decor in more budget-friendly ways as you transition from summer to fall decor!
This would include sofas, chairs, larger tables, cabinets, and wall colors (though that can be a fun way to accent for a season if you love to paint!)
Over on my storefront, I have an entire section dedicated to neutral colors that are perfect to use year round! Shop my favorites HERE!
#15: Fill your home with the scents of the season!
Nothing says cozy like a great candle and a favorite fall scent, right?! In fact, when I want to start to transition from summer to fall decor, I usually pull out one of my favorite candles to help me get in the mood. Great scents are easy first touches of fall decor to any living space!
There are a lot of great options out there but these are definitely my personal favorites:
(If you don’t have any essential oil diffusers, THIS is the one I use in my classroom and it is amazing. I’ve had it for several years and it keeps my whole classroom smelling fresh all day!)
Are you ready to transition your home now?
It’s totally okay if you’re not! It is totally possible to be a true “pumpkin spice girl” and not set pumpkin decor out on August 1st. Honestly and truly, the right time is just whenever makes you happy!
Save these pins and ideas for whenever YOU are ready. That’s the beauty of our own homes…we can just do what works for us and enjoy it!
I do hope that these 15 favorite ideas have given you some inspiration, sparked a creative or new idea, and help you to love and enjoy your home even more in the coming season!
Blessings,
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)
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Blessings,
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)