15 Easy Ways to Transition Decor from Summer to Fall

Use these simple seasonal decorating ideas to ease into the crisp temperatures and falling leaves.

As the summer heat fades and cooler weather rolls in, it's time to trade in lightweight fabrics and sunny colors and embrace the warm, cozy ambiance of fall. A neutral palette and simple accessories will help you keep the best of both seasons in your home. Use these late-summer decorating ideas to transition your decor to fall by incorporating these subtly seasonal accents.

Press Leaves for Art

Pressed leaves not only make for beautiful framed art but also a fun fall activity that's kid-friendly, too. After an outdoor stroll spent picking up your favorite leaves, flatten them with books and paper before completing with a neutral or vintage frame. The fall craft makes for an affordable piece of art and brings the outdoors into your home.

Set Up a Backyard Firepit

As the evenings get cooler, a firepit can help keep you warm enough to enjoy time outdoors long into the fall. Stand-alone firepits make for easy setup and cleanup, especially gas models. Add a few chairs and enjoy s'mores and a cup of hot cider by the fire this fall (and most of the year).

Related: The 12 Best Fire Pits of 2023 for a Toasty Outdoor Hangout

Refresh Your Porch

A porch is like a handshake—it's a first impression. It's what you see when you come home, as well as the first thing guests notice when visiting. A fall porch refresh can be as simple as adding some potted mums and a few pumpkins or gourds. If you have a swing, layer some cozy blankets and pillows.

Display Books

There's nothing quite like curling up with a good book on a cool fall afternoon. Get that cozy autumn feeling in your home by skipping the organized bookshelf and randomly stacking and arranging books on mantels, coffee tables, consoles, or end tables. You can use vintage books or your own favorite reads. Style with vases or memorabilia.

Arrange Fall-Colored Flowers

If you're still trying to hold on to the last of summer, a floral arrangement with colors that nod to fall has the best of both seasons. Flowers in colors like red, orange, yellow, and burgundy can be incorporated into arrangements with neutral, green, or complementary-colored flowers for a balanced mix. Place in a rustic vase or piece of pottery.

Bring in Baskets

Useful for storage or just for decor, baskets bring a cozy, natural element to a room that's reminiscent of fall without being too literal. Use a deep basket to hold blankets or magazines, a flat basket as a tray on a coffee table or counter, or assemble a gallery wall of multiple shallow baskets. Multipurpose and available in any shape or size, baskets provide countless decorating opportunities when you're ready to add a touch of fall.

Stack Wood Logs

Whether or not you have a wood-burning fireplace, logs can be used to create a fall display. Even if you don't need the heat of a crackling fire just yet, natural wood logs can help usher in cozy thoughts of fall. Stack them in a basket or metal rack in the living room or foyer; faux wood logs work just as well as real.

Style Antlers (Faux or Real)

Antlers of all kinds nod to autumn, though they can be used in home decor year-round. Placing one or two on a bookshelf, console, or end table adds a rustic feeling to the room, but can be modernized when styled in combination with more sophisticated pieces like art and pottery.

Incorporate Soft Whites

One of the benefits of a neutral color palette is that it makes it easier to update your style from one season to the next. Decorating in white, cream, and ivory provides the perfect backdrop for adding fall accents. If you don't have a neutral color scheme or prefer a little more color, simply decorate seasonally with neutral colors. Use white and cream elements like throw blankets, pillows, rugs, and even pumpkins to balance a more colorful background.

Layer Textures

Bring the fall feeling into your home by layering textures. Keep the additions minimal; you can easily add and subtract elements to achieve the look you want. A plaid blanket on the foot of a bed or a faux sheepskin pelt draped over a leather chair can add the right amount of warmth and create a cozy fall feeling without going overboard.

Include Natural Elements

One of the best late summer decorating ideas is to feature natural elements. Decorate with pinecones, apples, leaves, branches, acorns, pumpkins, and gourds. Natural touches bring in just the right amount of fall and are also easy on your wallet.

To keep your decor neutral, use a white or tan color scheme to unify a space. Fill a large bowl with miniature white pumpkins, sprigs of bittersweet, and other gathered finds to create a beautiful centerpiece that whispers but doesn't shout fall in shades of orange.

Switch Out Fabrics

A quick way to transition furniture for each season is to switch out cotton fabrics for velvets, knits, and softer materials on pillowcases, draperies, throw blankets, and rugs. These fabrics will make you want to get cozy while exuding that warm, welcoming feeling we associate with fall. It's also a great time to change up your accent colors to keep your decorating scheme interesting.

Incorporate a Fall Wreath

If you want to ease into fall gently and don't want to do much redecorating, a simple fall wreath with natural elements is a great way to move from summer to fall. Acorns, leaves, mini pumpkins, and wheat are all beautiful fall wreath ideas that can span from late summer to late fall.

Add Soft Light

Gather your candles and create an autumn mood as the nights get shorter. Put small candles in glass votives or Mason jars on a tray for a simple and effective fall centerpiece. Keep your late summer decorating ideas simple, use neutral colors, and add elements gradually for fall decorating that easily lasts through late fall.

Work in Plaid Patterns

Plaid is a classic pattern that can work year-round, but it feels especially appropriate for fall. Layer in various plaid elements, such as pillows, throws, rugs, and accessories, to quickly add a cozy pattern to your space.

Plaid comes in several unique varieties, including buffalo check, tartan, windowpane, and madras. Feel free to mix and match different types for added interest. However, stick to a neutral color palette with an accent color or two mixed in to give the varied patterns a cohesive look.

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