How to Create Your Own Summer to Fall Transition at Home

By mid-August, my excitement for fall is very real. I used to resist the urge to light a cinnamon candle or add pumpkin spice to my coffee until at least September, but now I fully lean into fall vibes when my heart feels ready. (I just pretend it’s not still 90 degrees outside). Even though it’s still technically summer, my husband and I joke that there is a period of time in our home called a “fall soft launch”, which is essentially the summer to fall transition of our cozy condo. 

This process is slow, steady and very exciting. If you’re feeling the call to sprinkle some fall decor into your home, but aren’t quite ready for a full on autumnal abode, read on for a few simple ways to create your own summer to fall transition at home. 

Switch Up Your Scents

Perhaps my favorite and easiest way to welcome the season is with scent. Lighting a warm cinnamon apple candle during a preseason football game is simply chef’s kiss. You don’t have to change any of your decor to start your summer to fall transition at home, but you can slowly start to put away your beachy, flowery scents. Embrace the spicier, woodsy fragrances for fall by keeping a candle on your entryway or coffee table. I also like to keep reed diffusers in our bathrooms—a nice touch for you and your guests.  

Swap Artwork and Framed Photos

Seasonal shifts are always a good time to check in with your framed photos and artwork. Updating your photos is a simple and cost effective way to keep the energy fresh and new in your home. Perhaps you have some photos from summer vacation that you’d like to frame! My summer to fall transition also includes swapping a few art pieces. Brightly colored art gets replaced for the season with deeper toned, moodier pieces that go well with the season. 

Prepare Your Kitchen for Cold Weather

Fall is the season to throw on an apron, turn on You’ve Got Mail and make a batch of pumpkin bread. I know that you can bake year-round, but the summer to fall transition in our home means getting our kitchen prepped for the season. We take our beloved crockpot and Dutch oven out of hiding, swap out our dish towels, and get ready for all the cozy fall and winter foods to come. Put away any summer-themed kitchen accessories like coolers, drink koozies, tumblers, and anything else you know you won’t need as the weather starts to cool down. Chili, anyone?

Add Darker-Colored Accents

My summer home feels light, breezy, and fairly neutral. As the weather gets cooler, I start to add in darker colored accents like pillows, throws, and decor like trinket boxes and candles. As you make swaps in your own home, be sure to stick with a seasonal color palette throughout your space. It’s more than OK to let this new color palette take you not only from summer to fall, but fall to winter as well. Deeper-toned woven accents, deep green, mustard yellow, and burgundy all look fantastic for both fall and winter. 

Go Heavy on the Candles

Lighting is such an easy and fun way to switch up the vibe in your home. Nothing is more romantic than candlelight, especially in the fall. Reach for taper candles and be generous with them! They look fantastic on mantels, dining tables, entryway tables, and coffee tables. If open flames make you nervous, there are battery-operated candles that emit a cozy glow, too. If you prefer the real thing, you can opt for taper candles in fall colors or even seasonal designs. 

Try Moodier Florals

If summer florals are bursting with color, autumn arrangements are earthy and rustic. Be on the lookout for deeper colors and try swapping your flowers with branches, greenery, and pampas grass. Faux florals and stems will of course last throughout the entire season and can be used for years to come. Arrange autumn stems in a vase, then place them on your mantle or entryway table. They will add lovely seasonal color and texture to any room, without breaking the bank.  

Bust Out Your Cozy Throws

We have throws on our sofa all year round, but when it turns the slightest bit chilly, we bring out the big boys. I’m talking the faux fur throws, the chunky knits, and the extra fuzzy blankets. Our summer throws are lighter weight and softer colors, while our fall throws are cozier and deeper hued. Drape throws over your couch, your accent chairs, or keep them hidden in a storage ottoman. A cozy collection of throws is a much-needed accessory for fall movie nights and football Sundays.  

Tidy Your Home’s Exterior

Your summer to fall transition can mean outside your home, too! While it still may be too early for mums and pumpkins on your front porch, you can tidy up your sidewalk and driveway, pull weeds, clean your gutters, and be sure your front porch light is in working order. Now’s a great time to add a fall wreath to your door, as well as replace your front door mat. I know our door mat looks pretty worse for wear by the end of the summer, and it’s such a nice touch to come home to a brand new one.