How to Transition Your Home Decor From Summer to Fall

To make room for your new fall decor, start by writing down a list of all the seasonal summer items currently taking up space in your home. This might include swimsuits, beach towels, clothes, blankets or even bedding that you won’t need to use until the weather warms up again. It might also include bigger items like lawn equipment and tents that are taking up precious space.

By taking inventory of all the seasonal items you won’t need until next year, you’ll know exactly how much room you have for any fall-themed decor you want to buy. As you store your summer items in your basement, garage or self-storage unit, you’ll be able to take stock of what fall items you might already have on hand and be able to reuse this year. After you’ve cleared your space, it’s time to put together your fall mood board.

While it may be tempting to go on a no-holds-barred run to the store, the more streamlined and budget-friendly alternative is to start by creating a fall mood board. Pinterest is an excellent resource since you can make a mood board with separate sections for each homeroom you want to decorate.

To get started, create a Pinterest account or log in if you already have one, then create a new board titled “Fall Home Inspiration.” On Pinterest, boards are a way to organize the pins you save (i.e., your inspiration), and if you want to organize your pins further, you can create different sections within a board. In other words, you can have separate areas of your board dedicated to your living room, dining room, bedroom or any other area of your home.

Once you’ve done this, it’s time to put on your favorite autumn playlist and start pinning. Use the search bar to find design inspiration and pin your favorite items, looks and styles. You can even add notes to an individual pin and invite collaborators (such as a roommate or partner) to add pins and notes to your board as well.

Once you’ve identified the fall decorations you want to buy, it’s time to go shopping. To ensure you stay within budget, keep an eye out for seasonal sales and coupons that can save you money. For any blankets, pillows or towels, consider finding options at a nearby Target or store where you can feel the texture and see the color in person to make sure it’s perfect for your home. And don’t forget to place online orders early to ensure everything arrives on time in case you’re planning for a dinner party, Halloween celebration or other timely occasion.

If you’re feeling stuck and not sure where to start when it comes to decorating your new space, don’t feel pressured to make big, sweeping changes. Minor additions or swaps can go a long way in revamping the look of your home. Here are some tips for different rooms:

• Living room. In the living room, consider replacing any throw blankets with cozier materials like chunky knit or chenille over sofas and chairs and replacing cream-colored pillows with autumnal patterns or colorful orange and gold options. You can also arrange fall items like faux autumn leaves, acorns, dried corn, pumpkins, pinecones and gourds on the fireplace mantle or as a centerpiece on your coffee table.
• Bedroom. In the bedroom, you can switch up your bedding with a warmer, autumn-inspired alternative and add mini pumpkins in jars to your nightstand. You can also hang a small dried flower wreath above your headboard or on your bedroom door for a pop of color.
• Bathroom. The bathroom is the perfect spot to put scented fall candles and a seasonal bath mat, as well as switching out your bath and hand towels with autumn-related alternatives.
• Kitchen. Instead of fresh flowers, add dried grasses, wheatstalks or colorful leaves to your vases. Swap out hand towels with red, gold and orange alternatives, and bring out any seasonal dinnerware with autumn motifs like leaves, pumpkins and acorns. You can also display a fruit bowl on your island or kitchen counter with seasonal fruit and hang up mini wreaths on your cabinets.

DIY Fall Decor Ideas

If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at making your own fall-themed item. Creating a pressed leaf art wall is a fun activity to start with. Simply gather the most colorful leaves from your backyard or neighborhood, press them between the pages of a large book or between layers of wax paper with heavy books on top, and then place them in picture frames. You can hang the pressed leaf artwork throughout the house or create an entire pressed leaf art wall in your foyer or living room. 

You can also paint pumpkins, make a wreath out of pine cones or acorns, or create a garland out of leaves. Making your own fall decor can save you lots of money and ensure that it turns out exactly how you want it to. Better yet, you can reuse them every year.

Once fall begins to transition into winter, consider storing them in a storage unit to keep them safe and easily accessible for next year. You’ll want to dust off, clean and dry your items and take extra steps to protect any fragile items before storing them. For example, bubble-wrap any dishware or use tissue paper and boxes to store dried flowers and wreaths. Then check out our tips on keeping everything organized in your storage unit, so you know exactly where to look next year when it’s time to decorate for fall again.