How to Transition Your Home for Fall: Easy Early Fall Decorating Ideas

Today I am sharing how to transition your home for fall with some easy fall decorating!

If you’re anything like me, you might be excited to decorate for fall but not quite ready to pull out the pumpkins yet. Here in Michigan, September can still look very much like summer. The grass is green, the trees are green, and there may not be anything outside that really looks like fall yet. But the mornings are getting a little cooler, the evenings feel a little more chilly, and I’m excited to share how to transition your home for fall.

I think here in Michigan, I just like to hang on to summer as long as possible. So instead of completely decorating for fall all at once, I like to start with a few simple changes that make my home feel a little more like fall. If you’re looking for easy fall decorating ideas for early fall, here are some of the things I like to do.

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Start by Shopping Your Home

Before going out and buying new fall decor, take a look at what you already have. I like to pull out my fall bins and see what I saved from the year before. I have a collection of dried stems and florals that I’ve saved over the years, and I love seeing what I can use again.

It can be tempting to go to Hobby Lobby and walk around looking at all the new fall things, but it’s not always the best use of your time or money. Instead, start by looking around your own home and playing with the things you already have. You may be surprised by how much you already have that can be used for fall decorating.

Replace Spring and Summer Florals with Dried Florals

One of the easiest ways to transition your home for fall is to switch out some of your spring and summer florals. Instead of changing everything in a room, look for little florals that feel more like spring and summer and replace them with dried or faux fall stems.

I love decorating with dried florals. I have dried limelight hydrangeas, regular hydrangeas, and leaves that I’ve clipped from my yard. When you incorporate real dried florals into your home, they add so much cozy texture. To me, they instantly make a room feel like fall. And the best part is that many of these things can be free.

Use What You Can Find in Your Own Yard

If you have flowers or leaves in your yard, look around and see what you can clip and dry. I tend to clip fresh stems every year, but one year I decided to save some of my leaves and see how they would look the following year. They still looked really cool!

They don’t last forever, though. Over time, dried stems become more brittle, and the more you play with them, the more leaves they can lose. Still, I love the way they look, and I think it’s such a fun way to decorate for fall without spending a lot of money. You can even dry flowers from the grocery store. I’ve purchased bundles of chamomile and other flowers from the grocery store, hung them to dry, and then used them for fall decor.

Mix Real and Faux Fall Florals

You don’t have to use only real dried flowers. I love mixing real and faux stems together. For example, you can combine dried leaves with faux flowers or little fall berry stems.

I have some bundles that are a mixture of dried stems and little fall berries, and they instantly make me feel like fall. This is such an easy way to add some seasonal color and texture without completely changing your decor.

Add Fall Decor to a Basket

Another simple way to decorate for early fall is to use a basket. I have a basket that I like to hang on the wall, and I filled it with dried leaves and flowers. I love the way this looks because it adds fall texture to the wall without needing to completely redecorate the space.

Just be careful when you’re arranging older dried leaves because they can be very brittle. I found that when I tried to move the leaves around too much, they would break. Sometimes you just have to get the arrangement close enough and leave it alone!

Bring in Fall Artwork

You can also transition your home for fall by changing out a piece of artwork. Earlier in the summer, I found a beautiful antique piece while thrifting. It has the prettiest fall scene, and I immediately thought it would be beautiful to use in my home during the fall. I love the idea of replacing one piece of artwork with something that has a fall scene or colorful leaves.

You don’t necessarily have to change everything. Sometimes just moving in one piece that feels more seasonal can make a difference. And I always love finding things like this while thrift shopping because you never know what you’re going to come across.

Add Fall Color with Fruit

If you’re not ready for pumpkins yet, try adding some fruit. I’m not always ready for pumpkins in early September, especially when it still feels like summer outside. So, instead, I like using other things that bring in a little bit of fall color.

I have some faux pears that I thrifted, and they look so lifelike. They’re all bumpy and have such a pretty, natural look. This is a simple way to bring in some color without pulling out all of your pumpkins.

Add Cozy Blankets as the Season Changes

As you continue transitioning your home for fall, you can also start bringing in cozy blankets. This is something I like to do later in the transition, once I’m ready to add a little more coziness to the rooms. You don’t have to do everything at once. You can start with dried florals and a few seasonal pieces and then continue layering in cozy elements as the weather gets cooler.

How to Transition Your Home for Fall Slowly

You don’t have to decorate for fall all at once. Start small by swapping summer florals for dried or faux fall stems, adding a few berry stems, dried leaves, seasonal artwork, or a little fall-colored fruit. When you’re ready, bring out the pumpkins. I love this approach because it lets your home transition gradually as the season changes outside.

Before shopping, check your fall bins and look around your home for baskets, vases, artwork, and other pieces you can reuse. You can also bring in natural elements from your yard, like leaves or flowers.

Sometimes the simplest changes make the biggest difference. A few dried stems, natural textures, and touches of fall color can give your home an early-fall feeling without going all-in on seasonal decorating. Do you slowly transition into fall decor, or bring it all out at once? Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to sign up for my free mini homemaking course for more decor inspiration!

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