5 Beautiful Organics To Help You Transition From Summer To Early Fall

Discover five beautiful organics- apples, pears, hydrangeas, sunflowers, and more- to style your home for late summer and early fall decorating.

I’ve always loved seasonal transitions in decorating. That probably comes from my years of teaching elementary school, especially first grade. My classroom flowed right along with the seasons and holidays, and that rhythm still influences the way I decorate today.

Fall is my favorite time of the year, especially since we live in Lancaster County, the most beautiful, fall festive place I know. Between the farm stands piled with apples and pumpkins, the fields turning gold, and the crisp air rolling in, this season feels like it was made for us.

As a decorator and blogger, I naturally look ahead to the in-between times, the moments when one season is winding down, and another is just beginning. Right now is the perfect time to start thinking about moving from summer’s light and airy feel into the warmer, cozier look of early fall.

You might like to read The Smart Girl’s Guide to Easy Fall Decorating. It’s filled with ideas for easing your home into fall.

When Late Summer Meets Early Fall

I like to transition slowly, enjoying the process of tucking away summer accents and bringing in early fall touches. I never rush the change in a day or two, at least, not before blogging changed my timelines. This time of year is one of my favorites because summer and fall share the stage for a few short weeks.

The mornings and evenings turn cooler, even though just slightly, while the afternoons can still feel warm. The annuals in my pots are nearly finished after the heat of July and August, so I swap them for lettuce that will be ready for fall harvest and plant marigolds for a pop of color. And the hydrangeas are ready to be picked and enjoyed indoors.

In my area, early fall usually isn’t when I bring out lots of pumpkins, mums, or heavy throw blankets. I like to start with small, meaningful changes. That said, you’ll see a few pumpkins in these images. If you can find them early and want to use them, go ahead and enjoy them in your decor. As hard as I try, I just can’t restrain myself when I see darling baby boo pumpkins at the local farm stands I haunt.

This post is all about the organics themselves, the apples, pears, hydrangeas, sunflowers, branches, cabbage, and corn that make this season so beautiful to decorate with. If you would like more general tips on easing your whole home from summer into fall, textiles, scents, and pacing included, Transitioning Your Home From Late Summer To Early Fall is a great companion read.

Here are five beautiful organics that are perfect for this season of transition.

🌿 TIP BOX: Buy organics in stages rather than all at once. Pick up apples and pears early, then add hydrangeas and cabbage a couple weeks later. Your display will feel more natural, and you will not tire of it before fall even arrives.

Apples

Apples are the quintessential September fruit, tying together back to school and the early days of fall. With so many colors, shapes, and flavors, they’re a decorator’s dream and a cook’s favorite.

[image: fall berries and green apples in a white footed bowl]

The simplest way to decorate with apples is to fill a bowl with them for an easy, beautiful arrangement. Another favorite of mine is to tuck the last blooms of summer into Mason jars, set them on a tray, and surround them with apples.

I also like to set up an early fall coffee station in late August with apples as the star. You can see my Early Fall Coffee Bar for inspiration.

Of course, nothing makes my home smell like early fall more than cooking with apples. We love to pick them, make applesauce, dry them, and bake with them. My Raw Apple Cake is a seasonal favorite, filled with the cozy scents of cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Apples are simple, beautiful, and versatile. Perfect for adding a fresh, seasonal look to your home in late summer and early fall.

🌿 TIP BOX: Choose apples with a bit of variation in size and color rather than a uniform bowl. A mix of deep red, green, and blush pink apples looks more natural and more interesting in a display.

Pears

Pears don’t get the attention apples do, but they are every bit as beautiful. Their graceful shape, fall inspired colors, and sweet, delicate flavor make them perfect for late summer and early fall decorating.

Place a half dozen pears in a wide bowl for an elegant centerpiece, or mix them with flowers in an arrangement. From tiny, chubby Seckel pears to richly hued Bosc pears, they bring a soft, organic beauty to any display.

With their graceful shape and soft colors, pears add quiet beauty to late summer and early fall decorating. Whether displayed in a bowl, mixed with flowers, or used as a seasonal accent on the table, they bring a natural elegance that works in any room.

🌿 TIP BOX: Pears bruise easily, so handle them gently when arranging. Set the softer, riper pears toward the back of a bowl or basket and the firmer ones up front where they will be handled most.

Hydrangeas

I love hydrangeas. We have planted 17 hydrangea plants around our home, and right now, every single one of them is blooming. It is one of my favorite sights of the season. If you are thinking about adding some of your own, Planting Hydrangeas In Planters And In The Ground walks you through it.

Late summer and early fall are the best times to cut hydrangeas. By mid-September, they are ideal for drying, so I fill our home with fresh and drying blooms from now until October.

If you want them to last, you will love my tips in The Secret For Keeping Cut Hydrangeas Fresh Longer and How To Dry Beautiful, Showy Hydrangeas The Easy Way.

Look for my upcoming post about making a dried hydrangea wreath, it is such a simple, beautiful way to bring fall inside.

Hydrangeas are beautiful, fresh or dried, and their colors blend perfectly with late summer and early fall decorating. They add softness and fullness to any arrangement or display.

🌿 TIP BOX: Cut hydrangeas early in the morning while the stems are full of water, and place them straight into a bucket of cool water before arranging. This one step makes a real difference in how long they last indoors.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are one of the happiest flowers to decorate with. They are bold, cheerful, and perfect for late summer through fall. Use them on their own or mixed with other flowers for a vibrant arrangement.

You might enjoy Decorating With Sunflowers for more inspiration, plus tips for keeping them fresh and drying their seed heads.

Dried sunflower heads add wonderful texture to a fall arrangement, a table display, or even a seasonal wreath.

Sunflowers bring a cheerful, vibrant look to late summer and early fall and work just as well fresh as they do dried in seasonal arrangements.

🌿 TIP BOX: Sunflowers are heavy-headed, so give them a sturdy vase with a wide base. A vase that is too light or narrow will tip over once the blooms open fully.

Fall Branches And Leaves

Fall leaves are one of the easiest ways to bring the fall season into your home. I like to use realistic looking leaves in arrangements, vases, and baskets because they hold their color and shape all season long. Good faux stems can look just as beautiful as real ones, and they are reusable year after year.

Look for leaves with natural variations in color, reds, golds, and soft browns, and stems that can be shaped. I often mix them with hydrangeas, sunflowers, or branches for more interest. A large vase of faux maple or oak leaves on a console table or kitchen island instantly says fall without feeling heavy.

If you use real leaves or cut branches, remember they will not last long indoors, so enjoy them for a few days and then refresh your display.

🌿 TIP BOX: Trim faux branches with wire cutters to fit your container, rather than forcing a stem that is too long or full into a small vase. A little pruning goes a long way toward a natural, uncrowded look.

The most realistic faux organics are often expensive, but they are worth the investment because they look beautiful year after year. Start by choosing just one faux organic each season that looks and feels as close to the real thing as possible. Over time, you will have a collection you can use in arrangements, wreaths, and displays every fall without needing to buy as much new decor.

🌿 TIP BOX: Trim faux branches with wire cutters to fit your container, rather than forcing a stem that is too long or full into a small vase. A little pruning goes a long way toward a natural, uncrowded look.

Ornamental Cabbage and Kale

Ornamental cabbage and kale are such pretty late summer and early fall plants. Their round, layered leaves come in shades of green, cream, purple, and pink, and they add great texture to arrangements and container gardens.

They do well in cooler weather and look good long into the season. I like to use them in porch planters with mums, trailing ivy, or marigolds. Indoors, smaller plants work well tucked into baskets, trays, or down the center of a table for a simple seasonal display.

When buying ornamental cabbages or kale, look for plants with firm leaves and a tight center. Keep them watered, and if the weather is still warm, place them in a spot with some afternoon shade.

They mix nicely with other organics like hydrangeas, branches, or fruit for an easy, natural look. I also like to pair them with pumpkins. Sorry, I just could not resist.

Ornamental cabbages and kale bring wonderful texture and color to late summer and early fall decorating and look fresh and seasonal well into cooler weather.

🌿 TIP BOX: Plant ornamental cabbage and kale where you will see them daily, a porch step, an entry planter, or a kitchen window box. Their color actually deepens as the weather cools, so they only get prettier as the season goes on.

Indian Corn

Indian corn is one of the prettiest late summer and early fall organics. The multicolored kernels, ranging from deep burgundy and gold to creamy white, add rich color and a harvest feel to any display. The dried husks bring texture that works indoors or out.

I like to bundle three or four ears together with twine or ribbon and hang them on a door, use them in a wreath, or lay them along a mantel or table runner. Small bundles look great tucked into baskets or dough bowls with other seasonal organics.

When choosing Indian corn, look for ears with tightly packed kernels and husks that are dry but still flexible. Keep them in a dry spot so they last through the season.

The showy Indian Corn Wreath is so easy to make and adds a beautiful and big harvest accent to your fall decor.

Indian corn adds color and texture to late summer and early fall decorating and works beautifully in wreaths, centerpieces, and seasonal displays.

🌿 TIP BOX: Spray a light coat of clear sealant on Indian corn if you plan to display it outdoors. This helps protect the husks and kernels from moisture and keeps the colors looking fresh longer.

More Early Fall Organics To Use

.There are so many other seasonal organics that work beautifully in late summer and early fall decorating. Mixing in a few unexpected elements can give your displays more texture and interest.

Dried seed pods (lotus pods, poppy pods)
Wheat stalks
Acorns
Pinecones
Dried lavender
Cotton stems
Bittersweet branches
Small gourds (natural colors)

Learn how to make Wool Ball Acorns. They are quick to put together and bring a playful, seasonal accent to your fall decorating.

The transition between summer and fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. With just a few seasonal organics, you can create arrangements and displays that reflect the changing season in a simple and natural way.

🌿 TIP BOX: Keep a small basket or bowl by the back door for collecting acorns, pinecones, and seed pods on your daily walks. A little foraging habit through September means you will have a full supply of natural accents by the time you are ready to style with them.

Early Fall Posts To Help You Decorate Your Home

If you are looking for more inspiration for this beautiful season, here are a few early fall posts you might enjoy.

Transitioning Your Home From Late Summer To Early Fall – Helpful tips for making small, thoughtful changes that ease your home into the new season without rushing.

60 Early Fall Decorating Ideas For Your Home – Creative ways to bring the colors, textures, and feel of early fall into every room.

The Lazy Girl’s Guide To Decorating Your Home – Simple, doable decorating tips for creating a beautiful home without a lot of fuss or effort.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Happy fall decorating, friends…