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5 Easy Steps to Switch Your Summer Decor to Coastal Fall
One of the questions I get most in late summer is: how do you switch from summer to fall decor without losing that coastal feel? The answer is simpler than you might think. I walk through the whole thing in the quick video above on my mantle, starting with my summer setup featuring my Jellyfish Sign and Anchor Sign, then swapping in my coastal fall signs for the season. Read on for all the details!
You don't have to pack everything away and start over. Coastal fall is all about layering in a few warm, textured elements while keeping the light, airy base you already have. Here are my 5 easy steps to make the switch.
Step 1: Add Wheat
Wheat stalks are the single easiest way to signal fall in a coastal space. They add warmth, height, and texture without adding any color that would clash with your coastal palette. I grab mine at Publix every fall, usually in late August. They're inexpensive, last all season, and look like they cost so much more.
Tuck a few stems into a vase, a glass bottle, or right into your existing arrangement. Even a small bundle makes a big difference. Wheat works beautifully alongside driftwood, glass floats, and starfish because it adds that warm, earthy contrast without competing with the coastal elements.
Step 2: Add Seagrass
Seagrass is your coastal fall secret weapon. A seagrass basket, a woven seagrass tray, or even a bundle of dried seagrass adds incredible texture and warmth while staying on-brand for a coastal home.
Swap out any lighter, summery baskets for deeper, more textured seagrass pieces. Use a seagrass tray as the base for a fall vignette on your coffee table or console. Layer a seagrass runner under your mantle arrangement. It's a small change that makes the whole space feel more intentionally fall without losing the beach house vibe.
Just don't take actual sea oats from beaches - there are lots of plants that look like seagrass - lemongrass, pampas plants, and more!
Step 3: Add Little Pumpkins
Mini pumpkins are where the fun begins. I love tucking small seafoam, white, and pale blue pumpkins into existing arrangements rather than building something new from scratch. They nestle perfectly between glass floats, starfish, and driftwood and instantly say "fall" without screaming it.
The Target Dollar Spot is my favorite source for mini pumpkins in coastal colors. At $1-3 each, you can grab a handful and scatter them throughout your space. Don't forget to swap out the plastic stems for small sticks from your yard for a much more natural look.
For more ideas on where to find the best coastal pumpkins, check out my post: Where to Find the Best Pumpkins for Your Coastal Fall Decor.
Step 4: Add Big Pumpkins
Once your mini pumpkins are in place, bring in one or two larger statement pumpkins as anchors. This is where HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls shine. Their seafoam and white pumpkins in the $4.99-$9.99 range are stunning and look incredibly high-end.
Place your larger pumpkin as the focal point of your arrangement, with smaller pumpkins and coastal accents layered around it. Vary the heights by stacking a book or small wooden block underneath if needed. The combination of one large pumpkin with several minis creates a collected, intentional look that feels styled rather than staged.
Step 5: Switch Your Signs
This is the step that ties everything together and makes the biggest visual impact. Swapping your summer signs for coastal fall signs instantly transforms the whole feel of a space.
On my mantle, I started with these two summer signs:
Then I swapped them out for these three coastal fall signs:
The Sand Dollar Pumpkin Sign - one of my favorites because it bridges coastal and fall perfectly. A sand dollar inside a pumpkin is just the most coastal fall thing ever.
Shop the Sand Dollar Pumpkin Sign
The Starfish Pumpkin Sign - a starfish and pumpkin in one is such a perfect coastal fall pairing. This one works beautifully on a mantle, in a dough bowl, or on a gallery wall.
Shop the Starfish Pumpkin Sign
And the Autumn Leaves and Ocean Breeze Sign - this is the statement piece. It's the sign that says everything about coastal fall in one line. I love it as the centerpiece of a mantle or gallery wall.
Shop the Autumn Leaves and Ocean Breeze Sign
Not sure which fall sign is right for your space? Browse all our coastal fall signs here. Every sign is hand-painted on real wood right here on Amelia Island in your choice of 15 colors and multiple sizes.
The Full Coastal Fall Transition in 5 Steps
To recap, here's all you need to switch from summer to coastal fall:
- Add wheat for warmth and height
- Add seagrass for texture and depth
- Tuck in little pumpkins in seafoam, white, and pale blue
- Anchor with a big pumpkin as your focal point
- Swap your signs for coastal fall versions
No complete overhaul, no packing everything away. Just a few intentional additions and one sign swap, and your space goes from summer to coastal fall in an afternoon.
I'd love to see your coastal fall transition! Tag me on Instagram or Pinterest so I can see how you styled yours.