How To Transition Your Outdoor Spaces From Summer To Fall
Nature and weather shift rapidly between the summer and fall, so it makes sense that your outdoor spaces should follow suit. As temperatures drop, your carefree warm-weather patio sets and tropical pool area quickly look out of place amongst the falling leaves. To ensure the outdoor areas you enjoy most continue looking great and remain functional, you need to know how to properly transform them when fall arrives.
To make your outdoor areas more suitable for fall weather, swap lightweight, neutral-colored fabrics for bold earth tones and insulating, textured fabrics. Add soft outdoor rugs and make your outdoor fire features a focal point. Fill planters with cold-hardy plants, add more soft outdoor lighting, and incorporate thoughtful seasonal decorations throughout your outdoor spaces.
Autumn is a very visually appealing season. It’s filled with unique colors and festive holidays, and your outdoor areas are a great way to highlight the season's charm. It’s also cooler, so you'll need to make a few changes to keep your favorite outdoor gathering spots comfortable. Below is a list of great ways you can transition outdoor spaces to give them a quintessential fall vibe.
Five Outdoor Spaces You Can Adjust When Fall Arrives
1. Deck And Patio
Decks, patios, and any outdoor area with seating and space to entertain need a few fall adjustments. For one, they may need some upkeep before winter arrives, like fresh paint or sealant. To make these spaces suitable for cooler weather, consider the type of furniture and its placement, and see how you can make is more fall-friendly.
2. Pool Area
No outdoor space changes more with the end of summer than the pool area. If you live somewhere with four distinct seasons, you likely start closing your pool in the fall. While you might not be able to swim as winter approaches, you can still transform and use your pool area as an enjoyable place to sit and enjoy a sunny afternoon. If you have a hot tub, keep it open and use it on clear, starry nights.Â
3. Outdoor Fire Feature
Fire features have become quite popular additions to backyards. Whether you have a DIY fire pit or a top-of-the-line outdoor fireplace, it becomes more attractive in the fall and should take center stage, with your design reflecting that.
4. Front Porch
Your front entrance is often the first impression of your home when people first visit. It should reflect your style, and also the season. If you have a front porch, keep the furniture and relaxation areas usable, and consider how to decorate to reflect the season and your desired aesthetic.
5. Garden And Landscaping
As summer fades, so do many of your plants. Fall is a major transition month for a garden, and while you might not be adding many new plants, you will likely spend a lot of time removing dying ones. Pay attention to your garden as the seasons shift to keep it healthy.
10 Ways To Transition Outdoor Spaces From Summer To Fall
1. Color Scheme
Fall is known for its sudden bursts of color, and your outdoor spaces can reflect this, too. To move with the season and make the exterior of your home more visually appealing, adjust the color scheme. Add pillows and throws, or swap out certain neutral items for furniture or objects in vibrant fall colors.
2. Seasonal Decorations
As soon as the temperatures cool, your yard can become a canvas for some of the year's most festive holidays, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving that involve very specific decorating. To transition the outside design more naturally after the summer, add seasonal charm. Pumpkins and gourds are a great option, as are other harvest-themed decorations.
3. Warm Up Lounging Areas
In the summer, it’s all about keeping your outdoor areas cool. But as the seasons shift, the opposite becomes true. To make your outdoor area more comfortable through fall and into the winter, consider ways to warm it up. If you have an enclosed outdoor room, like a screened-in porch, swap out your summer fans for a space heater or another heat source.
4. Clean And Store Vulnerable Items
Some items work perfectly outside in the summer but are never used in the cold. Store away hammocks, loungers, and other summer furniture. This protects them so you can enjoy them later and frees up space in your yard for new items.
5. Blankets And Insulating Fabrics
Cozy vibes are all part of the fall aesthetic. Just as you layer your clothing in the fall, you can add layers to your outdoor furniture. This means cushions, pillows, and warm blankets on your favorite chairs and loungers. These insulating fabrics will keep you and your guests warm and add a comfy fall look to your outdoor areas.
6. Cold-Hardy Plants
It’s common for flowers in planters to die as days shorten and nights hover near freezing. Instead of leaving outdoor planters empty, plant cold-hardy species that will last through autumn. Mums, ornamental cabbage, and sedum plants are all beautiful plants that can survive an overnight frost.
7. Soft Outdoor Rugs
Another effective way to bring warmth and fall texture to your outdoor area after a long summer is with an outdoor rug. A colorful, thick one isn’t always ideal in the summer, as it tends to hold heat, but it's a perfect choice for the fall.
A soft outdoor area carpet keeps your feet warm, adds vibrant color, and makes your space more comfortable in fall weather.
8. Remove Dead Plants And Tidy Up Garden Beds
Farden beds and overall landscaping change significantly as the seasons shift and nights grow cold. Annuals fade and die, so stay on top of removing dead plants to keep your landscaping looking great. Dead plants can cause mold, spread disease, and look terrible. Consider adding some late-season cold-hardy plants in their place, or get a head start on your spring garden by planting bulbs and new perennials.
9. Soft Lighting
Lighting is a cheap and highly effective way to transform your outdoor areas from summer to fall. Days get much shorter in the fall, making additional lighting practical. Plus, the right lighting, like artificial candles, lanterns, and warm string lights, can cast an amber glow onto your deck, patio, or front porch. This suits crisp evenings and makes these spaces more enticing than if they were blanketed in darkness.
10. Make Area Less Inviting To Burrowing Pests
As your outdoor living area becomes more comfortable, many wild animals are looking for a cozy place to burrow for the winter. In the fall, rodents and other burrowing mammals seek shelter and may choose a spot on your property. Make sure you close up crawl spaces and seal any vulnerabilities under your deck, in sheds, and in other enclosures.
Final Notes On Transitioning Outdoor Spaces From Summer To Fall
As the seasons change, you and your home need to adjust, too. When fall arrives, temperatures cool and you can transition outdoor areas to look and feel appropriate for autumn. Great ways to adjust these exerior areas include switching up the color scheme, adding cozy, soft touches like blankets and outdoor rugs, and making the most of outdoor fire features. Pay particular attention to the deck, porch, pool area, front entrance, and landscaping. Add cold-hardy species to your planters, and find soft lighting to keep your areas illuminated after dark.
Related Guides:
- Outdoor Fireplaces Vs. Outdoor Fire Pits: Which Is More Ideal?
- 12 Ways To Utilize Your Outdoor Spaces When It’s Cold
- How To Protect Outdoor Furniture In The Winter
Tom Gaffey is an expert writer who currently resides in Washington D.C. Tom has a passion for real estate and home improvement writing, as well as travel and lifestyle writing. He lived the last twelve years in Hawaii where he worked closely with luxury resorts and event planners, mastering his knowledge of aesthetics and luxury products. This is where he found his passion for home improvement and a keen interest in DIY projects. Currently, Tom resides in Washington D.C, and also working on his debut fiction novel.
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