It’s getting to be that time again, and by that time we mean fall. It’s time to pack away the bright colors and citrusy summer vibes and bring in something warmer and cozier.
The summer to fall coffee bar transition is one of our favorite home decor rituals of the entire year. After all of the rowdy fun of summer, this transition is almost an invitation to slow down to get ready for the fall.
In this post, we’re going to walk you through what to put away, what to bring out, how to do the whole thing under $30 if you need to.
And if you enjoy this post, you should definitely check out our coffee bar accessories post as well, which covers all the foundational pieces that work beautifully across every season!
This blog post is all about transitioning your coffee bar from summer to fall.
Signs It’s Time To Transition Your Coffee Bar to Fall
Before we get into HOW, let’s talk about WHEN you should be timing your summer to fall coffee bar transition.
The most important takeaway is that you don’t have to wait for your calendar to tell you. You get to decide, and we won’t judge if it’s way too early (because we tend to transition a little earlier than most people!).
The most popular transition time is anywhere from mid-August to the end of September. The “official” start date of fall is usually around September 21st-September 23rd, but let us reiterate that you don’t have to wait until then.
What to Pack Away From Your Summer Coffee Bar First
1. Bright or pastel colored mugs
Start putting away any beach- or floral-related mugs, especially those with bright colors. We know that most people have a pretty serious attachment to specific mugs. If you absolutely need to use it, at least put it in the cabinet so it doesn’t disrupt the vibes. But we promise you can absolutely find a fall-inspired mug that you would love just as much.
2. Citrus and floral elements
Speaking of flowers, any lemon, lime, or flower-forward decor pieces that were perfect for summer look a little weird sitting beside a pumpkin in fall. Go ahead and put those away as well.
3. Light or airy linens
Other items to throw back into your cabinet for next year include any fabrics or linens that read as summery rather than cozy. These can get replaced with something warmer, something that reminds you more of fall.
4. Any bright or summery signs
If you have any summer-related signs on your coffee bar, now is the time to either put them away or replace them with something more fall-related.
The Fall-Exclusive Elements That Only Belong to This Season
1. Real or fake mini pumpkins
Mini pumpkins are our number one fall item to add to any space, especially your coffee station. Mini pumpkins are the one piece of decor that is completely and exclusively autumn. Nothing else signals the season this quickly.
2. Dried orange slices or other botanicals
Dried orange slices, dried wheat, preserved autumn leaves, and more are a great way to add a little bit of fall to your coffee station. All of these natural items really reflect fall in an authentic way that doesn’t feel forced.
3. Acorns or fall leaves
Go outside right now and find the best acorn or most beautiful fallen leaf you can find. Put it on your coffee bar tray, and you’re done! It’s free, seasonable, and adds that organic texture you want in fall decor.
4. Apple cider
This is a perfect fall addition that transforms your coffee corner into a perfect full autumn warm drinks station. All you need is a small jar of apple cider mix, a bottle of cinnamon syrup, a container of cinnamon sticks, and a cozy mug.
5. Maple and pumpkin spice syrups
Even though there’s nothing wrong with enjoying these two flavors all year-round, there’s something very fall-specific about these two. Pumpkin spice especially signifies the beginning of fall for a lot of coffee lovers.
Your Step-by-Step Fall Coffee Bar Transition Checklist
1. Clear your coffee bar completely
Start off with a clean slate. Remove everything off of your coffee bar. This gives you a completely blank slate to work with.
2. Clean your coffee bar space
Now that you’ve cleared off your coffee bar completely, it’s time to clean. Coffee bars accumulate more drips and dust than almost any other surface in the kitchen and a full clean in between these seasonal transitions help keep things fresh.
3. Pull your fall mugs out of storage
Before you put anything back into place, go ahead and get those fall mugs out of storage. These really give you ideas about where you want to go with your color scheme.
4. Choose a fall color palette
Pick one item that establishes your color palette for the whole season. There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from, you don’t want to stick to the typical ones. Think about terracotta, burgundy, or a forest green.
5. Add a candle (if you want)
We will die on the hill that candles add that perfect amount of coziness to any setup. If you would like to add a fall candle to your setup, go ahead and add that now before any other accessories or botanicals. Place it where your eyes naturally land first and then work around it.
6. Layer in your fall botanicals and textures
Now it’s time for the fun decor: mini pumpkins, dried orange slices, maybe an acorn or two. These go last and get intentionally placed in your setup. Remember the odd numbers rule and don’t let it get too crowded. Sometimes less is more.
7. Swap out for your fall coffees and syrups
Your coffee bar is all set up and you just need to do one more thing: make sure you have all of your favorite fall coffee flavors and syrups. Throw all of your summer syrups and coffee to the back of your cabinet. From pumpkin spice to apple cider, it’s fall’s time to shine now!
Fall Coffee Bar Transition on a Budget
1. Use what you already have
Before you buy a single thing, go through your cabinet and see what already works. You almost certainly have one fall-toned mug, a plaid anything, or maybe a cinnamon stick in your spice cabinet. Start with what you have before you take out that wallet.
2. Things worth buying new
This is our personal opinion, but if you’re going to spend money on one item for your fall transition, spend it on mini pumpkins. A small set of decorative pumpkins costs around $8-12 and they’re the perfect, small element that just screams fall. Honestly, you could absolutely just add the mini pumpkins, and it would be known that you were setting up for fall.
3. Use your free elements!
Before we say this, please be careful picking up items from outside. Make sure there’s no hidden creatures in them or they aren’t near any poison ivy. Pinecones, acorns, fallen leaves, and more are all free and completely free.
There are plenty of ways online that show how to properly clean and treat outdoor items so you can keep them in your home. For example, here’s a favorite on how to treat pinecones.
4. Thrift store fall finds
Your local thrift store will be an absolute goldmine for fall mugs, small decorative pieces, and seasonal items. A beautiful stoneware mug can cost only $1-2 at most thrift stores.
How to Build a PSL Station at Home
The essentials:
- Coffee or espresso
- Milk (use whatever you like)
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Vanilla
- Sweetener (we like plain sugar, but use what you like)
- A super cute fall mug (of course)
How to display it:
Arrange your pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and sweetener in a small cluster on your tray. Treat it like a cute little PSL station within your coffee bar!
You Fall Coffee Bar is Ready
We truly believe that the summer to fall coffee bar transition is one of the most satisfying small home projects that you can do because the shift is so complete and immediate. A few intentional swaps and suddenly your whole coffee ritual feels like it belongs to the season.
The most important thing is that you don’t need to buy everything new or have a big budget. You just need a clear surface, a fall mug you love, maybe a fall candle, and a mini pumpkin or two.
Fall is almost here, so let’s slow down and enjoy this nice transition into a cozier, warmer season
This blog post is all about transitioning your coffee bar from summer to fall.
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