Autumn is arguably the best time of the year. We just absolutely love the changing leaves, the cooler weather, the warm beverages, the home decorations, and the cozy sweaters + flannels. We don’t know what it is, but there’s something about fall shopping that’s especially fun. And luckily, there are many local boutiques and shops in Hoboken and Jersey City to help us do just that to celebrate the season. No matter how festive you are looking to get, there are many creative ways to get into the fall spirit and make the next couple of months extra fun. From decorating your apartment to enjoying the foliage, sprucing up your fall wardrobe, or drinking as many PSL’s as you can (no judging), there’s something for everyone. Keep reading for a guide to local shopping ideas in Hoboken and Jersey City so you can embrace the fall spirit.
Bring Fall Nature Inside
With outdoor space hard to come by, colorful flowers, leaves, and branches are a great way to bring the vibrancy of the fall indoors (assuming no one at home has any allergies). Flowers make for great decor and will create a space that is cozy and cheerful. There are so many local flower shops in Hoboken and Jersey City (listed below) to choose colorful flowers (in the shades of red, orange, yellow, peach, or white) to then place them in a stylish vase to sit on your countertop or window sill.
This simple act will transform your apartment into a dreamy fall wonderland. If you do happen to have outdoor space, create a spectacular display of foliage by choosing popular outdoor seasonal flowers including mums, chrysanthemums, dahlias, purple pansies, and even bright yellow sunflowers to brighten it up.
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In addition, pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, sunflowers, and scarecrows are another great way to add to the fall season. Uniquely shaped gourds make for great accent pieces on your mantel, kitchen countertop, or dining room table. They’re inexpensive, easy to decorate, and they immediately make any space look more festive. If you’re feeling creative, paint them in fall-appropriate hues such as matte, charcoal, terracotta, simple white, or a pop of metallic gold. And the closer it gets to Halloween, the more spooky decor you can incorporate, including window decals, carved pumpkins, spider webs, and other Halloween decor.
Without further ado, here are some great local shops for flowers, plants, and other natural decorations for fall.
Beethoven’s Veranda | 108 10th Street, Hoboken
This beautiful flower and plant boutique has a large selection of gorgeous floral arrangements and bouquets.
Bloomie Flower Studio | 107 4th Street, Hoboken
This Hoboken-based floral design studio has a sustainable focus.
Flowers by Diane | 109 2nd Street, Hoboken
Flowers by Diane is a flower shop that offers cheery arrangements + blooming plants, plus gourmet gift baskets + balloons. This shop offers both fresh-cut flowers as well as a lush selection of low-light plants suitable for apartment living.
Hudson Flowers | 92 Hudson Street, Hoboken
Hudson Flowers has endless options for flowers. Customers can either create their own bouquets or buy ones pre-made.
SOHO Flower & Garden | 264 1st Street, Hoboken
This plant nursery has a wide array of different potted plants and flower arrangements to brighten up your space.
14th Street Garden Center | 793 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City
This Family-run shop features a variety of plants, flowers, and succulents along with planters.
Mela Fleurs | 320 Washington Street, Hoboken
Mela Fleurs is a chic sustainable floral design studio that sells custom and premade dried flower arrangements.
Bouquets & Baskets | 548 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City
Bouquets & Baskets is a great place to pick up plants or fresh-cut arrangements.
Brennan’s Florist | 222 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
This family-owned shop has been open since 1997. It specializes in unique floral designs and even delivers.
Exchange Place Flowers | 33 Hudson Street, Jersey City
This shop aims to add beauty and individuality to any space and has a large list of flowers, succulents, plants, and more.
Noah’s Ark Florist | 200 Hudson Street, Jersey City
Noah’s Ark features in-season blooms to choose from – or you can create your own arrangement.
Get Some Fall-Inspired Candles
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There’s something about fall that is strongly associated with so many beloved smells. We love a good autumn scent, and candles may be our favorite home decoration for the fall. Plus, there’s nothing better than coming home after a long day to the sweet aroma of apple crisp baking in the oven or a pumpkin chai brewing on the stove.
Wicked Scents, located at 163 2nd Street in Hoboken, offers handmade, 100% vegan, soy-free, clean-burning candles, diffusers, and soaps for any occasion. Its fall lineup includes the most wonderful scents like cinnamon and pumpkin, crisp apple candle, chai latte, apple crumble, pumpkin souffle, lemon biscotti, toasted pumpkin spice, and much more. And while you’re at it, stop by Symposia Book Store and choose some fall novels to read. Candles offer cozy lighting that’s perfect for curling up with a good book at the end of the day.
Decorate Your Kitchen + Living Room
Fall is such a colorful season and would not be complete without some interior decorating. The vast array of seasonal home decor products found at local boutiques around town could practically furnish your apartment. From throw pillows to bedding, to kitchen towels, glassware and pottery, and everything in between, these shops offer so many creative home goods to jazz up your sanctuary. Try adding festive throw pillows on your couch or bed, or decorative dish towels and glassware in your kitchen. Display a fall wreath on your entry wall door to welcome this beautiful time of year.
Here are some local shops for your home + kitchen decorating needs.
Washington General Store | 509 Washington Street, Hoboken
(Photo credit: @washingtongeneral)
Located on Hoboken’s historic Washington Street, Washington General Store is a modern gift boutique with a large amount of seasonal home decor products to choose from. With its mix of carefully curated goods, it’s the go-to spot around town for unique, thoughtful gifts; special treasures; and home decor. Its inventory is updated seasonally, and we especially love the fall products. Here, you’ll find mugs, dish sets, knot towels, leaf plates, fringe pillows, glass candles, pumpkins, crochet pot holders, fall foliage faux leaves, room diffusers, cozy socks, scarves, and all things flavored pumpkin, maple, and apple.
UNJUMBOLD | 257 1st Street, Hoboken
This unique shop is known for elevating the everyday home and lifestyle, with an emphasis on hand-made items in New Jersey. For the season, we recommend trying the cinnamon and wild honey, honey and mint balm, and gourmet preserving spoon.
Luna Rosa Home | 1218 Washington Street B, Hoboken
This store offers rugs, bedding, towels, bath accessories, candles, decorative pillows, throws, accessories, home decor, and so much more. Pick out some inexpensive, autumn-colored pillow covers that you can place over your existing pillows, rather than buying something entirely new. Or simply pick up some cute fall-inspired paper or cloth napkins to spruce up a dinner party!
Update Your Fall Wardrobe
The chillier weather calls for some fall essentials. Put away that tired summer clothing and refresh your wardrobe with some trendy, fun, fall pieces in brown, warm, and natural tones. And instead of heading to the mall or shopping online, support local boutiques that have new, unique styles that can’t be found anywhere else.
From tops, dresses, skirts, denim, accessories, and so much more, you can find pieces for any occasion. Shop for weddings, holiday parties, back-to-office wardrobes, and even casual outfits for lounging and snuggling up on the couch. Patterns like plaid and stripes, paired with flannels, scarves, or other accessories will also help bring your fall outfit to life. Items like knit sweaters, turtlenecks, corduroy pants and jackets, shackets, scarves, flannel bucket hats, and leather boots are available at the following local boutiques.
Brooke + Bel | 60 4th Street, Hoboken
Brooke + Bel is a highly-curated shopping destination. This local Hoboken boutique sells women’s clothes, accessories, jewelry, and more.
The Mint Market | 303 1st Street, Hoboken + 339 Grove St, Jersey City
The Mint Market is a vintage and contemporary boutique stocking on-trend women’s apparel. It also stocks vintage designer handbags such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, and more.
a X d boutique | 503 Washington Street, Hoboken
Sister boutique of alba, a x d boutique offers brighter, more vibrant, and fun apparel + accessories in a colorful and inviting space.
Alba Boutique | 716 Washington Street, Hoboken
The sister store of a x d boutique, Alba carries more premium collections and a more neutral color palette.
Emme & Max | 1214 Washington Street, Hoboken
Parents, this one is for you. Fall fashion doesn’t have to just be for adults. Halloween and cold weather accessories for your little ones can be found at Emme & Max. Dressing up your kids in festive clothing is such a fun part of the season. Try the festive Sweet Wink Boo sweatshirts, bat tutu, cheetah cardigans, and more.
Kanibal Co. | 197 Montgomery Street, Jersey City
Kanibal Co. is a lifestyle shop comprised of unique goods such as repurposed furniture, home accents, arty t-shirts, and stationery. For the fall, we are loving the crisp apple scented candle to use to decorate or gift, brass cuff bracelets to add to your fall wardrobe, and DIY sourdough bread kit for a fun day of baking.
Prepping for Spooky Season
Lepore’s Hoboken Famous Chocolates | 105 4th Street, Hoboken
Halloween is right around the corner, and the season is not complete without a little chocolate and candy. Fill up a rustic jar or glass cylinder with candy corn, candy pumpkins, or really any kind of chocolate that seems festive. Although it may be hard to resist grabbing a few when you walk by, these candies will certainly add some color to any room (and satisfy your sweet tooth).
Another Man’s Treasure | 195 Montgomery Street, Jersey City
For some DIY Halloween, going thrifting is a fun and cheaper way to put together a costume – and bring out your creative, inner child. You can find just about anything – from designer clothes to collector items to sporting goods and accessories. As the shop name suggests, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure (or at least a piece to complete a Halloween costume). Even if something is not your exact size, there are fun ways to make use of the fabric. Also, most thrift shops offer some pretty cool and unique sports apparel – and since it’s football season now, it’s a great way to follow the great American ritual and embrace fall vibes. Click here for a list of other local thrift shops.
Cook Up Some Autumnal Produce for Fall Eating
Trader Joe’s | 1350 Willow Avenue, Hoboken
The start of Autumn – aka the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season – is always full of plenty of great food, especially around Thanksgiving. When the weather gets cold, comfort food symbolizes love and hospitality.
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One of the most fun and delicious ways to get in the fall spirit is to cook with root vegetables and try new fall recipes. Roast up some of your favorite seasonal produce including butternut squash, beets, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, pumpkin, kale, sweet potatoes, and cabbage – with a little bit of olive oil and seasonings.
Pineapples, kiwifruit, and, of course, apples are other popular seasonal produce. Consequently, homemade apple cider recipes are a fun way to embrace the fall season and fill your home with a quintessential fall scent. Try adding cinnamon to your cuisine. This cozy spice could be enjoyed in your oatmeal and coffee, or to spice up an6t dish. Is it even fall if you haven’t purchased at least one pumpkin spiced flavor product? We think not. Trader Joe’s has its fair share of pumpkin-flavored treats and also many restaurants and coffee shops in town offer fall-inspired menus. For instance, Mojo Coffee just launched a fall menu that is 100% worth checking out.
