Fall Porch Decorating Tips
Oh fall, how we all love the feelings we get when this season arrives! The crispness in the air, the scents, the flavors, the colors ablaze in the trees. No wonder many of us call this our favorite season of all.
If you are having guests over this time of year, you want to greet them with this fall feeling. And where do we greet our guests? Well, at our front doors of course!
I cannot wait to share these fun fall porch decorating tips with you. We will talk about texture, lighting, scents, and how to add elements of nature to your porch this year. It’s going to be a full sensory experience!
Hang a Wreath
Well, you knew this was coming, right? A wreath is the simplest way to add a welcoming touch of fall to your front door. If you only want one decoration for the season, I would say this is it. It’s instantly inviting, impossible to miss, and your options are endless.
We hang a twig wreath from our door each year (pictured above). And the best part about it? It was ridiculously easy to make. You can buy cheap twig wreaths from your local craft store, I got mine for under $15. Then I bought a few of those cute fall craft picks from Hobby Lobby and stuck them in between the woven branches. Ours are little shimmery pumpkins. I added in a few fake leaves, and voila! A simple, festive wreath was born. All for under $30.
Let Nature Decorate
Pumpkins are the perfect accent to a fall doorstep. Just a single large pumpkin on each side of your doorway can add a noticeable pop for the season. Of course, feel free to go all out! Mixing different shapes, sizes, colors, and even textures can make a bold statement. Consider checking out your local farms or ranches, since they are likely to have a much larger variety than the grocery store.
Stacking hay bales of various sizes adds layers to your display. You can buy these at craft stores like Michael’s and you can usually get them at a discount. Place pumpkins, lanterns, and leaves on these to add even more depth to your décor.
A large hay bale can also make for the perfect impromptu porch seat. Just add a few outdoor pillows and a throw to sit on and you’re all set!
Bring in some plants. Corn husks and wheat add a nice element of height and texture to your porch. Mums and sunflowers bring life to the display while adding a variety of colors.
Leaves and pine cones are the simplest of décor. You can literally grab these beauties straight off the ground and put them on your porch, placing them between your more attention-getting décor. Like confetti, just sprinkle these items throughout, letting them fill in any gaps you may find.
Making the porch cozy while I wait for the cooler weather to arrive…
Add Texture
Do you have a chair or bench on your porch? An easy way to add some texture here is with a patterned throw blanket. Something plaid always makes for a cute touch. Even an old flannel shirt can look nice lightly tossed on the side of a chair. The throw in the photo is from Target (you can find it here), it’s lightweight but very soft!
Burlap is a fabric that always makes me think of fall. Thanks to its simple look, it is another great way to add a touch of texture. You can wrap your potted plants in this fabric to make them look cozier and hide any colorful or generic containers. A simple banner of burlap or patterned fabric (which you can often find at Hobby Lobby) can be hung on the wall, strung along with lights, or draped along the front of hay bales.
Welcome mats add practical texture to any doorstep. If you cannot find one with a phrase that you like, consider making your own.
Burlap Wrapped Mums
Burlap pairs especially well with a pot of mums, particularly the deep reds purples, and orange. Unroll a wide piece of burlap and put it on the ground. Place the potted mums in the center and fold the fabric up over it, making sure it comes up to the brim of the pot but does not cover the plant itself.
Cut the fabric and repeat this process as needed until the entire pot is covered. Bring it all together, tying it off with some thick twine. You’ll want the fabric to have a bit of that intentionally messy look to it, so cut more as needed. That’s it. Your mums just got a quick and simple fall-in-the-country makeover.
Lighting
Large or small, lights can add that extra pop of ambience that make your front porch more inviting. You can wrap some wired twinkle lights around a post, or string up some industrial-style lights. Either one will instantly add character.
Lanterns and battery-operated candles are an extra cozy alternative. Various sizes of candles can add more depth for a soft glow, while large lanterns make a bolder statement.
Scent your Porch
Consider adding a scented broom to your décor. They smell amazing, and although I find them to be a bit too strong of a scent inside the house, they are perfect for the porch. You’ll likely even smell these brooms from inside if you open your windows for some fresh air.
You can find these brooms at most grocery stores in the fall. These brooms come in a variety of scents such as cinnamon, apple orchard (my personal favorite), and vanilla. They look nice simply leaning against the wall or next to other decorations. You can see ours off to the left in the photo above! I’ve even seen people paint or decorate them and hang them on their door in place of a wreath.
A good alternative to cinnamon brooms is cinnamon pine cones. These can be put in a metal pail or simply placed sporadically among the décor. Cinnamon pines cones will have a similar effect as the broom, greeting your guests with the scent of spice as they make their way to your doorstep.
Consider Weather
With all porch décor, it’s important to consider weather conditions. Be aware of what you are placing on your porch and how it will handle the elements. Rain and wind will play an important role when picking out what you want for your front porch.
Autumn Greetings
By combining different elements of this wonderful season, you can easily create a welcoming place for the arrival of your guests. So, play around with these fun ways you can combine nature, textures, lighting, and even scents to make your front door a cozy celebration of autumn.
If you are searching for other fall ideas, check out my post on how to bring fall into your home. Looking for fun fall activities in your area? Then check out connecting with where you live.
