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Use this front porch fall decorating inspiration to greet your guests and bring autumn color to your outdoor space!
One of my very favorite things to do when each new season appears is to refresh our front porch with outdoor seasonal decorations. I’ve done it so many times that I’ve got it down to a system, and anyone can follow it. I know it’s a challenge to reinvent a space without spending a lot of money, or doing an actual renovation. This system I’m referring to addresses the same five elements, every single time. Not all may apply to you, but it’s a process you can follow, and adapt to your own home. Today I’m sharing some front porch fall decorating inspiration that goes hand-in-hand with these five things.
Front Porch Fall Decorating Inspiration
1.) The Front Door
It makes sense to me to start with the front door, because for any porch, it’s the focal point. An updated wreath is the perfect place to start. Choose something with seasonal interest and colors.
Tip: Choose or design a wreath that won’t blend into your front door color. If you have a white, or light colored door, choose something that has a base of grapevine or dark greenery. If you have a dark door, for example blue or black, add a wreath with light, bright colors.
If you have an existing fall wreath that’s in good shape, simply update it by adding a fresh bow, or changing out some of the floral elements. Many times, one or two very quick changes can completely transform a decor item.
2.) Pots with Fresh Fall Plants
When your summer planters are spent and finished blooming, it’s time to refresh them with fall plants. Mums are the obvious, and very beautiful choice, but there are other ideas also. When I was at the garden center shopping for the terra cotta mums pictured below, they also had an autumn-colored mix of petunias. I had never seen anything like them before, so decided to give them a try.
Using the navy blue planters I painted in the spring, I placed a big mum in the center of each pot, and surrounded it with ivy and the petunias. These petunias can take a little bit of shade, so I’m hoping they take off, and trail down the sides of the pots.
3.) The Layered Doormats
I love seasonal decor. Adding it to your home is an excellent way to freshen things up a few times a year. Let your personal style lead you, and make the decor elaborate or simple, inexpensive or a splurge. Some years, I splurge more than others! There are times when I just can’t help myself, and that happened this year with the rug and mat in front of the door.
Layering your doormats does two things to improve the charm of your front door area. First, it allows you to incorporate two different colors and textures. Second, it enlarges the area in front of the door, and gives it more presence. In other words, layering doormats makes a statement…and that’s always a good thing when it comes to welcoming family and friends to your home!
4.) Adding Softness with Fabric
If you have room on your porch for a sitting area, definitely take advantage of it, and add a chair or two. It’s the perfect opportunity to add softness and more color with soft furnishings. Place pillows and/or throw blankets on the chairs for a cozy and vibrant autumn touch.
5.) Porch Fall Decorating Inspiration: Finish with Accessories
If you don’t have room for chairs, consider a garden stool. Another idea is placing a small table against your porch wall, or in a corner. These surfaces can be accessorized with fun, seasonal decor items, and make sure to include some plants.
The blue garden stool was a new addition in the spring, and it’s going to stay around all the way through the holiday season. It wasn’t intentional, but having a spot of blue in the sitting area ties in nicely with the navy blue front door and pots.
Porch Fall Decorating Inspiration Sources
- door color information
- navy blue planters
- blue rug (2 ft. x 3 ft.)
- gather here doormat
- white rockers
- plaid pillow covers
- navy blue garden stool
- wood lanterns
- similar door wreaths: option 1 | option 2 | option 3
- white pumpkins
Galvanized Custom Name Planter
I have a little story to tell about the oval planter pictured below. One of my best girlfriends has a place on Lake Erie, and she invited me for an overnighter a few weeks ago. There are lots of wineries in the area, and she found one that was on our way home…and they were offering a craft class that very evening. The project was this stenciled planter. I honestly had my doubts about my ability to make it look good, but to my astonishment, it turned out to be pretty cute! They provided the stencils and the planter, and we got to do the fun part. If you live in the Sandusky/Port Clinton/Fremont area in Ohio, the little winery is Chateau Tebeau in Helena, OH.
If you would like to create a galvanized name planter on your own, here are custom stencils and here is a similar galvanized container.
Spending time on our porch this past week has been so enjoyable. It definitely didn’t feel like work. I went slowly, and tried to savor every minute. The fresh air was good for me, and it kept my mind off other things. It was very strange being outside without Kelly, but being busy and having a purpose helped so much. I am very grateful that you all take the time to stop by this blog, so I can share my life with you. You all are, quite simply, the best.
See our first fall front porch at the Sugar Maple house!
Until next time…
Your blog is amazing, the Fall ideas are great! Certainly plan to make use of the recipe to preserve pumpkins. Altho, i do have a question. The link that’s listed for the blue rug (2 ft. x 3 ft.) at Walmart goes to a different one, is the one you show on your porch no longer available?
All great ideas Ann. I really like the oval planter with the lettering! I have a friend with a cri-cut machine. I’m hoping to copy the idea!
Dear Ann: I can’t stop crying after reading about your sweet, beloved Kelly. I’m an emotional mess. It brings back memories of when we had to put our beloved kitty, Baby Whiskers, to sleep. It’s absolutely a heart wrenching experience. It took me a little more than six months to adopt another furry baby, and believe me, I am so happy that we did. Maybe, with time, you will be able to find another fur child to shower all of your love on. May God comfort you … remember that Kelly will be waiting to greet you (many years from now) at the Rainbow Bridge (which will be celebrated tomorrow) so you will be together again.
Ann,
I enjoyed your post and your porch is lovely. Thanks for the great inspiration!
Ann,
Your porch is so pretty dressed for autumn. I love the color of your front door and have made a note of the color and paint brand. I’m getting ready to move and that will be the color of my door. Thank you for always bringing inspiration.
Karen
I will be moving into a new senior apartment in September, and will have a balcony, my first outdoor space in several years. I am excited to apply your ideas to that space… I already have the rockers and a yellow garden stool. This will be fun!
I admire your simple approach to decorating. I love the idea of layering two mats. Wouldn’t have thought of that one!
I always love your all porch, Anne. Simple, neat, clean, cozy and welcoming. Also, we lost a beloved pet 2 years ago this month. It was unexpected as he was just 6-1/2, and, honestly, was one of the hardest losses of all our pets. We love our memories and pictures and are so thankful for having had such a dear pet. I am sure Kelly knew and felt your love and care. What more can a happy pet want? Hugs and best wishes.
Beautiful fall porch! It’s so cozy and inviting! I love the blue and copper/burnt orange together. They compliment each other so well. I hope you enjoy many fall mornings out on your porch rocker sipping a cup of coffee! Happy Autumn!
Your front porch is always so lovely! How do you hang your wreaths so they don’t damage your painted front door? I have a new front door, but I hesitate to hang a wreath for fear of damaging it.
I understand your concern. I use a wreath hanger that hooks to the top of the door. Honestly, my door looks pretty good, but there are a few marks that have been caused by the wreaths. I always have a wreath on the door, so the marks are not seen.
Your porch looks so pretty, love the pops of blue, the pots and the lantern.I have the same ones in my house and love them.My front porch is concrete and not very big.I just added a new metal bench with some cute bee pillows.Next I’ll layer some pumpkins, mums and a fall wreath.Always try to keep it simple.Thanks for your inspiration.
Ann, your porch is so pretty. I always wait for your posts on seasonal decor before I start mine. This post is so inspiring . Living in Florida, I always clean my porch over Labor day weekend and the decorate the following week. Your recipies are also a hit in our house. Thank You for your blog. My heart goes out to you for the loss of your
little girl. May God Bless you.
I wait for your front porch post every season💕. My porch is similar and I have learned so much from you. Thank you. And haven’t these cooler days and nites been blessed relief from a very hot humid summer. I guess my age is showing lol.
Love your Name Planter … it looks lovely on your Porch but the nice thing about it is that you will be able to use soooooooooo many ways. I will look forward to seeing how you decorate with it. You have such a flare in decorating with all your treasures. I do try to do that as well. My husband says .. hey when did you get that??… with a smile I say Honey I have had this for quite a few years already… just decorating in a different way. Ann once thank you for your great ideas…