Fall Porch Decor Ideas for Some Seasonal Curb Appeal

Putting up decorations is one of the most exciting things to do as a homeowner. You don’t just want your home to look good, you want everyone around you to get a little seasonal cheer every time they pass by it. While we typically associate festive outdoor decorations with the winter holidays, fall has no shortage of festivities either. In fact, some would even argue that fall decorations can be just as, if not more creative than the ones we have in the winter.

One of the most visible aspects of your home’s exterior is the porch. Not only is it an outdoor living space, but it’s also what greets your guests upon their visit. So, decorating the porch is a great place to start if you want your house to look more festive. There is no shortage of decor ideas for porches that match the season and all the ensuing holidays. Get your glue gun ready, as well as some crafting paper, and a lot of pumpkins because you are about to transform your porch into an autumn wonderland.

1. Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere

How Pumpkins Work As the Most Recognizable Fall Motif

Fall decor is not complete without pumpkins. This is why there are a lot of great ideas for decorating with this squash which comes in colors such as bright orange, green, and white, as well as different shapes and sizes. Some may be more squared, others more flat or round, and if you wish to include other variations in their shape you can even go for more oval or oblong ones reminiscent of butternut squash. Putting aside the traditional Jack-o’-lanterns of Halloween, there are a lot of great designs and creative uses for the pumpkin. One that is commonly found on porches throughout the country is stacking them from large to small. Smaller pumpkins can be placed on outdoor furniture to complement some of the festive candelabras and lanterns.

2. Cornstalk Decorations

Unique Ways to Utilize Cornstalks In Exterior Decor

Pumpkins are not the only crop used for decoration. Corn is also a staple of the season and it’s hard to imagine fall without having a few cobs on the table. A common way to use corncobs as decor is with flint corn where each kernel is its own unique color. This can add some much-needed color to a season that is often relegated to oranges, yellows, and browns. But another great way to decorate with corn is to use dried-up cornstalks. These are sold in bunches of up to 15 and you can place them next to vertical beams of the porch or the frame of the front door. 

3. Fall Wreath

A Fall Play On the Classic Winter Decor

While festive wreaths are typically associated with the winter holidays, they are just as charming and inviting in the fall. Instead of using pine cones and branches that we are accustomed to seeing hanging on front doors during the winter, utilize symbols of the fall instead. Tie a few dried-up twigs together to form the base of the wreath and glue smaller details to it such as maple leaves, dried cranberries, sprigs of herbs, and maybe even a few acorns. Regardless of your wreath design, your porch and exterior as a whole will look much more inviting. Create your own by purchasing some faux wreath floral filler and find the rest of the details around your home and landscape. This will further add personal touches to your wreath and bring your household’s personality onto the front porch.

4. Wicker Baskets

The Simple Charm of Wicker Baskets

Wicker baskets are the kind of cozy design feature that we are used to seeing in festive decor throughout most seasons. But wicker baskets carry a special sentimental value during the fall since this is the season of harvest. What’s great about decorating with containers of all kinds, not just wicker baskets, is that you can really personalize their appearance and make them unique solely thanks to their contents. You may have seen wicker basket decor where the container is full of dried-up leaves and pine cones. But maybe you want to go for something more unique, such as small branches with little berries on them, dried-up flowers from the previous season, or even those aforementioned pumpkins. 

5. Reclaimed Wooden Decor

How Reclaimed Wood Can Be Gracefully Charming

If we were to describe fall in a few words, “rustic” would definitely be one of them. And few things out there are as rustic as reclaimed wood. Nothing says “our home and household has a history” like a few pieces of reclaimed wood lying around implying that there is more to your house than meets the eye. You can purchase reclaimed wood from your local carpenter but why do that when you can look in your basement or attic. It doesn’t even have to be too old, since you can age the wood artificially by brushing it with boiling tea, letting it dry, and then brushing on iron vinegar. This will give your wood that charming reclaimed appearance. Once the wood looks aged, you can cut shapes into it using a hole saw. Work with what you have and your porch will look significantly more charming as a result. 

6. Add More Color

The Surprising Assortment of Fall Colors to Decorate With

While not a specific example of fall porch decor, adding more color to the fall aesthetic is certainly something many people are still missing out on. Sure, shades of orange, yellow, red, and brown are all indicative of the season, but there is no reason why decor should be relegated to this limited color spectrum. Fall does have plenty of green out in nature, be it the grass or evergreen pines. There are also plenty of flowers that bloom in the fall, such as the bright blue delphinium, creamy yellow freesia, or even different colored roses. You can use these plants, whether alive or dried, in your decor, but the important note to take here is that you are free to incorporate more colors. Bring in some white pumpkins to play with the traditional look everyone is so used to. Plant some ornamental grass around the porch to bring some life to your landscape. Introduce more colors to your decor and you will notice how more vibrant your porch will get, but still retain its fall seasonal motifs.

7. Make Use of Space Linen

How to Make Use of Rustic Textile

Linen is among the most rustic textiles out there. Knowing how to make use of its rough, but the warm and inviting texture will create an inviting fall porch that oozes with charm. The easy answer would be getting a hold of a few linen sacks, willing them up with a bunch of those maple leaves you’ve been raking all week, and placing it on the porch, steps, or next to the doorway. On the other hand, you can go one step beyond and use linen for your outdoor furniture pillowcases and blankets to make the outdoor living space seem more like a cozy farmhouse. You can even hang little quilts made of linen around the porch if you don’t happen to have any outdoor furniture. This textile gives you plenty of creative freedom to work with. 

8. Garlands 

The Beauty of Colorful Fall Garlands

We see plenty of streamers during the winter holidays decorating door and window frames. But fall has its own garland that makes use of seasonal imagery and decor to create a festive accent for the porch. All you need to create your own unique fall garland is to purchase some plant wire, cover it with faux grass filler, or even bring together a ton of leaves you’ve raked in your backyard and front lawn and start gluing them on. Add some extra touches, such as a few pine cones, acorns, dried fruit, sprigs of herbs, and ornamental grass, and you have yourself a garland worthy of being hung from the porch balisters, beams, and handrails. 

9. Ornamental Grass 

How a Few Strands of Grass Can Make Such a Difference

Be it growing around the base of your porch, or dried up and weaved into your garlands and wreath, ornamental grass can make for an excellent decorative element in your porch. By planting it live around your porch, you are showing that just because the season has changed, plenty of life still remains and continues to thrive. On the other hand, drying ornamental grass and using it as decor also carries notes of a bountiful harvest and is a great farmhouse accent to your porch decor. Pick from ornamental grass that is local to your area or that grows on your landscape and make use of everything that nature has to offer.