50 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Porch This Fall
DIY pumpkin displays, lanterns and more cozy touches to delight everyone in the neighborhood.
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With autumn comes cooler weather and the chance to lean into all things cozy with budget-friendly fall decorations. Along with the endless fall decor options on Amazon, there's everything from DIY fall crafts and grapevine wreaths to creative carved pumpkin ideas. But while you might only be set on decorating your interior for autumn, don't forget about upgrading your outdoor space. You can instantly boost your home's curb appeal with fall porch decor. Below, you'll discover modern, rustic and traditional porch designs that are simple to recreate for the season.
Whether you consider yourself a maximalist or minimalist, these festive fall porch decorations will welcome your guests in style. Our ideas include decorating with metallic pumpkins, hay bales and pumpkin topiaries, along with experimenting with color and lighting. You can keep things classic with a wreath adorned in faux leaves. Or, go for a vintage theme with a fun porch display of collectibles like old-school tables and antique trunks. We even share ideas for Halloween night; a spooky porch setup with mysterious cobwebs, witch hats and black pendant lights is just one suggestion.
So, no matter how grand or small your porch may be, use these ideas to easily make your entrance the real attraction for the fall season. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and decorative accents that show off fall's best colors.
DIY a Colorful Fall Garland
Welcome fall with a festive phrase garland made of colorful felt sheets and yarn. Try autumn-themed phrases like "Let's Fall in Love, "Hello Pumpkin" and "Life is Gourd."
Swap Orange Pumpkins for White
White pumpkins aren't only great for carving and painting, but they're also perfect for your home's decor. Create an eye-catching display by placing white gourds on both sides of your front porch for symmetry. Add a pot of greenery (a fern works!) and choose gourds of different sizes for maximum appeal.
Frame the Door With Leaves
There's nothing like the beauty of autumn leaves changing colors. Bring the look right to your front door with a long garland decked out with faux maple leaves in shades of red, orange and yellow. DIY your own by punching a small hole into faux maple leaves. To finish, pull the yarn through the leaves to frame around your door.
Place Bright Florals in Basket Planters
Gather vibrant fall blooms — sunflowers, marigolds, petunias — and place them in planter baskets to add pops of color to your porch setup.
See more at Christene Holder Home »
RELATED: Best Fall Flowers to Brighten Up Your Garden With Warm Hues
Add Color With Pink
Painting your front door an unexpected color is one of the easiest ways to assure guests get a good first impression. Can't seem to settle on a color? Try a pastel pink shade — the perfect hue to balance a typical fall decor palette.
Use Copper in Tableware
Blogger Lauren relied on a hit of copper to create the perfect fall setting for her porch's dining table. A set of copper mugs add warmth, while pumpkins set on an arrangement of leaves make for a picture-perfect centerpiece.
Upgrade Pumpkins With Metallic Paint
Yes, decorating your porch with orange pumpkins is always a good idea, but if you really want to take things up a notch, give yours a bronze metallic finish. Pair your painted creations with a few white, orange and black gourds to complete the fall look.
Invest in a Swing
Swings don't have to be reserved for summer. Let a traditional design add a playful touch to your porch and serve as a cozy spot to unwind. Top it with a few stylish throw pillows and even a throw blanket to make it fit for the season.
Add Texture With Seagrass Chairs
Seagrass chairs are durable, stain-resistant and a simple way to give your porch a coastal-inspired feel. Plus, they complement just about any other neutral decor you choose to pair it with (pampas grass and golden wheat wreaths are just a few great picks).
Spruce Up Your Back Porch
Your back porch deserves a fall transformation, too! Have your greenery frame the entrance and let pumpkins cascade down the steps for visual interest.
See more at Sanctuary Home Decor »
Embrace Antique Accents
Bring on the charm with antiques! From the metal rooster sign to the distressed wood chair, this autumn-inspired porch exudes a rustic farmhouse feeling.
Craft a Cozy Corner
Transform your porch into a space fit for entertaining with a simple rattan furniture set. On chilly fall nights, your guests can keep warm with blankets.
Take a Maximalist Approach
If Halloween is the highlight of autumn for you, don't miss the chance to decorate your front porch for the big day. Pumpkins galore, a leaf-adorned door and a pair of dried wheat stalks can finish the look.
Add a Wooden Ladder
Don't think decorative ladders are just for indoors. Go for one with a rustic flair to show off your best throw blankets for the fall season.
Play With Pattern
Layers of pattern never fail to bring a space to life. Here, this enclosed porch balances simple shades with pretty prints, from the geometric throw pillows to the distressed area rug.
Use Summer Furniture
Outdoor pillows in orange and blue shades morph summer patio furniture into a cozy place to curl up on crisp days.
Mix Wood Tones
Mixing wood finishes is a great way to boost your porch's visual interest. Surround your table with chairs in varied wood tones — a great addition to brown wood flooring.
Hang String Lights
Create a calming, cozy ambiance with the gentle glow of string lights — perfect for cool autumn evenings.
Add Spooky (Yet Stylish) Touches
It's never too early to get your porch Halloween-ready, especially if you love the spooky season. This exterior hits all the marks, from the eerie black wreath and mysterious cobwebs to the black beaded pendant light and hanging witch hats.
RELATED: Scary Outdoor Halloween Decor Ideas That'll Make Neighbors Do a Double-Take
Hang a Mirror
Mirrors aren't only for indoors. Give your porch a homey indoor vibe — and brighten it up — by hanging a large mirror above a bench.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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