Decorate Your Porch This Fall

Cozy up your curb appeal with these inviting fall-inspired porch and patio spaces.

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From Our Friends at House Beautiful

Long, balmy nights with a refreshing nightcap might be your porch vibe, but just because summer is over doesn't mean you can't still make the most of that extra outdoor area. In fact, fall was practically made for front porch decorating. And since summer flowers aren't going to be in bloom much longer, it's time to think about how to revamp your porch for fall. Whether you go all out with pumpkins and bales of hay, you're on the hunt for stylish door swag, or you simply want to give it a seasonal update, these front porch fall decor ideas will definitely steer you in the right direction. But before you place a carved pumpkin your stoop and call it a day, we've got a few ideas for how you can up your outdoor decor game this season.

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Balance Out the Summery Vibes

Any porch can look fall-ready with the right decorating treatment. Though the cushions and carpet here are a nice coastal cobalt blue, the hanging plants and orange foliage give it a cozier, autumn atmosphere. The string lights also make it feel more intimate.

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Hang a Fall Wreath

Hanging up a wreath is the best way to give your front porch a little fall flair. And it's super easy. Go all out with a harvest wreath or keep it understated with an elevated seasonal wreath like this one.

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COUNTRY LIVING

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Add Color

Update your front porch in the most budget-friendly way possible: by painting thrift store-sourced wicker chairs bright red. Then add a ton of pumpkins (bonus points for using apple crates as a pedestal) and hang your fall wreath with a bright ribbon. Take note from this fall-ready front porch at Pearson Farm.

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Screen It In

Want to keep enjoying the outdoor living benefits of your porch during the fall? Consider screening it in so you can still lounge on the porch while admiring fall foliage with a blanket and a cup of tea as the seasons change. Here's a handy guide if you want to screen it in yourself.

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Repaint the Front Door

If you want to give your front porch a seasonal refresh but don't have a ton of space for pumpkins and all that glorious fall jazz, consider repainting the door. This cheerful orange hue is a great option.

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Use Dried Florals

Dried florals are a great way to spruce up the front porch for fall. They animate the space and can thrive in the cooler climates. We're loving the rustic feel of this one with the vintage repurposed planters at Los Poblanos Farm.

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Weather-proof It

If you have a wrap-around porch that you use for dining and lounging, weather-proof it with curtains that can insulate it and keep the rain out. On this porch, designer Ken Fulk played up the striped slipcovered chairs and sherbet throw pillows with playful orange and white curtains.

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Add New Lighting

With more foot traffic during the fall, you may want to upgrade your lighting with shiny new sconces. Then stick to minimalist plants and trees as Emily Henderson did here. Also, peep the hidden camera in the corner! Always a good idea as the holidays approach, and with them, package thieves.

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Symmetry Is Key

Think beyond the stoop and line the front walk with pumpkins, mums, and stalks of corn. Don't forget up top, either. Mini gourds on ledges put a seasonal spin on traditional window boxes. If you don't have enough room on your porch for a big display, simply relocate it to the front yard. It creates a natural focal point and provides support for heavier elements.

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Deck Out the Bar Cart

Deck out a bar cart to make it ready for entertaining. It is dinner party season after all! Emily Henderson Design opted for a classic rustic dining table and simple, streamlined metal accents, from the chairs to the bar car.

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Use Colorful Mums

Affordable mums are the ultimate fall plant. Use a mix of containers to set off the rainbow of blooms, and then mix in some pumpkins for a seasonal anchor, as done here at Los Poblanos Farm.

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Get Personal

Decorating a pumpkin with your house number guides both trick-or-treaters and Thanksgiving visitors alike—or mark the spot on the silhouette of your favorite state. So much more personalized than your average Jack-o-Lantern (and more grown-up).

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Keep It Simple

Potted boxwoods are a great way to spruce up your front porch for fall. They're all-season plants, so they'll look great even as the weather changes. These tall container gardens make a big impression. So it doesn't feel overwhelming, stick to two planters flanking the door.

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Go Gilded

Mixed metals can make even gourds look glam. Think beyond orange, yellow, and red—silver and gray tones are cool, fresh, and modern. We're all about these metallic-painted pumpkins on this front porch.

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Add Throw Pillows

Add a fun throw pillow on a bench to make it more cozy and inviting.

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Set Up Seasonal Seating

Just because summer's over doesn't mean we're ready to head indoors just yet. Add a bright red bench to your front yard, which offers a cheery spot to admire the autumnal foliage. And don't be afraid to spread the decor to the front lawn if the porch isn't spacious enough for all your fall decor.

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Swap Out Summer Colors

Make the decor feel more timeless and last a little longer into the season by swapping out the bright cheerful summery pieces.

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Go Asymmeterical

For an eclectic feel, arrange your mums and pumpkins asymmetrically. Did you catch the tiny pumpkins dotting the transom window on this porch?

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Make It Lush

Climbing vines can make just about anything look incredible. The way they frame this archway, with a whimsical pendant and iron wrought French doors below, create a warm, California welcome.to keep the patio area from feeling too summery, they opted for red potted flowers—perfect for fall.

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Incorporate Grass

These tall potted grasses prove fall plants can be just as exciting as summer ones. Add pops of color with small chrysanthemums. Opt for urn planters for a fittingly dramatic/ haunted feel for October.

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Make It Grand

Now this is how you make an entrance. In this Spanish-style Beverly Hills home designed by Commune Design, the front porch is inviting, comfortable, elaborate, and ornate all at once. The warm terracotta tiles, exposed beams, and wood stool ground the intricate wrought iron lighting and fuchsia pops of color.

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Hang One Wreath All Season Long

Opt for a wreath that you can leave up all season long, like this one. This one is great for both Halloween and Thanksgiving, thanks to the faux paper leaves in a fall color palette.

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Spruce Up the Coffee Table

Spruce up your coffee table with new outdoor barware and a seasonal centerpiece, like colorful leaves or fried florals.

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Add Floor Cushsions

A floor mat, pillows. and potted plants also help liven up a space. Swapping out your pillows is an easy (and cost-effective) way to upgrade your front porch each season. Have fun with color, and bring in some floral motifs to reflect the surrounding landscape.

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Send a Message

Here's proof that October's exterior decor doesn't have to be creepy or kitschy. Simply add a burlap "boo" sign and a few cornstalks, which nod to the holiday while still working with a neutral-toned home.

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Make It Kid-Friendly

Ready your porch for trick-or-treaters with friendly Halloween decor, like pumpkins, signage, and black cat figurines. Adding two chairs by the front door will make it a lot more pleasant to pass out candy, too.

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Make Pumpkin Planters

You could turn the porch lights on, but glimmering jack-o'-lanterns offer an even better welcome. Copy these leafy garlands using a free template or try one of our other carving ideas.

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Thank you to House Beautiful for the great ideas

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