Nothing says fall like a cosy, fun, and inviting front porch, but coming up with the perfect display can sometimes be tricky. You don’t want to overdo it with the décor, and you certainly don’t want to fall short. Luckily, we’ve asked experts, from around the world, to share their best front porch decorating ideas for fall so you can give your guests a festive welcome.
Follow mother nature’s lead
Let mother nature be your guide for mixing colours on your porch or front entry because she never gets it wrong. Pansies are a great fall flower with lots of mixed colours, and pick mums in three colours to coordinate. Hone in on one of those accent colours like yellow, burnt orange, or magenta for accent pillows or accessories. – Porch Daydreamer
Utilize different heights, textures, and colours
I always try to layer with different heights, textures, and colours for front porch decorating. This year, I decided to utilize my porch stairs and go for an Ombre effect with my pumpkins. I started with white pumpkins and transitioned down to orange. I added in mums and lanterns to bring in different textures. If you don’t have stairs, try utilizing a bench or stools to add in height and always look for a few pumpkins that could easily stack on to each other. – ChalkfullofLove
Work outwards
Fill the space around the door and work outward from there to the steps as you’re decorating the front porch. This gives it an eye-catching illusion of looking like you decorated more than you did. Start with a bright autumn wreath or garland on the door and add some taller accents around the door frame, like a fall sign or colourful garland. Add beautiful fall flowers in a pot at the base and then add lanterns or pumpkins of different sizes, colours, and shapes trailing down the steps. You can add Halloween décor and simply take out those spooky pieces on November 1st. – Lyfetymes
Mix your styles
When I decorate the front porch for Autumn I like to mix the traditional orange and red colours of fall with the softer green and white hues of fairy-tale and heirloom pumpkins to create a charming welcome for my guests. – Cottage on Bunker Hill
Try a muted colour scheme
To give your seasonal décor a more modern style, use lots of texture and a more muted color scheme like a chunky rust orange throw on the porch swing, plaid pillows mixed in on the swing in muted greens, and soft oranges instead of bright orange. Or, use dried hydrangeas in a gorgeous light green colour both in pots and on a wreath. Try to mix in lots of pumpkins in light green, soft orange, and white to continue the colour theme. Lastly, include a barn-wood sign that rounds out the texture “Fall Pumpkin Market”. – White Oak Farmhouse
Incorporate a festive doormat
If you are like many of us who can’t get enough and love the season of all things pumpkins, hedgehogs, and falling leaves, then an autumn doormat is perfect for you and your doorstep. Then, all you’ll need to do is add the pumpkins to your front porch decoration. – Artsy Doormats
Non-traditional colour schemes
One unique idea that I would suggest for decorating the front porch this fall is to go with a non-traditional colour scheme. Traditionally, orange pumpkins are used in front porch decorating, but pumpkins also come in blue, green, and white. Just using these colours alone without the oranges would work well for modern architectural homes, homes along the coast, or for anyone who is looking for a change in their fall style. – Plantation House Flowers
Incorporate recycled plastic
Utilize materials such as recycled plastic to achieve the desired look of a fall-ready porch. The look of recycled plastic mimics wood, which creates an earthy and cosy feel. Opt for recycled plastic over wood, as it does not fade, warp, or splinter, ensuring that it will last fall after fall. – Sunbrite Outdoor Furniture
Mix in natural elements
When it comes to decorating the front porch for fall, we like to keep it simple and natural. Pick 1-3 colours, and mix in natural elements (pumpkins, mums, grasses, etc) that all fall in that colour palette. And don’t forget to anchor your door with a wreath. – Alma Homes
Use pumpkins, squash, and gourds to your advantage
A colourful mix of unique varieties of pumpkins, squash, and decorative gourds highlights the beauty of the fall harvest and can take your fall porch display from generic to fantastic. Some of our favourites are Warty Goblin, Long Island Cheese, Golden Butta Bowl, and Blue Delight. When it’s time to swap your fall display for Christmas lights, you can eat the pumpkins and squash, they’re delicious! – Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
Make use of your fall leaves
Go out and collect the best and biggest leaves from your nearby parks, schools, and neighbourhoods. Bring them home and let them dry out and then place them strategically under or on your front porch decorations, in areas where they can’t be blown away by the wind. It’s the perfect natural look to complete your autumn porch style. – Canada Mats
Get personal
When getting a doormat many people will get one that can appeal to everyone like the general “Hello” or “Hi”. We’re telling you to put something on that speak to you. Add your own family name or quirky sayings from your favourite shows, books, or movies to your mat so when your own friends and family see it they get a feeling of you. – Coco Mats N More
Consider compostable decoration
I like to use natural items for fall front porch decorating because they’re easy to source locally and when the season is over, I can compost my decorations rather than take up valuable storage space. My favourite idea that I’ve seen recently is to add a spiral topiary frame to an empty planter and pile small pumpkins and gourds in various colours inside, weave in some bittersweet vines and green ivy, and add more pumpkins around the planter base. Simple, festive, and green. – Merriment Design
Do the unexpected
Instead of the normal warm autumn colour palette of oranges, reds and browns, consider using white pumpkins and a neutral coloured wreath for a different and more modern take on fall décor. Stairs are a great place to add pumpkins, candle lanterns and/or potted plants. I love using crates when decorating for fall because they’re so versatile. You can stack them, put pumpkins on them, fill them with garlands, or even set a scarecrow on top. –Black Cat Interiors
Break the rules
Let’s break the rules this year and bedazzle the neighbourhood with a unique front porch. We recommend an unusual colour scheme for autumn, all black and white with small orange accents. Instead of traditional pumpkins on the porch, use white-painted pumpkins or wooden pumpkin cut-outs. Place different-sized white pumpkins on either side of the porch accompanied by white mums in black pots. Add swing chairs with soft white blankets to warm you on chill autumn evenings. Get pillows with orange polka dots or zigzag patterns to add an accent colour to spruce up the design. As a final touch, hang a rustic wooden sign on the front door with a welcoming message displayed on it in white to go along the colour palette. – Lily Travis, Front Signs
by Julia Weaver from Redfin
