When we pulled into the driveway after spending a week away at Red River Gorge, I can’t believe how uplifted I was by seeing my front porch all decorated for fall and the potted mums in bloom. It was an instant pick me up. Do you decorate your front porch? If not you should! A front porch is an extension of your home and is the first impression people have of your home. This year my indoor and outdoor fall decor is themed “pumpkin explosion”! I’ll give you one guess why. LOL. I’m sharing the indoor fall decor in an upcoming blog post so stay tuned! First, I’m sharing how easy it is to decorate a fall front porch and some basic tips to do so!
Front door
No matter how well done or elaborate your front porch decor is, it will be overshadowed by a front door in need of attention. Make sure your front door is freshly painted and given the TLC your home deserves. A front door is the very first impression anyone has on your entire home. Make it count! I went years struggling with the “perfect” front door paint color. So much so that in the 10 years I have lived in the house I’ve painted my front door EIGHT times! It was never quite “right”. Finally, this summer I perfected it and shared my tips to get it right the first time here (blog – PAINTED THE FRONT DOOR AGAIN).
Color
Same as decorating a room in your home. Decorate your front porch with a theme and color palette in mind. I usually decorate in neutrals as much as possible so decor I buy can be reused for other seasons, holidays and themes year after year. This year I was surprised by how many white pumpkins were available (live and faux). I love the white, clean, neutral feel that the white pumpkins and gourds offer. Great filler pieces for any porch design or color palette you go with! For some pieces I have used all over my house HERE.
Elevation
Always, ALWAYS have an elevated element added to your porch decor. Decor draws eyes to the space (people always look at a space from left to right) and height adds that extra wow factor. and gets the viewers eye to take in the entire picture side to side and up and down. I keep my triple ball faux boxwood topiaries on the front porch for height and leave them up practically year round. (I love these things. Very well made, have held up amazing in all weather and you can find them HERE). If you don’t have topiaries or struggling to get height, this time of year use corn stalks for this design trick.
Rug
Place one on your porch. Start with a rug as a base grounding piece on the porch. It will soften up the existing cold cement, wood or brick porch. Plus it is a dirt grabber before someone walks into your home with dirty shoes! The chunky jute rug I’m using on my porch HERE.
Seating
If you have the space (I wish I did but I don’t) add a comfy chair or two. Give chairs neutral pillows so when change out holiday decor around them, the seating will always fit in. Soften the look of an outdoor metal chair with a throw pillow or draping a blanket over the chair back.
Door Wreath
So many varieties and wreaths are available everywhere. Throwing a wreath on the front door is as easy as it gets. If you are not a porch decorator kind of person at the very least….put a wreath on your door! For standard doors, make sure the wreath is at least 22″ in diameter. This year I purchased a simple and inexpensive door wreath and hanger from Walmart. Wreath is sold out, hanger HERE. Some nice, neutral and inexpensive options that I love HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. I went with a plain door wreath since I wanted the color to be on the porch instead of the door . Plus I can use it over and over again for other seasons and holiday porch decorating ideas that I haven’t even though of yet!
Plants
You know I’m a huge fan of decorating with faux plants. This spring and summer I decorated the outdoor front and back porches using 95% faux shrubs, trees and flowers. (blog – BACKYARD PATIO FAUX PLANTS here). This fall I didn’t have time to research and order faux mums so I hesitantly purchased the real deal. They haven’t disappointed. I found these at Meijer. When I arrived home from vacation, the mums were in full bloom and my porch had come alive! Whether you decide to go with real or faux potted plants, trees, bushes or flower, just use them in your design! They offer color, texture and a variety of heights which will help in balancing your porch decor and design.
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