How to Decorate Your Porch for Fall in 4 Steps

The leaves are changing, sweater weather is upon us, and pumpkin spice is flying off the shelves. What better time than now to do a fall porch refresh in time for the holidays? Many people forget about decorating their front porch, especially if they are limited by the size of the space. If you have a small outdoor space, don't let the size deter you from decorating your front porch. Whether you have a balcony, a wraparound porch, or just a small stoop, you can add seasonal touches to your outdoor space.

Decorating the entryway is an important way to welcome in loved ones, because your entryway is the introduction to your home. Consider a classic fall color scheme, like red, yellow, and orange, for your fall front porch, or try something new like a farmhouse-style display of white pumpkins paired with pastel accents and rustic planters. This space acts as a warm, charming welcome to your family, friends, and neighbors that will for sure leave a lasting impression.

Here are four easy steps to help you tackle creating your perfect fall-themed decor for porches of all sizes.

Establish a Budget

The very first thing to consider when planning to decorate your porch is your budget. Your budget depends on the amount of space you have and the type of design you want to present. The average cost of decorating your front porch ranges from about $50 to $1,000. This all depends on the design layout you want to use. Our sample front porch is quite small, and the total cost for this decoration refresh was approximately $240. The color palette was based on the beautiful creams, burnt oranges, reds, and purples from a wreath the homeowners bought in advance. The bulk of the budget went to florals, pumpkins, and gourds. Below is a breakdown of what was spent on the design plan.

Items Needed:
Coir 23ʺ x 35ʺ doormat
2ʹ x 3ʹ tassel jute doormat
Fall florals
Medium-sized pumpkins
Small gourds of all shapes, sizes, and colors
Corn stalks
Fall sign

Budget Breakdown:
Doormats: $43.17
Florals, pumpkins, gourds, and corn stalks: $130.00
Fall sign: $50.00**

TOTAL: $223.17

Consider the Layout:

What can you use to enhance this space but also keep it functional? Take a picture of your entry and create a layout for your design. This will help you create a budget and narrow down the list of items you will need. For example, our sample homeowner’s porch has a limited entryway and feels a little narrow, so they didn’t want to overdo the entry with enormous items that would take up the majority of the walkway. They chose to get pumpkins and two small plants to line the left side of the entrance and stagger around the column. Remember, you don’t want to hinder the path to your door. For smaller spaces, stay away from using oversized decor. You can choose smaller pieces that will still improve the look and feel of your space.

Get Inspired

There are various design boards that you can use to decorate your porch. Start by picking a fall-inspired color palette rich with vibrant colors to catch the eye. Decorator Tip: Light and bright colors make the area look bigger, and darker colors enclose the space. Two great pieces that will work on any size porch are wreaths and doormats. Choose a fall-inspired wreath that brings color and warmth to your entryway. Your wreath is also a great starting point to help you find your color palette. Wreaths are perfect decor pieces because they hang on the door and take up zero space. Another great way to spruce up your porch is updating your old doormat with two layered entry mats. This homeowner used a Coir 23ʺ x 35ʺ doormat and layered it on top of a neutral-colored 2ʹ x 3ʹ tasseled jute mat. Layering your doormats really brings in that cozy feeling to your entryway, and who doesn’t want cozy?

Add GOURD-GEOUS Textures

This is our favorite part!! Go to town on all the pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, florals, and fall-inspired decorative signs to customize your home's entry. These are the things that make it uniquely yours. For porches with larger entrances, you can use sizable mum arrangements that you can find at practically any store during fall. Mums come in a wide range of rich colors like oranges, yellows, reds, and purples. If you have limited space, you can go to your local nursery and find medium- to small-sized florals that will look equally as gorgeous. Pick a range of tall, medium, and short florals to make sure you have a variation of heights. You can start by placing your florals on each side of the door and staggering them down your steps and around your entry, leaving space in between to place your pumpkins, gourds, and corn stalks. If you have the space, add some cute, fall-inspired decorative signs to give your guests lots of decor to look at when entering your home.

Here’s how this homeowner dolled up their cute little porch for fall. It feels extra cozy and they love the feeling of coming home and seeing all these gorgeous fall colors.
Check out the before-and-after pics below.

What a difference!

Before:

After:

Featured in Voyage Dallas magazine and awarded Best of Houzz, Asha DePreta is the owner and principal interior designer of Adorned Home Décor, located in Dallas, TX. Asha has a passion for creating stunning designs inspired by vibrant, jewel toned colors. She creates visually appealing spaces that are attractive but also comfortable and purposeful for her clients so they are able to live and work optimally in their homes.