Welcome everyone to my fall front porch! If you are new here and coming over from DIY Mommy, my name is Rebekah and I am interior designer and have been blogging at ABN for a little over 9 years. I live in Dallas, Texas and have a 9 year old daughter and a few fur balls running around. We are currently building a home and you can read more about that HERE. But let’s get back to the good stuff and officially welcoming fall into our home. I created a simple step by step guide to help you recreate something similar to mine and how to layer in seasonal and everyday decor into your final look.
Quick Glance
- Start with a color scheme before you buy a single item, since everything else builds from that foundation.
- Seasonal plants from Home Depot tend to last longer than you might expect and are reasonably priced for what you get.
- Layering doormats is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost moves you can make on any porch.
- Faux pumpkins from HomeGoods or Tuesday Morning are a smart placeholder when real pumpkins haven’t hit the stores yet.
- A white lantern is one of the most versatile pieces you can own, it works in every season and pairs beautifully with carved pumpkins lit up at night.
- Even a small porch can look like a mini pumpkin patch if you fill in every nook and cranny intentionally.
Classic Fall Front Porch:
Step 1: Pick your color scheme
This year I selected a very traditional look with shades of orange and yellow. Last year’s front porch was definitely different and had a turquoise pop to it which is why I thought this year I wanted to go with a more classic look.
I stumbled on this wreath from Michaels that was 40% off and added some cute buffalo check ribbon as accents. I love the hydrangea (one of my all-time favorite flowers to decorate with) and the pods. I thought it was still missing something though so the ribbon spruced it up a bit.
Wreath (similar)
Step 2: Select your plants and flowers
I popped over to my local Home Depot and snagged some season plants for our porch. I tend to get my seasonal plants there because I think they last longer and are reasonably priced. I originally wanted some white mums but I think these yellow ones ended up being a better choice. Can I tell you how hard it is to find white mums around here though?! I got lucky last year but really the stores typically don’t have many around here and they sell out fast. So my tip if you are looking for white mums is to look as early as possible and even ask when they are coming in.
Step 3: Fill in with everyday decor
I like to add a piece of everyday decor to my front porch. I think it gives it a more warm and inviting look. I got this white lantern at Tuesday Morning but this one is very similar. I think everyone should have a white lantern . . . . or two. They go with everything! And this will look so pretty when we add our carved pumpkins out here and light them up at night. A few other pieces I like to add to a porch are candlesticks, buckets, baskets, small stools, and stands. Of course, this depends on your porch side but these are some nice options to look and see if you have any laying around.
Lantern (similar)
Step 4: Tuck pumpkins in
Now, this can be a hard one if pumpkins have not hit your stores yet. So I picked up some cute faux ones from Homegoods and Tuesday Morning for fillers. But typically I get my plants and items from my home I am bringing out onto the porch and then fill in the nooks and crannies with pumpkins. I love my porch to fill full and look like a mini pumpkin patch. My daughter absolutely loves walking up to the front door when it looks like this. This is the time of year when I think the more the merrier on a door stoop for the season!
My Calloway’s ended up getting pumpkins just this week so Lauren and I bought a bunch of white pumpkins, yellow gourdes, and pale green cinderella pumpkins to mix in.
Step 5: Repeat to the other side
I then mimicked what I did on the other side onto this side sans the lantern. I like to be matchy matchy but leave a detail out here and there or move something in slightly a different place for a more whimsical look.
Step 6: Layer your doormats
One of the things I love to do the most is layer my doormats. I did it last year with a more modern turquoise one and then picked a grey and white one (here is one similar) this year for a more graphic look. I love a good pop of pattern in whatever I am designing and think this really finishes off the space.
Home Sweet Home Doormat | Patterned Accent Rug (similar) | Wood Planters
Here are some similar styles to get the same look:
Step 7: You’re done!
I hope you have loved my tiny yet full of color and pattern fall porch. Our next house’s porch is small too but I think there is so much you can do with a small space.
Things to Know
- White mums are genuinely difficult to find in warmer climates like Dallas, Texas. If they’re on your list, call your local Home Depot or nursery ahead of time and ask about incoming shipments rather than just showing up and hoping.
- Faux pumpkins have improved dramatically in quality over the past few years. The ones at HomeGoods and Tuesday Morning can pass for real at a glance, making them a smart buy for early-season decorating before real pumpkins hit stores.
- Buffalo check ribbon is one of the easiest ways to elevate a store-bought wreath that feels like it’s missing something. A few loops and tails of ribbon can make a $15 wreath look custom.
- Seasonal plants from big-box stores like Home Depot tend to outlast what you might expect because they’re grown for outdoor conditions and moved quickly, meaning they haven’t been sitting under indoor lighting for weeks before you buy them.
- Layering doormats works best when the base rug is at least 4 to 6 inches larger on each side than the accent mat sitting on top. Too close in size and the effect looks accidental rather than designed.
- Before you spend a single dollar, walk through your own home first. Baskets, lanterns, candlesticks, and small stools you already own can translate directly to a porch display and save you real money on the overall budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to start decorating a fall front porch?
The best time to start decorating is in early September, as soon as seasonal plants and pumpkins begin appearing at local nurseries and big-box stores. Starting early gives you a better selection of popular seasonal plants, pumpkins, and decor before the most popular items sell out.
How do I decorate a fall front porch on a tight budget?
Focus your spending on seasonal plants and real pumpkins, and pull everything else from what you already own inside your home. Lanterns, baskets, stools, and candlesticks can easily be moved outside to create a layered look without buying more decor.
What types of pumpkins work best for a layered front porch look?
A mix of white pumpkins, pale green Cinderella pumpkins, and yellow gourds creates a layered, curated look that’s far more interesting than using a single variety. Vary the sizes, shapes, and colors by stacking some pumpkins and placing others on steps or around planters.
How do you layer doormats for a fall porch without it looking messy?
Start with a larger neutral outdoor rug as the base, then center a smaller decorative or seasonal mat on top, making sure the base rug extends at least a few inches beyond the top mat on all sides. Choose complementary colors and simple patterns to keep the layered look intentional.
Can you create a full fall front porch look on a small porch?
Absolutely, and the secret is using vertical height and tight layering rather than spreading things out wide. Add a wreath, layered doormats, stacked pumpkins, a tall plant, and a nearby lantern while keeping the colors coordinated so the small space feels full without looking chaotic.
Next head to my friend Tam’s blog Citrineliving for some more gorgeous front porch inspiration!
Make sure to not miss my other blogger friend’s fall front porches for even more fall decor inspiration ideas!
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Please share source details for white ceramic lamps behind sofa in living room. Thanks!
Hi Sara! The lamps behind my sofa are a white washed wood and have been discontinued but here is an affiliate link for something very similar: http://bit.ly/2f8607I
Thank you so much for replying.?
Didn’t mean a ?. I menant a !
Lol!! Gotcha!
Rebekah, I love how you’ve outlined your decorating step by step – it makes it so easy to pull off this gorgeous look – and it really is gorgeous! I think my favorite element is the wreath and how you spruced it up with that beautiful ribbon – I love it! Beautiful porch my friend!
Thanks so much Tam!
Rebekah your classic porch is beautiful. You make it so easy with your steps. Thanks for sharing your tips!
Thanks for having me Mysha!