Prepare to fall for these autumnal vignettes.
Summer might be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to the great outdoors just yet. In fact, fall is the prime time to admire Mother Nature in all her glory. And if you want to make your vantage point even more picturesque, you’ll want to decorate your porch with the upcoming season in mind.
It’s amazing how a few leafy greens, some tartan touches, or a rich color palette can transform your porch into an outdoor oasis. That said, there’s a fine line between a porch that’s “seasonal” and one that’s just plain cheesy. To help bridge the gap, we’ve culled the web and ELLE DECOR’s own archives for more than 20 inspiring fall porch ideas—with any luck, these decorating tips will instantly elevate your outdoor space.
1. Decorate Your Front Door
Want to dress up your front door? Drape some garland around its perimeter, just as Lori of Boxwood Avenue did here. The corresponding wreath offers a nice finishing touch.
2. Wow With a Wreath
Speaking of which, you don’t have to wait until winter to deck out your door with a well-appointed wreath. Arizona-based blogger Diana Elizabeth hung a seasonal style for the fall, complete with miniature pumpkins.
3. Pepper in Pared-Back Pumpkins
As this porch idea from Julie Blanner proves, you don’t have to pull out all the stops to make a statement. By scattering a few muted pumpkins along her steps, the blogger creates a setup that’s effortlessly eye-catching, not over-the-top.
4. Go for the Bold
If your design taste skews toward the more maximalist end of the spectrum, then pile on the accessories. With hay, cornstalks, and a smattering of pumpkins, this porch from Sugar and Charm proves that more is more.
5. Accessorize With Cozy Elements
Maybe it’s the drop in temperature or the changing leaves, but there’s something about fall that makes us all want to get a little cozy. So why not bring that same appeal to your porch? Designer Tom Stringer draped a luxe throw blanket and patterned pillow on this wooden chair, making this small porch corner autumn-ready.
6. Gather Your Gourds
What better way to dress up your porch than with some seasonal plants and vegetation?
“The porch area is a great place to have fun with style and color,” landscape architect Janice Parker says. “Beautiful pots and containers, of which there are so many available, with seasonal plantings are always fashionable. Fall is the perfect time to plant colorful mums and ornamental kale; I love to surround the planters with pumpkins and gourds from the local farm stand for added interest.”
7. Add Some Inside-Out Appeal
As this porch from Nick Olsen proves, you don’t have to leave all your best design ideas inside. Instead, the designer gave this porch a homey appeal with a rug, ample seating, and two matching table lamps. The finishing touch? Subtly seasonal accents.
“In lieu of the standard pumpkins, gourds, and hay bales, this fall I prefer to decorate porches with all manner of tole objects: flowers, topiaries, urns, Moravian stars,” Olsen explains. “They don’t wilt, and their patina becomes even lovelier as they’re exposed to the elements.”
8. Style With Symmetry
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a symmetrical arrangement. Blogger Monika Hibbs created the perfect soothing look, thanks to matching accents and a muted color palette.
9. Make It Modern
Contrary to popular belief, a great fall porch doesn’t have to be overly rustic. For a more minimalist take, stick with a pared-back color palette—let Taryn Whiteaker show you how it’s done.
10. Decorate for Dinner Alfresco
Cover your chairs for a festive fall dinner. Slipcovers in beige tones will make furniture look and feel more cozy. The outdoor area in this Jackson Hole, Wyoming, home is rustic and autumnal.
11. Add Autumnal Hues
Draped throw blankets are a chic styling touch at this northern Mexico ranch. For an extra dose of fall, choose a palette that blurs the lines between your decor and Mother Nature herself.
12. Make Way for Mother Nature
Speaking of Mother Nature, give the great outdoors some extra love by covering your porch with earthy accents. Terra-cotta planters are gorgeously rustic at this 17th-century house in Italy’s Puglia region. The ceramic tabletop adds rich color and texture.
13. Hang Your Plants
Emily Burton Designs used string lighting to frame a floral chandelier, serving as a focal point—and outdoor illumination—for this festive porch.
14. Get Creative With Cornstalks
A festive front entryway on Modern Glam features a warm fall palette, cornstalks, and pumpkins galore. The white and orange gourds complement the pale blue front door, while copper accents offer a cozy autumn color.
15. Light Your Porch
Classic white pillar candles atop stumps of wood are paired with pink and yellow bouquets for an arboreal, blooming porch accent.
16. Opt for Orange
Blogger Michael Wurm Jr. of Inspired by Charm proves that just a few decorative accents—including pumpkins and pillows—can transform your porch into a seasonally strong fall hangout.
17. Suspend Your Seat
Want to take your porch seat to new heights — literally? Check out this setup from Modern Glam. A modern hanging chair—suspended using rustic rope—is outfitted with autumn-inspired throw pillows and a pretty plaid blanket and cushion.
18. Beautify With Seasonal Bouquets
A beautiful batch of flowers looks good year-round — yes, even in the fall. Ground your outdoor seating area with season-appropriate bouquets and candles to set the mood.
19. Hang a Hoop Wreath
Ashley of Modern Glam crafted this elegant and seasonal do-it-yourself hoop wreath, made from dahlias, mums, dried wheat, and eucalyptus. Want to incorporate this idea into your porch? Check out the site’s tutorial here.
20. Throw an Autumn Picnic
Prop a picnic bench on your porch and enjoy autumnal alfresco dining. This arrangement from Style Me Pretty Living features plaid throw blankets and festive centerpieces.