I have had a blast, these past few weeks, styling local porches for Fall. It's been pretty up there on the most fun jobs list, since this is my absolute favorite time of year and we don't currently have a porch of our own to style (I'm hoping we'll get into the new house in time to decorate for Thanksgiving)! I wanted to share some the best tips I've learned along the way. These apply to any shape or size of entryway, porch, or landscaping nook, and with many stores making room on their shelves for Christmas decor (which is crazy, since it's not even the end of October), most Autumn decor is now on sale, making it even easier to cover a decent space on the cheap. Without further ado, here are my Fall Porch Decorating Tips!
1. Choose a color palette.
When I am planning a porch decor scheme for a client, one of my first questions is always, "What colors do you use inside your home?" Your porch is one of the first impressions your guests will get of your design style, so it should be reflective of you and of the choices you've made throughout the rest of your house. You want it to feel cohesive, and to hint at what's going on behind your front door—you don't want it to seem random or out of place. With heirloom pumpkins and so many colors of mums available just about everywhere, there are so many options for matching the palette of your porch to your interior. In this client's design, I chose deep reds, blues, and whites to match her decor inside.
2. Choose a mood.
It's easy to think of indian corn, hay bales, and corn stalks when you start dreaming up a porch design. And those things are great, don't get me wrong. In fact, I've used all of those things both in my own and in my clients' spaces. But remember that your porch should reflect your personal deign style. If your style is more on the modern side, you could replace those old standbys with some metallic lanterns or terrariums, white candles, and cool colored pumpkins. If you have a boho home, don't leave out the succulents and funky patterns—they can have a place on your Fall porch, too! If you want to evoke a cozier, farmhouse vibe, blankets make excellent layering materials and add subtle color. There are so many ways to make your porch look like Fall without looking like Fall threw up all over it.
3. Add height variation.
This is the easiest way to make your exterior design look like a professional did it. Layers at different heights create visual interest and allow your eyes to bounce around the design to take it all in. My favorite ways to add height are with branches, crates turned on their sides, upside-down buckets, small furniture pieces (typically antique) and, yes, the occasional hay bale.
4. Bring in antiques.
It's no secret that I love heirloom elements in any design, whether it's interior, exterior, branding, or otherwise. I strongly believe that incorporating antique pieces is the best way to add soul and depth to a vignette, even if you're not particularly into old stuff. My favorite, subtle way to go about it is to grab a couple of vintage crates at the local antiques store, turn them on their sides, and use them as plant stands. The open square created at the bottom makes a great backdrop for candles or pumpkins (or both!) If you're more open to the idea of antiques on your porch, I love what an old chair, bench, or stool can add, appearing inherently hospitable. Bonus points if they sport chippy paint or weathered wood.
5. Don't be afraid of a little DIY.
Sometimes, you just can't buy exactly what you need at the store. And even if you could, where's the fun in that?! Save yourself some money, grab a glue gun, and get crafty. You'll be proud of yourself for creating something that can be used over and over. This is a great way to get the kids involved, creating fall memories, and maybe even checking an item off your fall bucket list! Head to my Fall Exterior Decorating Ideas board for my favorite color schemes and DIY tutorials! You can do it! I have all faith in you. Make sure to tag me @allieruth in your Instagram photos if you decide to employ any of these tricks on your porch! I'd love to see your designs! Stay tuned for my magnolia wreath DIY next week!
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