Labor Day is fast approaching and while we’re always reluctant to see summer go, the promise of reuniting with our sweater weather wardrobe and cute fall porch decor never fails to lift our spirits. This year we plan to go all out on decorating our front steps, beyond a lone carved pumpkin. Here, 30 fall porch decor ideas—from wreaths, gourds and more—to get your home ready for spooky season through Thanksgiving.
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Pip Berry Wreath by Valerie
Secure this festive wreath to your front door and you’re instantly ready for autumn. Plus, the soft tones of yellow, orange and brown will look natural among the changing leaves in your front yard.
Buy It ($44)
Stonebriar Wooden Candle Lantern
The days are getting shorter and setting up a few of these lanterns will create a warm glow for your entryway each evening. Stick a real candle inside if you plan to stay nearby, or opt for realistic flameless ones if you want to leave them unattended. Either way, they’ll create a cozy ambiance.
$27 at Amazon
Breakwater Bay Outdoor Seat/Back Cushion
Your palm leaf-printed outdoor cushions don’t exactly scream ‘Fall is Here!!!’ So, swap them out for burnt orange. This two-piece cushion from Breakwater Bay is made from premium foam and covered in sunbrella fabric, making it UV resistant.
Buy It ($78)
Gracie Oaks Charboneau Fall Throw Pillow
While you’re at it, you might as well deck out the comfiest part of your porch with decorative throw pillows, too. We like this cheerful plaid design that comes in two variations on the official color scheme of the season: orange and black.
BUY IT ($70)
Costa Farms 3 Qt. Yellow Ready to Bloom Fall Mums in Whiskey Barrell, Set of 2
Mums are a classic fall plant, and this set of two ships in bud form so they won’t bloom before you place them on your doorstep. They also come in rustic whiskey barrel planters, so they can be put on display ASAP.
Buy It ($55)
Olive Wreath Featuring Real Touch Eucalyptus Branches and Cosmos,
Add some greenery to the porch with this wreath, woven with real touch eucalyptus branches and cosmos. The not-too-autumnal color palette means you could hang it up around mid-August and keep it there until Thanksgiving rolls around.
Buy It ($45)
FloraCraft Decorative Straw Bale
If scarecrows are too on-the-nose for a fall refresh, you could get a few of these 5 x 6 x 13 inch straw bales instead. Simply frame them with pumpkins and gourds to complete the look.
$10 at Amazon
Gingham Door Mat
Skip the obvious autumnal door mat (i.e., anything with pumpkins) and dress up your door with this plaid style instead. It’s still festive, but far more tasteful.
Buy It ($15)
DearHouse Artificial Maple Leaf Garlands (Set of 2)
Wrap realistic-looking garlands around your porch railing or hang them around the front door to amp up the autumnal feel. “These are great! I zip tied them to my front railing and they look so cute,” writes one reviewer. Another notes that they look better around the door if you double up the garlands.
$16 at Amazon
Sow Right Seeds Small Sugar Pumpkin Seeds
You didn’t think we’d leave actual pumpkins off this list, did you? While it’s a little early to pick one up at the patch, now’s the ideal time to plant your own in the front yard. Make sure you get them in the ground ASAP, though, since pumpkins take about three months to grow.
$6 at Amazon
IHeartCraftyThings
Need a weekend activity for the kids? This easy windstock craft from blogger iHeartCraftyThings is ideal for children ages three and up. All you need is some colorful cardstock paper, crepe paper, acrylic paint, foam leaves, glue sticks and a stapler. Just make sure you hang them away from the elements so no one’s masterpiece gets ruined.
Get the Tutorial
August Grove Faris Decorative Metal Wheelbarrow Planter
If you have the extra space, set up a rustic wheelbarrow like this one and fill it with your fave fall plants. We suggest a mix of pansies, sweet alyssum and snapdragons which will all bloom until the first frost.
Buy It ($65)
Macrame Hanging Basket
FYI: Hanging baskets filled with flowers isn’t just a decor idea for spring and summer. But you might want to opt for faux plants, so you don’t have to worry about frost. These macrame hanging baskets will work with any color flowers you choose—even if you go with plain old greenery.
Buy It ($38)
Pavilia Buffalo Plaid Fleece Throw Blanket
You can still hang out on the screened in porch even when the temp drops below 60—as long as you plan accordingly. That’s where getting a couple of these fleece throw blankets comes in. They’ll keep you cozy and look great draped over the back of the couch when not in use.
$20 at Amazon
SMSJ Space Heater
OK, so a space heater isn’t exactly decor, but this one is so chic that you won’t be ashamed to put it on display. Set it to warm or hot to extend your porch happy hours through November. Psst, it has a cooling setting so you can use it in the summer, too.
$26 at Amazon
Loon Peak Austyn Classic Porch Rocking Bench
Set this up on your back porch, and it’ll quickly become your favorite spot to sip your morning coffee on crisp October mornings. It’s big enough to fit two, if you want a companion. Set some pumpkins up around the base and drape that aforementioned throw blanket over the back, it’ll quickly become a focal point of your outdoor space.
Buy It ($143)
Kara’s Party Ideas
If you’re looking for minimal upkeep and years of continued use, faux pumpkins are totally the way to go. But they can look a little basic on their own. That’s why we love blogger Kara’s Party Ideas’s thought to set some marquee lights in them. Cut the shape of each letter into your pumpkins with an X-Acto knife, set the marquee letters in the holes and you’re good to go.
Get the Tutorial
A Beautiful Mess
If you want to let your neighbors know just how much you love this season, try your hand at making this DIY fall phrase garland courtesy of A Beautiful Mess. Pick up some colored felt sheets, a hot glue gun, fabric scissors, cotton cord and yarn and start getting crafty.
Get the Tutorial
Moon Boat Fall Leaves Window Clings
These leaf decals look so real, we’d swear they were if we didn’t know any better. Simply stick ‘em onto your front windows and peel them off when autumn’s over. They adhere using static cling so they won’t leave any marks on your windows when they’re taken off. Just keep the included backing paper for storage, if you want to reuse them next year.
$9 at Amazon
Paseo Soroa Border Outdoor Area Rug
If you haven’t added an understated outdoor rug to your porch seating area yet, now’s the time. When it starts to get chilly, having one will make the space feel much cozier and more comfortable. This particular one from Sol 72 Outdoor is water-, stain- and fade-resistant so it’ll last for years to come.
Buy It ($189)
Modern Masters Express Yourself Water-Based Front Door Paint (1 Qt.)
Been ignoring the peeling paint on your front door? Now’s the time to address it. Give it a fresh coat of this bright cranberry red that’ll look great with all types of fall décor flanking it. Psst, this formula is fast-drying, so the project will take eight hours at most.
Buy It ($36)
Dried Bunny Tail Grass Bunch
For fall dinner parties, spruce up the porch table with a vase of dried flowers. This bouquet of dried bunny tail grass should do the trick. Combine them with some dried yarrow or dried leonurus if you want to add some color. And pop them into a cheerful vase.
Buy It ($18)
OSP Home Furniture Maxwell Serving Cart
Give this industrial bar cart a home on the porch now through Thanksgiving. Outfit it with a mixology kit so you can serve up Moscow mules and cider sidecars. Yum.
Buy It ($118)
Wood Jack-O’-Lanterns
Admit it: These hand-drawn Jack-o’-lanterns are better than anything you could carve. Plus, they’re durable enough to put on display year after year. And once the included LED lights run out of juice, you can simply replace them with a new strand.
BUY IT ($35)
National Tree Company Harvest Accessories Autumn Cornucopia Basket
If you’re going with a harvest theme, a cornucopia will really drive it home. This one is constructed from woven wood and comes affixed with seasonal decorations, so you don’t have to worry about filling it yourself.
Buy It ($58)
Greyleigh Camdenton Rocking Chair with Cushions
Prepare for this year’s deluge of trick or treaters by investing in some cushy rocking chairs. Treat yourself to a set and it will also become your favorite place to soak up the glorious fall foliage.
Buy It ($456; $203)
LettersDesigns Wooden Pumpkin Monogram
Select the size and color you’d like, then give this Etsy artist your initial and she’ll create a monogrammed pumpkin sign that the family can keep for years. Reviewers say it really makes their front doors pop in the fall.
Buy It (From $28)
90shine 1100 Square Foot Fake Spider Web
As soon as spooky season is in full swing, cover your porch in this cotton spider web that comes with a sprinkling of plastic spiders, for an extra creepy touch. Reviewers say one web is large enough to outfit the entire porch, with a little extra left over.
$10 at Amazon
Crazy Bonez Poseable Skeleton
This decorative skeleton is flexible, so you can sit him in one of your front porch chairs, or pose him in different positions each day to make the kids laugh. He truly is the ideal Halloween decoration.
$22 at Amazon
Lydi Out Loud
Paint a creative yard sign like this one designed by blogger Lydi Out Loud to stick in the front yard or prop up on the porch. It’s a fun touch if you’re hosting a harvest party or Halloween gathering. Get a wooden board, four unfinished wood arrows, a hammer and nails, wood glue, acrylic paints and some varnish, then follow Lydi’s instructions.
Get the Tutorial
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