Fall Porch Decor | 5 Elements You Need to DIY a Beautiful Space

If you’ve seen my fall house tour, it will come as no surprise to you that I don’t mess around when it comes to autumn decor. What might surprise you is that I don’t stop inside the house; decorating the porch for fall is just as fun — if not more so — as decorating inside. Creating a festive display outside is a fun way to welcome guests for a football or bonfire party. Today, I’m sharing some ideas and inspiration for fall porch decor. I’ve identified five universal elements — texture, height, message, light and seasonal accents — that go a long way in creating a warm and inviting outdoor space. By including something from each of these five categories, you’re well on your way to having the best fall porch decor on the block.

I admit that decorating any space for any occasion can be intimidating when you don’t know where to start. Stalking Pottery Barn catalogs and home magazines can be downright depressing because they’d have you believe that you have to spend millions of dollars to create something beautiful. The good news is that by adhering to some basic principles, it’s really quite simple to create a space that’s both gorgeous and personalized.

Texture | Fall Porch Decor

I’m a firm believer that adding a variety of textures to any space significantly improves aesthetics. And the porch, my friends, is no exception. You’ll notice that I incorporated several textures in styling my porch. I brought in metal with the olive buckets that contain my white mums. I also used a rustic pallet with aged wood to lend character. The rag garland adds both bursts of color and a touch of whimsy. I layered on a grapevine wreath not only for the natural texture it provides, but also because it brings it depth and visual interest by adding a soft curves to an otherwise very angular vignette.

There’s even more texture to be found in this bistro table vignette. I opted to soften the metal and wood with a plaid blanket and ruffled outdoor pillow.

Height | Fall Porch Decor

My favorite styled porches have one thing in common: they feature items that vary in height. When it comes to adding height, the obvious seasonal answer is to include corn stalks. The key, though, is not just to add height; it’s to add variation in height. I’ve also found that when it comes to styling any given space, odd numbers work really well.

Message | Fall Porch Decor

Have you ever noticed how storefronts use messaging at the entrance to communicate any given point? Those signs that list operating hours and accepted payment methods are a perfect example of a welcome message. They tell you a little bit about what you can expect from the place you’re visiting. I use that same technique on my porch. My message asks our guests to do us the favor of removing their shoes before they come into our home.

You could go an alternate route by using a wooden sign or something store-bought. Some ideas for phrasing include:

It’s fall, ya’ll!
Welcome Fall
Give Thanks
Gather Here with Grateful Hearts

Light | Fall Porch Decor

Although my home has plenty of permanent exterior lighting, there’s nothing quite like the glow of lanterns to add warmth and charm to a fall front porch. I used three lantern on my porch, each with an indoor/outdoor battery-operated faux candle that comes on at dusk and automatically turns off four hours later.

You could also add light by hanging string lights or placing luminary bags along a sidewalk or flanking a staircase.

Seasonal Accents | Fall Porch Decor

But of course we need to include some seasonal accents in our fall porch decor. The good news is that the harvest season offers us plenty of options to choose from.

By styling your fall porch decor with one element from each of these five categories, you’re sure to create a space that is balanced, warm and festive. Would you add another category to the list? Let me know in the comments if so.

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