Decorating the porch is a great way to welcome any seasonal change. Autumn is a favorite season for many here in the Bay Area since we get to enjoy the best of both worlds – warm, sunny days and crisp, cool nights. Adorning the porch with fall decor is a nice way to get inspired.
7 Ways to Make Your Porch Scream Autumn
- Find or make a fall harvest wreath. Wreaths are relatively simple to make. You can Click Here for directions on how to make a simple, fall harvest wreath or Here if you prefer something a little more Spook-tacular. If crafting isn’t your thing or you simply don’t have the time, look online or at your local home furnishings shops for high-quality, seasonal wreaths that can be packed away in between seasons. Do pay more for a better-quality wreath so it can withstand weather fluctuations as well as multiple years’-worth of storage.
- Use pumpkins and gourds. If you have smaller children, take the time to purchase and carve pumpkins, and then set them on the porch or line them up along the walkway to show off your family’s talents. Yes, pumpkin carving is a messy business but the fun memories and photo ops are worth it. If you don’t have kids, or prefer a more “upscale” look, select pumpkins in various shades and sizes and arrange them to taste.
- Twig pumpkins with LED lights. For a natural twist on the pumpkin theme, check out these Pre-Lit Twig Pumpkins from Balsalm Hill. They’re reusable and enhance your curb appeal by day and by night.
- Drape your door with an Autumn Splendor Garland. In truth, and with a little effort, an autumn garland is easy to make on your own using colorful autumn leaves (real or fabric) that you collect on your own. Otherwise, this reasonably-priced version from Plow & Hearth will do the trick – and can be used around your front door, across the top of an entrance gate or along the top of your fireplace mantel.
- Update your landscaping. Odds are your summer blooms have long since faded. Deadhead as advised per species to keep perennials in good shape for next season. Remove dead foliage and then plant a few fall annuals that will add autumn color and interest to post and planter beds. Examples that do well in our climate (mostly Zones 14, 15,16, & 17 depending on where you’re at) are mums, asters, violas, and pansies. As long as you’re out there, plant spring-blooming bulbs while you’re at it to proactively plan for next year’s post-winter blooms.
- Tuck-away ghosts. If you like to decorate for Halloween, try making a few sweet-faced ghosts using an old sheet or white fabric, newspaper to stuff the head, and twine to tie it off with. A black sharpie or black fabric paint can be used to add black ovals or circles for the eyes and mouth. Suspend tuck-away ghosts from eaves or nearby trees using invisible fishing line. If you feel particularly adventurous, use a pulley system you can activate from inside the front door when it’s time for trick-or-treaters – simply release it to send the ghost swooping across the walkway or porch, then pulling it back up between visitors.
- Re-paint your front door. Some of my favorite front door colors – red, burgundy, hunter green and blue – not to mention vibrant yellow or orange – all work well with autumn decor. If your front door needs a pick-me-up, this is a great time to do it. In addition to adding fall interest, it will also help to weather-proof the door for the upcoming winter.