Fall Decorating Ideas For Outside

It's finally autumn, and we are so pumped for sweater weather, hayrides, all things pumpkin—and of course fall decorating ideas both inside and out. Because everyone loves a house with impeccable curb appeal, we're starting with the front porch to create the ultimate warm welcome for friends, family, and neighbors come this fall.

Your porch is bursting with decorating potential for this time of year. You can go as simple as hanging a pretty fall wreath to spruce up your front door or stacking pumpkins for a classic autumnal touch. But there's no need to stop there. After all, fall is an ideal time to pull out all the stops with gourds, hay bales, cornstalks, fall mums, and more, as you'll see in this roundup of creative ideas.

To take your fall porch decor to the next level, craft a garland to drape around a window or doorway or hang bunting to match your color scheme. Trot out stacks of plaid blankets in fall hues to cover rocking chairs, benches, porch swings, and sofas, and pile on outdoor pillows for added comfort and color. And we adore a chalkboard sign for friendly messages and fall quotes—now that makes for a warm welcome!

Whether you have a small stoop or a large wraparound porch, whether you're up for a little decorating or a lot, get inspired by this list of the prettiest and best fall porch decorating ideas to try this season.

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Clean and Modern Fall Porch Decor

With a deep wraparound porch no doubt spacious enough to pack in all the fall decorating ideas on this list, these homeowners opted for a spare approach to the season. A pair of chartreuse plantings that echo the paint color of the front door flank the steps. Groups of comfortable seating, including a hammock, provide a place to linger and enjoy the crisp, fall weather.

SHOP ROPE HAMMOCKS

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Pretty in Plaid Fall Porch Decor

Even though this is actually a back porch, we love every one of these ideas for fall front porch decor: cozy plaid blankets and pillows, lanterns with glowing candles, an oversize grapevine wreath, fall flower arrangements, and of course, pumpkins!

SHOP WOODEN BENCHES

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Less-Is-More Fall Porch Decor

Because this 200-year-old restored New Hampshire farmhouse's exterior is so beautifully simple, just a tiny touch is all that's needed—a few pumpkins on the steps, a contrasting wreath, and an adorable row of white mini pumpkins sit on the door transom.

SHOP FALL WREATHS

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Luxe Log Cabin Fall Porch Decor

Wide front steps dotted with potted evergreens and orange pumpkins give this log cabin's entrance just the right amount of presence and charm. At night, string lights illuminate the space. We especially love the rusty old bike, at right, that carries a wooden planter to hold seasonal blooms all year long.

SHOP METAL PLANTERS

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Neutral-Toned Fall Porch Decor

Crisp whites with pops of bright blue and muted oranges is a fresh, sophisticated color scheme for this time of year. Paper oak leaves glued to leafless branches create a dramatic window swag. Display white mums in bushel baskets and stack heirloom pumpkins on an array of colorful shaker boxes.

SHOP BUSHEL BASKETS

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In Bloom Fall Porch Decor

At this California board-and-batten cottage, stone porch steps wrap the entire house and provide the perfect perch for clusters of fall blooms in terra-cotta pots. A throw blanket for cool California nights and a pair of pumpkins rest on a simple bench under the window.

SHOP TERRA COTTA POTS

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A Little Goes a Long Way Fall Porch Decor

This cute little porch, with built-in benches, doesn't need much to make it festive. An oversize wreath hangs on the top portion of a charming Dutch door, while the benches get a soft accent from pillows.

SHOP PILLOWS

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Golden Door Fall Porch Decor

Fall cabbages tucked into the landscaping and planters with patina are a nice change from the season's ever-popular mums. A wreath of dried flowers hung on the happy gold door and pumpkins scattered casually below makes for an effortless fall look.

SHOP AGED METAL PLANTERS

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Rustic Log Cabin Fall Porch Decor

The orange paint on this log cabin's front door provides an easy jumping off point for other design decisions, like the matching pillows on the natural wood Adirondack chairs. An oversize tobacco basket between the windows and bright mums planted in galvanized buckets finish off the look.

SHOP METAL BUCKETS

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Tobacco Basket Wreath Fall Porch Decor

Nothing says fall like orange, yellow, and hunter green. Add gourds and magnolia leaves to a tobacco basket for a seasonal wreath. A magnolia garland, accented with dried bittersweet berries, frames the window. Line the steps with tree stumps topped with classic pumpkins and vintage lanterns.

SHOP TOBACCO BASKETS

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High and Low Fall Porch Decor

If you are lucky enough to have a double-decker porch, be sure to add fall touches to both spaces. Grapevine wreaths with swaths of orange and yellow flowers adorn the doors. Cozy striped blankets are perfect for wrapping up with when rocking away on cool nights, while lanterns filled with candles offer soft, romantic light.

SHOP LANTERNS

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Colorful and Festive Fall Porch Decor

The neighbors will stop to admire the bright colors of this Southwest-themed porch decor. Show-stopping layers of paper garland are hung along the sides of the window, while a vintage wood ladder is draped with colorful blankets. Chairs painted a light blue color nicely contrast the orange heirloom pumpkins.

SHOP BLANKETS

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More Is More! Fall Porch Decor

Go big or go home, right?! This porch packs it all in, with multiple stacks of pumpkins, a plethora of mums, plenty of plaid fall blankets and pillows, and an oversize wreath made from pecans.

SHOP PLAID BLANKETS

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Pick from the Yard

No need to look any further that the backyard for pretty fall-colored foliage. Branches of colorful maple leaves and sprigs of dried flowers are all it takes to glam up the front porch.

SHOP METAL BUCKETS

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Make a Window Garland

Drape a garland (this one is made from natural grapevine with seeded eucalyptus, olive branches, and preserved pink berries wired into it) over the porch window. Accent with white pumpkins and olive buckets.

SHOP GRAPEVINE GARLAND

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Add Accents to the Native Plants

Lush greenery grows all year long on this beautiful South Carolina porch, so all it takes to gussy up this scene for fall is a scattering of pumpkins and seasonal plants, like black-eyed Susans.

SHOP TERRA COTTA POTS

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Opt for Oversize Flowers

Mums own fall. Plant a trough planter with oversize bloomers for a colorful array that will bloom all season long.

SHOP TROUGH PLANTERS

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Use Bright Colors that Pop

Chile ristras add a bright red pop of color to this New Mexico porch. No yellow bike? Try using golden-hued mums instead.

SHOP CHILE RISTRAS

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Decorate with Corn Husks

Add some serious seasonal curb appeal with these easy autumn DIY projects.

For the garland: Cut a piece of ½-inch jute rope to your desired length (add a few extra inches to get the drapey effect at the top) and attach corn husks and silks with a hot-glue gun. (You can also use tamale wrappers.)

For the wreath: Start with a flat-wire 18-inch frame. Hot-glue corn husks (roughly 18) and corncobs (roughly 9) in an alternating pattern. Fray the ends of the corn husks to add dimension.

SHOP CORN HUSKS

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Frame the Front Door

For a grand entrance, add a stunning, oversize garland like the one pictured here around the front door. Bonus: Leave it up through the holidays! Dress up rocking chairs with blankets in seasonal hues.

SHOP GARLANDS

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Add Contrasting Colors

Hints of bright orange contrast perfectly with the bright blue door of this New Mexico entryway. A driftwood wreath adds rustic flair.

SHOP WREATHS

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Pretty Up The Porch

No need to break the bank for this simple look—you probably already own most of these materials.

If you have a wooden ladder: Display a cozy blanket on each rung.

If you have a grapevine wreath: Dress it (or a pair) up by nesting nuts and apples in the lower half, then hang with 3-inch-wide burlap ribbon.

If you have a bushel basket: Repurpose it as a rustic planter, or use it to corral outdoor items.

SHOP BLANKET LADDERS

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Rustic Cabin Welcome

With architecture like this, it doesn't take much to make the porch sing. Here, a trail of flower shop pumpkins and a few white mums do the trick.

SHOP FAUX PUMPKINS

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Cotton & Muted Colors

This cotton wreath is the first thing that stole our hearts about blogger Eden Passante's front porch. But the lush arrangement of dried reeds and flowers is equally captivating.

Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.

SHOP COTTON WREATHS

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Pumpkin Cart Vignette

Give your outdoor bar cart more time to shine this fall by stashing pumpkins and gourds on each shelf. Add more flair by interspersing a bit of greenery.

See more at Home Stories A to Z.

SHOP OUTDOOR BAR CARTS

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Orange Mums and Gourds

Use fresh flowers and lots of little gourds to welcome guests up the steps of your home. We love the country touch of using vintage stoneware crocks as planters!

See more at Liz Marie Blog.

SHOP CROCKS

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Create a Cozy Seating Area

Make your porch bench or swing the ideal spot for relaxing in the crisp fall weather by piling on cozy pillows and blankets. Pumpkins, flowers, and personalized vintage finds add the perfect finishing touches.

See more at Liz Marie Blog.

SHOP CABLE KNIT THROWS

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Fall Crate Display

Create a place to tuck in fall plants and pumpkins by stacking a few wooden crates. Align them however you please, then line with the bottom with hay.

See more at Gray House Studio.

SHOP WOOD CRATES