Fresh Fall Porch Ideas to Welcome in Autumn

updated Sep 14, 2020
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Credit: Joanna Keel

The second September hits, it’s goodbye to beach balls and sun loungers and hello to pumpkins  and black cats (at least for some of us). That said, your affinity for orange and excitement for witches and hay bales doesn’t have to be reserved only for your interiors. Your outdoor area deserves a little fall spruce up, too, and your porch is the perfect place to start.

While you can always fall back on the usual set of carved pumpkins, there are plenty of ways to go above and beyond this classic seasonal setup. Take a page of inspiration from a haunted mansion or an apple orchard and work a few of those elements into your outdoor area. You can also bring in some subtle autumnal colors, if themed decor isn’t your thing. Even if you don’t have a front porch, you can still get in on a seasonal vignette or two as well. A balcony, back deck, or patio are all ideal spaces for revamping.

To get you started, here are 10 fall porch ideas to model yours after. That way, you can really infuse some autumnal spirit into every square inch of your home. 

Credit: Jen Marshall

1. Spooky front porch swing

There are no colors more fitting for Halloween (and fall) than orange and black, and Jen Marshall’s front porch is the perfect example of this palette. While it’s modern and fresh, there are just enough bat, pumpkin, and ghost references for the whole set up to feel super festive.

2. Classic black-and-white

Are you a diehard minimalist no matter the season? You can keep your neutral color palettes and still get a fall-worthy porch. Throw in some witch hats, cats, and pumpkins for an understated but perfectly Halloween-inspired set up, like Brianna Venzke did here. It’s perfectly fine—and still festive—to stick to a one or two color palette for your porch.

Credit: Megan Lassen

3. Moody color palettes

There’s no better time to embrace sultry, warm-toned harvest colors than fall, and you don’t need a single pumpkin to make it feel seasonal, as evidenced by Megan Lassen’s porch. Her moody autumnal color palette came together, thanks to terracotta pots, a cool curation of plants, and a sleek, standout rocking chair.

4. Pumpkins and plants

Are you walking into a pumpkin patch or your home? You won’t know when your front porch looks this autumnal. Tiffany of Forever Six Acres scattered some pumpkins, flowers in galvanized pots, and an adorable sign to take her fall porch getup beyond your classic jack-o’-lantern display. 

5. Fall for leaves

Bright and lively, this porch done up by Ashley and Adrian Burnett is colorful and everything you could hope for from a vignette outside your door. While there’s a lovely selection of fall goods mixed together here, the couple’s choice to lace faux leaf garlands up the sides of their swing is the finishing touch that makes this setup really special. 

Credit: Joanna Keel

6. Corn stalks and witches hats

Joanna Keel outdid herself with this ultra modern yet fun porch design. While items like the witch hats, jack-o’-lantern planters, and corn stalks undoubtedly scream Halloween, it never borders on kitschy because of the chic, cohesive color palette she stuck to: orange, black, and tan with a few hits of yellow. 

7. The beauty of brown

While there’s always a case for neon colors and bright saturated hues, Meghan Uffelman’s front porch shows how browns can be equally as stunning. Dried grapevine pumpkins, twig-like wreaths, and wood accents work to channel all the fall feels. 

8. Make it cozy

Even the smallest porches can contribute to the overall fall vibe in and around your home. Alicia Nalini played with different levels for her front door area to pack in as many autumnal touches as possible. The result? A super cozy and rustic vignette.

Credit: Liz Kamarul

9. No porch, no problem!

No front porch to play with? If you’ve got a balcony or deck out back, you still have a worthy outdoor canvas. Liz Kamarul’s balcony is one of the comfiest and most stylish ever seen. With thoughtful Southwestern touches and plenty of pumpkin-colored accents, you’ll never want to stop hanging out in a place like this. 

10. Playful patterns and texture

If you don’t already own a rocking chair or two, Kristina Evans’ porch will make you run out to get one ASAP. These two serve as shining statement pieces amongst her plants and other fall seasonal touches. Aside from the stack of whimsical Cinderella pumpkins, the space is defined by a mix of textures between the plants, rug, and pillows.