Fall Porch Decor and Outdoor Decorating Ideas

It’s so fun to think about and plan for Fall. Don’t you just love the crisp cool air, pumpkins, scarecrows, sweatsuits, apples, leaves and the colors of the season. Best of all, I love to decorate outdoors for Fall by creating cute little vignettes or groupings of junk with a fall theme. My favorite place to decorate is my tiny front porch and along the sidewalk leading to the porch. And, really any other place in the gardens or yard that’s visible to visitors or passersby. Nothing elaborate or fancy here, we’re more country than refined, but I especially love decorating the outdoors for fall and making the most of our humble home. Follow along as I share some of my favorite outdoor fall displays from over the years. You’ll also find a few tips for creating and setting up your own fun and festive outdoor displays for Autumn.

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Porch Decorating Ideas for Fall

Our front porch is very tiny and most of it isn’t covered, so my fall porch decor has to withstand the elements. I’m really more of a traditional fall decor kind of gal and I love using old vintage pieces that I’ve purchased at flea markets or estate sales.

I’ve had this old chippy wicker basket for a few years now and it gets used quite a bit. Some years I stick a few mums in it and others, I fill it with mini pumpkins and gourds. 

Since my porch is small, I utilize the stairs too. This little vignette is situated on the porch stairs. I love the rays of late afternoon sun gleaming through the mums.

You just can’t beat a wagon for adding character to your gardens or your fall porch decor. My radio flyer wagon is the most multi-purpose garden tool/toy/garden decor that I have. Since a wagon won’t fit on my small porch, this vignette featuring the wagon sits to one side at the bottom of the porch stairs. Pretty sure when my little grand buddy sees this, he’ll ask to go for a wagon ride. And, yes, this Nana will take all the stuff out and give her little buddy a ride.

Another old wagon I picked up at a flea market a few years ago. It’s really wonky, but works perfect for cute garden vignettes.

Items That Add Character to Your Autumn Outdoor Decor

I especially like bushel baskets and there’s probably one in every outdoor fall display I’ve ever put together.  They add so much character and they are perfect for plopping in a fall mum, or filling with pumpkins and gourds. If you can’t find used ones, buy them new and leave them outdoors and they will weather nicely, but will still last for several seasons. I recently read a tip that if you rub bushel baskets down with olive oil, they will be waterproof and last even longer. 

Don’t care for baskets, or you don’t have any, farmhouse galvanized buckets or watering cans also make adorable additions to your fall displays. If shopping at thrift stores, flea markets or estate sales isn’t your jam, again you can buy them new and they will age naturally. This sweet, little galvanized pail will look so cute with a couple of small mums in it, or full of some of the miniature pumpkins.

Of course, pumpkins, chrysanthemums and scarecrows are necessities for fall porch and outdoor decor displays. I really love the real thing, but I have a problem with squirrels eating my pumpkins, especially the miniature ones, so I’m going to use fake ones this year. Although fake, this set of miniature pumpkins and gourds are realistic looking and I won’t be picking up half eaten pumpkins from all over the yard.

 

I just can’t get enough mums in the fall and I always go a little overboard. It’s taken me several years, but I’ve finally learned how to buy and care for potted mums to get the biggest bang for my buck. I’ve put together an awesome post that’s been crazy popular. Stay tuned, I share it at the bottom of this post.

Fall Porch Decor and Outdoor Display Ideas Using Vintage Junk

If you’ve followed Gingham Gardens for any time at all, you probably already know that I love using upcycled and recycled vintage junk in my gardens. It’s just my style and it follows through to my outdoor fall decorating. It’s also a frugal way to reuse decor pieces over and over, but still be able to change it up and style your displays differently.

Vintage Milk Cans are an awesome additions to your fall outdoor displays, your fall porch decor, or really any place in your flower gardens no matter what the season. This old milk can finds a place in my gardens every summer and fall.

Now, you’ll really see what I mean by using junk in your displays. My favorite junk garden displays are with my old ladder and you’ll see it many times here on Gingham Gardens. And, here it’s being used for one of my outdoor fall displays.

Another favorite decor piece that I use in my garden displays a lot, is this bench made out of barn wood. Although I don’t use them lots, don’t be afraid to use faux items in your outdoor displays, like faux fall leaves and bittersweet.

Another fun festive outdoor fall display using more vintage junk. For the ultimate fall festive touch, don’t forget to add in a straw bales, a few scarecrows. Definitely be sure to add in a few outdoor solar lanterns.

Adding Flowers and Planters to Your Fall Porch Decor

Of course, I’m all about the flowers and I don’t think porch decor, no matter what the season, is ever complete without flowers. Because I’m cheap and I can make them myself, I never buy pre-made flower containers, unless it’s Fall. Every year I splurge on a big fall container garden at my favorite local nursery. 

The combinations of mums, asters, ornamental kale or cabbage, peppers, grass, etc. etc is breathtaking. Sometimes I don’t succeed, but every fall once my container flowers are done blooming, I dig the perennials, like rubeckia, dianthus and phlox, out of the container and plant them in the ground so they will come back the following season.

Although the color combination of purple and green isn’t really thought of as fall colors, this combination of asters and ornamental kale is simply stunning.

A Few Tips for Creating Your Outdoor Fall Displays

Take some pictures as you are arranging your display. It really helps to be able to look through the various versions and choose the one you like the best.

Try doing your groupings in odd numbers. I know it sounds crazy, but it works. For some reason displays look better with odd numbers of items.

If you get frustrated and you don’t think what you’ve put together looks right, just walk away. Come back a few hours later, or even a few days later. It always seems like everything clicks when you take a break.

I hope you’re leaving with some inspiration to take your outdoor fall displays and porch decor to a new level this year.  Even if you don’t go all out, add a few mums and some pumpkins. Get creative and go for it. You’ll be so glad you did.

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Some More Super Cute Fall Porch Decor and Outdoor Display Items:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you enjoyed my Fall Porch Decor and other ideas for your outdoor fall decorations. Make yourself at home and have a look around.

Here are some more popular fall posts you’ll enjoy:

Tips for Keeping Mums Looking Great
Fall Flower Garden Inspiration (Plus MORE Decor Ideas)
Tips on Transitioning Container Gardens to Fall
The Best Fall Perennial Flowers

Happy Gardening,

Joanna