9 Tips for Decorating a Small Front Porch for Fall, According to Designers

Just because your front porch is on the smaller side doesn’t mean that you can’t decorate it for the fall season. There are so many creative ways that you can display pumpkins, mums, and other forms of autumnal decor even if your square footage is, well, lacking.

Below, I’ve rounded up 10 inspiring small front porches decked out for fall, and I also spoke to design experts to gather some of their small front porch decorating tips, too.

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How to Decorate a Small Porch for Fall

Hang a Wreath

By no means are decorative wreaths solely for the winter holiday season. They make a great addition to a front porch at any time of year and are excellent for small spaces given that all you need is a front door and a hook. This wreath features a beautiful mix of pumpkins, leaves, greenery, and more.

Display Terracotta Pumpkins

If you love the concept of weaving carved pumpkins into your fall front porch decor but want your setup to last for months on end, consider going the faux route.

While real carved pumpkins will decay after a short period of time, terracotta ones will still look nice and festive while lasting you all season long—and better yet, you can store them and display them again next year, too. Style them alongside an assortment of colorful pumpkins that you have yet to carve or seasonal blooms.

Add a Lantern or Two

Lanterns are both decorative and practical, and you don’t need to have a large front porch at your disposal in order to display them. Place one or two on the steps to light the way to the door at night. Lanterns will also add height and texture to your outdoor vignette. The wooden ones shown here complement the planters closer to the door nicely.

Create Height With Hay

What your small front porch lacks in square footage it can make up for in vertical height. Maximize the space allotted to you by placing seasonally appropriate bales of hay on the porch and using them to literally elevate your decor, as shown here.

Bring in Texture With Corn Stalks

An instant way to bring texture and a layered look to your small front porch is with the addition of some corn stalks. These dried decorations will hold up against fall weather conditions and will catch your neighbors’ attention from the street.

Display a Sign

If you love classic farmhouse decor, you can’t go wrong with displaying a wooden sign outside. You could select one that states a seasonal phrase or go the DIY route and create a sign to display your house number or last name.

Hang a Garland

What’s more cheerful than a colorful garland made up of fall leaves? Even if the trees are still full where you live, a garland like this one will drum up excitement for all that’s to come throughout the season while adding major vibrance to your small front porch.

Fill Planters With Pumpkins

Take an unexpected approach and fill empty planters with pumpkins to make a statement on any small front porch. Stack a few in various colors and you have a long-lasting display that requires zero watering or maintenance.

Try a Chair

It’s okay if you don’t have space for an entire assortment of patio furniture on your front porch. However, adding just one accent chair can easily cozy up your small space and provide you with a nice perch as you sit outside sipping coffee or flipping through a magazine. A wicker style like the chair shown here is always a classic.

Make It Symmetrical

Struggling with how to best decorate your small front porch? You can never go wrong with a symmetrical approach. Grab some wreaths, mums, lanterns, and pumpkins and replicate the elegant look shown here.

5 Designer Tips for Decorating a Small Front Porch for Fall

• Remove items from last season or oversized, weathered furnishings. You’re going to want a clean slate as you begin to decorate your front porch for fall, Jenny Reimold, a content creator and HomeGoods partner, says. Reimold recommends saying goodbye to any large, weathered furniture that doesn’t fit your space and swapping in more size-appropriate items. “To avoid making your porch seem smaller and cluttered, add items on the more petite side like a macrame swing to increase floor space,” she says.

• Don’t underestimate the power of small accessories. It’s okay if you can’t go all in with the largest pieces of front porch decor. Try smaller items like welcome mats, seasonal wreaths, and throw pillows to add just the right amount of character and style, Reimold says. Better yet, these finds are budget-friendly, too.

• Repurpose household items. You may just find that household pieces you already own can make for great front porch decor as well. “Old garden tools, like rakes or shovels, can be wrapped in twinkling lights and leaned against the wall for a rustic look,” Mackenzie Collier, the founder of Mackenzie Collier Interiors, recommends.

• Display cozy textiles. Blankets, throw pillows, and rugs are great accents for the porch, Collier says. Just make sure that they’re weather-resistant as the temps drop.

• Make the most of vertical space. Hang wreaths and garlands, display tall planters and corn stalks, and more, Collier suggests.

Read the original article on The Spruce.