Decorating a Front Porch for Fall When You Don’t Have Steps

If you don’t have steps on your front porch or up to your door, it can be a challenge finding decorating inspiration for fall. I looked everywhere and almost all the cute front porches had pumpkins and mums cascading down at least a few steps! If you are like me and don’t have steps, or if you have a larger flat porch area that you aren’t sure how to decorate for fall, my tips today might be helpful!

Today is week 4 in the 3rd Annual Seasons of Home Series hosted by Kristen of Ella Claire Blog. If you missed the previous weeks, a group of 16 of us shared:

Fall Kitchens

Fall Tablescapes

Fall Living Rooms

Also, be sure to check out everyone participating today as they share their outdoor spaces (links to all 16 at the bottom of this post)!

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, we got a standard poodle puppy (3 months old now)!  He isn’t quite in focus in these pics because moves so much and I’m not proficient at capturing moving subjects yet. haha! But he sure is cute!

On to the porch!

Tip #1: Frame the Front Door

You can do this with tall corn stalks, mums in tall pots (or sitting on stools), pumpkin topiaries (like I did), or a topiary from some sort of green plant in tall urns. Whatever you use, make sure they have some height, so it isn’t lost with whatever else you put around your door and porch (you want them to be the highest).

I got these urns at Lowe’s and use large skewers to keep the top pumpkin attached to the bottom pumpkin, so they wouldn’t roll away. Then I used some fallen leaves around the base of the top pumpkin to hide any evidence of the skewers.

I also took the opportunity to get a new mat and jump on the layered door mat bandwagon. I know I know… nothing original here, but it still looks cute and sometimes I don’t have time to be 100% original or unique all the time. I personally haven’t done the layered door mat thing around my house, so it’s new to me! 🙂 The Home Sweet Home mat I found at At Home Stores, and the bottom kilim mat I got at HomeGoods.

Tip #2: Layer Pumpkins and Mums at Different Heights

I like a certain amount of symmetry around a door, so I started layered pumpkins and mums at different heights just a few feet from the front door, where the pathway meets the front porch. I have approximately a 3 inch “step” so I put my next tallest thing (the biggest mums in the planters) on the porch, then a smaller pot of mums in an old pail on the grass just below it. Then I put some pumpkins of different sizes and colors around those two, so that each one, when you look at them head-on, are at different heights or visual planes. This gives you depth and interest, without blocking what is behind (next to the door) or the walkway. Notice my grouping is 5 different objects– odd numbers in groups tend to be more visually appealing.

What you do to one side, do to the other!

Of course you can use this same idea in a corner (and you don’t have to have it flanking anything). But use stools, upside-down pails, plant stands, etc to help you give your back pumpkins or mums some height. Just remember, when in doubt– keep it simple!

Tip #3: Create a Comfy Sitting Area

If you don’t already having something on your front porch, a bench or a couple of rocking chairs are a great option for fall (and year-round, if I’m being completely honest). By adding some pillows and a throw blanket to your chairs or bench, it creates a cozy and inviting sitting area! I chose gingham and buffalo check patterned pillows for either side of my bench because to me, those patterns are very reminiscent of fall.

I layered on another ‘leaf’ pillow to repeat the color of the throw, and the bench is ready for some sittin’!

To give the bench a little more attention, since it is right in front of a large window, I decided to prop up a couple of corn stalks on either side of it. I did this a couple years ago also before I painted my brick white.

Tip #4: Add Some Ambient Light

The best way to add some simple and maintenance-free lighting to a fall porch is through lanterns. You can find them pretty much anywhere, but I recommend investing in a few larger ones, since the smaller ones are easier to find at a cheap price. The larger ones can be placed on the porch floor, and then you can put medium and smaller ones propped up on a garden stool (or some other type of stool), like I have done. Layer some mums or a pumpkin in front to obscure the view of the stool.

     

Once you got a wreath hung on the front door, you are done! Decorating a flat porch or a porch when you don’t have steps can be a bit tricky, but by framing your front door, cleverly layering the heights of your items, and creating a sitting area, you can get the same inviting look for your home!

Sources (affiliate links used): Bench, Garden Stool, Urns (similar), Black Metal Lantern, Large Wood Lantern, Gingham Pillow (similar), Buffalo Check Pillow (similar), Leaf Pillow, Orange Throw, Outdoor Light, Brick Tile, Brick Color- Dove Gray by Behr, Front Door & Shutter Color- Creek Bend by Behr, Column Stain Color- Chocolate by Behr

For 16 more beautiful front porches and outdoors spaces decorating for fall check out my friends below!

Ella Claire | Inspired by Charm | Zevy Joy | The Lilypad Cottage

Jeanne Oliver | Boxwood Avenue | Liz Marie Blog | Love Grows Wild

French Country Cottage | Home Stories A to Z | Nesting with Grace | Beneath my Heart

Shades of Blue Interiors | City Farmhouse | Jennifer Rizzo Design Company | Rooms for Rent