How to Decorate the Exterior of your Home for Fall

Seasonal decorating is fun regardless of the time of year, but fall is an especially popular time of year to add cozy touches to both the interior and exterior of a home. Because of its simplicity and affordability, outside decorating in autumn is something everyone can participate in.
 

Fall brings about comforting feelings of nostalgia for many people, along with cooler temperatures that turn our minds toward spiced coffees and warm muffins in the oven. The scents of fall beget memories of our childhoods that most of us look back on fondly.
 

Here are a number of ideas to spruce up your home’s exterior as you find yourself getting into the autumnal spirit:

While the colors of fall are typically darker and deeper than those associated with spring and summer, you can (and should) use a wide variety of deep reds, purples, golds, oranges, browns, greens and more. The more colorful your outdoor fall décor – the better.

So much of fall is all about celebrating nature! Along with pumpkins, adding other colorful gourds, corn stalks, hay bales, and fall flowers to a porch or entryway will give it an immediate fall feeling.

Whether you prefer gold, silver or a more coppery rust color – metallic are “in” like never before. If you want to elevate your fall décor to glam status, use metallic spray paint on pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes.

Nothing says fall more than a stately urn filled with autumn flowers. Keep things symmetrical by placing one urn on each side of your home’s main exterior doorway. Consider filling the urns with richly colored mums and surrounding their bases with some other fall plants and/or gourds.

Even though autumn is famous for its rich colors, a sophisticated décor twist is to go with an all-white and neutrals palette on your porch. White mums surrounded by white gourds and white pumpkins look beautiful when paired with the natural tones of a few corns husks tied to the railing and an earthy-toned wreath hanging from the door.

Even if you don’t have (young) kids in the house, getting into the spirit of Halloween can be fun and festive for virtually anyone! To avoid looking kitschy or tacky, stay away from bright colors and artificial decorations. Think: chalkboard drawings, jack-o-lanterns, wrought iron candle lanterns, chicken crates, and a re-purposed burlap sack painted with stencils to spell a seasonal message. Halloween can merge with fall for a classic yet slightly spooky feel.

Imagine a picture straight out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Recreate a classic country porch this fall using vintage items that may already be stashed in your shed, like an old wooden ladder (the dirtier, the better), an apple basket, gardening boots, a rustic bench or chair, and some faded throw pillows. Add natural wreaths, a few plaid blankets hung on the rungs of the ladder and a small woodpile to finish off the look.