Five Easy Tips For A Festive Fall Porch

Hello sweet friends! Welcome to the second in a series of this year’s fall decor at Storybook Cottage. Today I am joining my dear friend KariAnne of Thistlewood Farms on her Fall DIY Blog Hop. If you are coming over from Robyn’s French Nest let me say “Welcome, I am so glad you are here!” wasn’t Robyn’s fall DIY amazing? Are you ready for Five Easy Tips For A Festive Fall Porch?

Five Easy Tips For A Festive Fall Porch

I have a formula that I use for decorating outdoor spaces. 

1. Clear Away and Clean
2. Position Furniture
3. Add in Potted Plants
4. Layer In Decor Elements
5. Don’t Forget Front Door Decor

I change up my outdoor decor five times a year. This occurs for each of the seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. As well as for the holidays. I have to say August is rough in Texas. High temperatures and dusty winds do a number on the decor. 

My daring strawberry summer entryway didn’t look like this anymore. 

1. Clear Away and Clean

It was time to Clear Away and Clean. The extreme heat had killed my lovely peppermint stripe petunias. There was also a thick coat of dust on the door, wreath, and outdoor lantern. 

Keepin’ it real.

I begin by removing all the decor from the porch. Cobwebs and dust are swept away. The door and lantern are washed off. A hose is taken to the brick walls and flooring. This takes all of 3 minutes to do but truly makes the most difference. Things look better when they sparkle and shine!

2. Position Furniture

I then bring in whatever furniture I am going to use. This might be a patio set, an old chair, table, or rustic bench. 

TIP: make sure the area is good and dry first. I had to wait for ages for this guy to stop watching me and move on before I could dry off the dripping eaves. 

3. Add In Potted Plants

Next, I position in some plants. This is an opportunity to think outside the box. In other designs, I have used baskets, wagons, and other creative containers. This go around since I was keeping to a neutral color palette I just used some soft turquoise pots to echo the color of the door. Repetition of the elements is key in design!

4. Layer In Decor Elements

This is the fun part! 

I wanted an asymmetrical design that moved from high to low. So I began with a miniature bale of hay topped with a happy welcome sign. Shhh: this is actually a yard stake. 

TIP: Open the bale of hay in another area as it is a messy endeavor. 

A sage green pumpkin was placed in front of the smaller pot of mums and coleus.  

A neutral decor pick fills in the open area between the pot and pumpkin. 

Inexpensive faux pumpkins are piled on in various shades of ivory, cream, and green. 

5. Don’t Forget Front Door Decor

If you are working in an outdoor area with an entrance add in some fun and color there as well. In task number 3 I encouraged you to think outside the box. This applies to the door decor as well. 

For a few seasons now I’ve been wanting to incorporate a heavenly smelling cinnamon broom into a fall-themed vignette. 

Our front door has an oval glass inset which is always a bit of a challenge to decorate. Traditional round wreaths do not look quite right. I wanted to see if I could decorate the broom to create a front door accent. 

I  began with some festive fall decor picks. 

It takes only a small amount of time to flatten the pick, rearrange the leaves, and tear the raffia accent a bit more to achieve a mini arrangement that looks so much better!

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This Week’s Decor Video

I share how I created an asymmetrical design on the broom in this week’s short decor video. Just click HERE or on the image to view. 

I hope you have enjoyed this post. Up next is the talented Eryn Whalen.  

I’ll be back on Sunday!

Laura

Wednesday

From Farmhouse to Florida    Robyn’s French Nest    Decor To Adore    Eryn Whalen Online    This Dear Casa   A Bushel & A Pickle

 Thursday 

My Homier Home  Hen and Horse Design   Sonata Home Design   WM Design House    Home with Marieza    Sweet Valley Acres

Friday

Amy Sadler Designs   Back Porch Bliss   Cocoon Raw   Make Every Day an Event    Thistlewood    Peacock Ridge Farm   

Gathered In The Kitchen