Designer Tips for Decorating a Front Porch for Fall

Fall is here, and what better way to welcome the change of weather than by decorating your front porch? We spoke with five area designers who shared their tips for creating a setup that’s seasonal and stylish. 

Go Natural

Skip the plastic decorations and outfit your porch with what Ann Gottlieb refers to as “authentic objects”: pumpkins, branches, colorful leaves, and more. That said, you can feel free to get a bit spooky at the same time once you’ve assembled your natural decor. The Fairfax-based founder of Ann Gottlieb Design adds, “I like to incorporate a Halloween element with some noise that turns on as people approach that front porch for that surprise and delight moment.” 

Layer Your Decor

When styling your front porch, be sure to layer your decor, instructs Rose Ramseur, the founder of Primrose Interior Design in Fairfax. Layering can take a few different forms, she explains, stating, “If you have a large outdoor rug, you can add a smaller sisal on top.” Mix in objects of various heights, too. “Add taller items in the back and then smaller items in the front,” Ramseur says. “This can mean stacking flower pots on top of an upside-down flower pot or decorative wooden box to add height and then adding smaller decor items like colorful gourds directly on the porch or step.” Finally, layer the colors that you use. “Punch up neutrals like greenery with colorful flowers (mums are always a good choice this time of year) or gourds (real or faux),” the designer says. What makes a successfully styled front porch is a variety in heights, textures, and colors.” 

Think Beyond Orange

By no means do you have to stick to traditional orange pumpkins when decorating your front porch for fall. “This year I’ve been gravitating towards greens and purples for interiors and so I am translating that palette into my fall decor,” says Corinne Back, the founder of Corinne Victoria Design in Alexandria. “Start with a bounty of pumpkins, gourds, and filled urns leading up the porch steps: Think black urns filled with purple and white mums, flowering kale and cabbage, fall laurel leaf with berries, and layering in white pumpkins and green gourds.” 

Other shades that are perfect for a fall porch include beige, taupe, and cream, as well as deep reds, mustard yellows, and copper accents, adds Maria Loveless, the founder of The L&L Design Team in Manassas. 

Think Beyond the Steps 

Once you’ve tackled the front steps, keep the decor going! “I love the idea of wrapping dried corn stalks up porch columns to then draw your eye up to the house,” Back adds. “It’s a fun take on classic fall decor that can translate from Halloween to Thanksgiving beautifully.” 

Get Cozy

Don’t forget to finish off your porch with cozy touches that will make spending time out front extra relaxing. Blankets, plaid pillows, and lanterns or string lights are some of Potomac designer Elana Mendelson’s favorite touches to include.

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9 

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