It’s that time of year, where I bring a little seasonal fall magic to my front porch! This year, I’m embracing autumn by building my fall decor around a cohesive fall color palette. Today, I want to share how this simple approach transformed my porch and doors. From choosing the perfect pumpkins and adding a couple of my DIY wreaths, you’ll see how easy it is to make your home feel warm and ensure everyone who enters feels welcome!
Building your fall porch around a color palette instead of grabbing every mum in sight, creates a cohesive, welcoming look in minutes. Pick two or three colors that complement what’s already blooming, then layer in pumpkins, cornstalks, and a wreath. Simple, budget-friendly, and full of curb appeal!
“Fall colors are funny. They’re so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary.” – Siobhan Vivian
Affiliate links are used in this post. I earn a small fee by linking to their sites. Read my full disclosure here.
I’m Kim, and I believe every home can look beautiful and stylish without a hefty price tag! With 30+ years of decorating experience, I love showing you how to create a stunning, pulled-together home using what you already have and budget-friendly finds.
The Perfect Fall Color Palette
Although I am a blogger and love sharing new trends and colors, I’m a true proponent of following your heart when it comes to home decor and know that not every trend needs to be followed.
That being said, traditionally orange, yellow, purple and red have always been a sign of fall and I always use ever color of mum I can find. This year, however, I decided to shake things up a bit from my traditional, use every color under the sun, for fall porch decor. The reason why? I have these beautiful fuchsia New Guinea impatiens that still look like they are in the midst of summer. Not wanting to pull them out just to decorate my front porch, I embraced their color and chose a fall color palette that I thought would blend with them.
I chose burgundy and variations of deep orange, and I’m so happy with how it came out!
Applying the Palette to My Fall Porch
With my fall palette colors in my mind, it was time to gather all my mums, cornstalks, front door wreath, and other miscellaneous items to decorate my porch. You know me, and I’m a big fan of using items you have or repurposing pieces, foraging, and picking items up that others don’t want. That’s exactly what this porch was made of!
Mums and Pumpkins
Since I was decorating my fall porch around my fuchsia impatiens, I used burgundy and deep orange mums. The orange mums had a darker burnt orange center, which worked perfectly!
“There are three things I’ve learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.” – Linus – It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Can you believe the variety of pumpkins that are grown these days? When I was growing up there was only one color…orange. Orange pumpkins meant fall had arrived and Halloween was right around the corner! But these days, you can buy orange, white, green, and pumpkins with various color veining. Add in the plethora of various gourds and you can create a beautiful display right on your front porch! For this porch, I stuck with the old fashion orange carving pumpkins.
Pumpkin Buying Tip
Most often, your local grocery store is the best place to buy inexpensive pumpkins. They usually run deals like “2 for $12” or similar promotions, which is key, especially if you want to buy multiple pumpkins for your outdoor decor.
Adding Cornstalks and Other Natural Elements
Cornstalks are the cornerstone of my fall decor, instantly giving my porch that rustic, seasonal charm. They’re inexpensive and make a big impact when decorating. Some of you may have friends or farmers nearby where you can gather cornstalks for free. I tie cornstalks around my porch posts for a classic and festive look.
There’s the cutest farmer’s market around the corner from where I live. It’s been there for years and I can’t tell you how many times a month I run up there for something I need when cooking. I was recently there to pick up a pie and they had these wooden crates stacked up outside with a sign that said “free”. As my good friend always says, “If it’s free, it’s for me!” So, I grabbed a couple and used them to elevate some of my mums. Free and a fun addition to my porch decor.
I still use garden flags. Some people may think they are out of style or old fashion, but I think they are welcoming and cute! So I always use them near my porch and in my gardens.
Having granddaughters makes everything more fun! When I decorate, I always keep them in mind, because it’s so important to Big Al and me that we have pieces that build lasting memories. Things like special ornaments, indoor and outdoor decor, and our family traditions all build those precious memories. For instance, I purchased a gathering of metal pumpkins a couple of years ago, and they love them! Letting them help put them in the ground is even more fun!
The Finishing Touch: DIY Wreaths
Making your own wreath is a budget-friendly way to achieve a custom look without the high-end price tag. Even with wreaths that I have purchased in the past, when I get tired of them, I tear them apart and use the base to start over, or sometimes I add to what is already there. A little bit of a freshening up!
This year, I used my DIY Indian corn wreath and another wreath that I’ve had for a few years. Having the colors of my fall porch palette, my Indian corn wreath found it’s way to my front door. If you’re looking to make your own, I will say it’s the easiest wreath I’ve ever made!
I have a side porch that is also seen from the street. Electing not to use any mums or pumpkins there, I still needed to dress the door up a little. Adding some new burgundy flowers to a wreath that’s been in my storage closet for a few years was all it needed.
More Fall Inspiration
There you have my fun porch color palette! I hope it has inspired you to choose your own set of colors that speak to your heart and makes your home feel instantly cozy and welcoming. There’s no better time than now to grab your favorite mums and pumpkins and start creating your own fall porch!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest and Facebook!
amazon
Shop My Storefront
If you enjoy the home decor, DIY projects, and cozy finds I share here on the blog, you can find many of my favorite items in my Amazon storefront. Shopping through my storefront is a wonderful way to support Cottage in the Mitten, and it means so much to me. Thank you so much for being here and following along!
Shop My Fall Favorites
Good morning Kim,
Your Fall decor looks beautiful!
Have a lovely weekend.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! You too!
I love how you kept your beautiful new guinea impatiens and incorporated them into your fall decor!
Your porch looks lovely for the fall.
Thank you, Tammy! Hope you had a wonderful trip!