Watch this fall front porch come to life in my latest YouTube video: Falloween Front Porch | DIY Lit Ghosts, Spooky Hanging Candles, and a Fall Doormat.
Has it cooled down where you are yet? We got some off and on cooler weather through September, but this week really started to feel like fall with some frosty mornings and chilly evenings. Fall has to be one of the most beautiful seasons. All the colors in the trees and fields against the bright blue mountains and sky is one of my favorite views. There’s something about that fall sky that’s extra blue and makes the mountains stand out so much, and with the deep reds, oranges, and golds against them. It just never gets old!
I have always wanted to decorate a fall front porch. Like forever. But I’ve never taken the time to do it. I guess, in all honesty, I was kinda nervous that I wouldn’t be able to do a good job. Home renovations and building and the big projects are very much my comfort zone. So I’ve always been “too busy” with one of those to take the time to do a fall porch. Isn’t it funny how sometimes we avoid something just because it’s a little intimidating?
Well, this year, with all the activity restrictions while I take it very slow and easy with the twins, I finally couldn’t default to a silly excuse. I couldn’t work on anything else. So I faced my fear and tried my hand at a fall front porch.
And guess what?
It ended up being so. much. fun.
And the kids absolutely adore it, which I just can’t get over! I had no idea it would bring them so much joy. They wanted to help with every piece. It was too fun!
Isn’t it funny how so often being pushed outside our comfort zone is just the nudge we need to discover that we are capable of way more than we thought?
I know I know. It’s just a porch. But, still, it was something that intimidated me. And now that I did it, it confirmed, yet again, that sometimes the “scary” things aren’t so scary after all! It’s worth doing something outside our comfort zone every now and then. You might surprise yourself! Or it’ll be a total flop and learning experience …. definitely had things go that way too. But it’s still worth doing – there’s always a lesson in there somewhere 😉
Anywaaays. Who’s ready to see the front porch?!
Fall Front Porch with Halloween Vibes
I had entirely planned to keep the porch very fall-esque. However, the kids had other plans. Once we got the plants and pumpkins out, they started requesting some “spookies” (aka: ghosts, skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, halloween things). One thing led to another and, suddenly, we had a full-on Halloween porch!
But they love it! And that’s what home is all about anyways – a reflection of the family who lives there, a place we create memories and make our own. And they definitely put their own creativity and twist into the original plan. Way more fun that way anyways!
No fall porch is complete without pumpkins and mums, right? I know mums get a bad wrap for being high maintenance, but I love them in the fall. This year I went with deep orange and whites in simple terracotta pots. And I added in that colorful leafy plant for fun as well – not sure the name of it. But I got all the plants at Lowes. I mixed in some pumpkins in different sizes and shades of orange, white, and green. Walmart had a great selection of shapes, sizes, and colors and they were just $6!
I love layering the doormat for an extra pop of color and texture. I had the bottom layer rug already and made this mushroom doormat when my plan was still fall front porch (tutorial here). It turned out super cute! Now I’m wishing I had done a little more Halloween-themed one, or added some ghosts or bats. But it works!
The goal was to add some Halloween elements, but keep it tasteful, not scary. I made a few DIY black terracotta pumpkins (tutorial here). The regular terracotta ones are super popular, but I love the pop of black these add! I also made this cute DIY lit ghost family. I just love the little one so much. He’s adorable. They were surprisingly easy to make, and they bring the perfect amount of glow when the sun goes down (tutorial here).
Why hang plain’ ol regular candles when you can make them spooky?! I had these LED candles on hand and used mod podge to stick creepy fabric around them. I tied fishing line to the top and hung them from the porch ceiling with Command hooks. They also make floating candles with the strings pre-attached.
The skeletons have been a hit. Seriously. The kids just brought them inside this morning to pretend watch shows with them 😅 I had been scheming to do skeletons somewhere, but they were so expensive everywhere I looked! I couldn’t find them for less than $45 anywhere. Then, surprise surprise, found them at Walmart for such a good price [HERE] and couldn’t resist!
I picked up the lanterns for Christmas last year. They’re perfect on the porch all through fall and the holidays. They add such a beautiful, warm glow at night! I use outdoor LED candles in them. They’ve been rained on and haven’t had any issues.
The front porch spans almost the entire front of the house. One day, I think it would be so cool to decorate the whole thing and create separate Halloween “scenes” all the way down. Like maybe a section of witches, section of ghosts, section of skeletons, etc. all doing their own thing. It would be so funny! Maybe line the walking path leading up to it as well. It’d be great for trick-or-treaters! Or, if we keep it just fall – do separate fall sections. Or similar for Christmas.
Hope this gave you some fun ideas to decorate your fall front porch! Do you like to keep it all “fall” or add some Halloween for the end of October?
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| Tylynn |
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