Fall Porch Decorating Trends 2020

In Indiana, we love fall; the cooler weather, the vibrant trees, and the plethora of fall themed activities in our area make it a notably beloved season. When people say “I want to live somewhere with seasons” at least half of them are imagining Indiana’s autumn. Because we love this season, we like to welcome it with decoration and celebrations–but while Halloween is a wonderful part of the season, decorating trends are moving to embrace seasonal adornments th at we can enjoy a little longer. Here are some popular fall porch decorating trends (and some renegade trend-SETTNG ideas) that will last well into November. 

 

Black and White

Black and white fall decor is both on-trend and classy. It is eye-catching and modern, but still works with a lot of different evergreen styles and colors of porch. To get the look, try:

• checker patterns (draping fabric and door mats are great!)

• white pumpkins (naturally white or painted)

• chalk boards

• black branches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can tell from these two examples, black and white can veer heavily toward Halloween, with spooky elements like dark branches or trees, or lend itself to a more general “fall vibe.”

 

 

Flowers and Foliage

Mums are the go-to flowers for fall, found in all kinds of pre-made planters, but there are many fall blooms that can brighten up your porch arrangements such as

• ornamental kale 

• purple fountain grass

• marigolds 

• black eyed susans

• yellow daisies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want a clever DIY planter, try a galvanized steel tub filled with straw. Rest your decor on the straw, nestling any potted plants inside and topping with pumpkins, other gourds, and colorful leaves.

 

 

Wreaths

It’s fun and simple to make a DIY wreath, and however else you decorate your porch for fall, a wreath on the door is a must. Some great materials for making fall wreaths are:

• colorful leaves 

• bunches of colorful berries

• corn stalks

• pine cones

• ribbon

• acorns

• dried wildflowers

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can use the real version of any of these items or pick up the faux versions at a craft store. If you go with pine cones, interweave yellow, orange, purple, or black accents…if you go with red, the combo will imply winter holidays. And we haven’t gotten there just yet.

 

 

Dash of vintage

A little vintage piece in your fall decor is a popular element this year. There are many ways to incorporate antique items into your design, and one piece will generally achieve the full effect, so a little goes a long way. Here’s some ideas:

• Old doors with garland

• re-purposed pallets, tinted with fall colors

• old children’s wagons with fall arrangements

• barrels, buckets or baskets that are genuinely antique, or distressed

• tin watering cans

 

These pieces can be adorned with bright colors or neutral tones, depending on the effect you want to achieve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pumpkins (with a twist)

There’s nothing wrong with a classic orange pumpkin, and certainly depending on your design, carving pumpkins may be exactly what you should be reaching for. But in the interest of mixing it up, here are some more out-of-the-box pumpkin decorating ideas.

• rainbow colored pumpkins

• fairytale pumpkins

• Illuminated pumpkins

• pumpkin towers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rainbow pumpkin design is especially interesting because it bucks the trend toward very light designs that feature a lot of white or cream colors and a very “Country Living” aesthetic. Fairytale and illuminated pumpkins are versatile additions to any porch design–they’ll add a magical element to any other pieces they’re paired with. The pumpkin tower is undeniably quirky but also fits in fine with otherwise conservative design elements.

 

 

Perfect accents

Finally, let’s think about accents! These are fun to pick out and hard to go wrong with. Accents can be traditionally fall-themed or not–the trick is to balance the accents with what you’ve already got working. So if your overall design is simple, choose accents that pop. If you’re design is more elaborate, or you already have a big eye-catching element, you might choose a simpler accent. Here are some ideas that rise to the top of the heap. 

 

• pillows

• lanterns

• string lights

• pillar candles

• cornucopias

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pillows are great if you have a swing or bench, but they can also be nestled at the foot of arrangements or next to pumpkins as long as they are out of the elements. Creating a cornucopia is fun, and nothing is more classic–this could work as an accent or a larger part of your design depending on how elaborate you choose to make it. 

 

However you decide to decorate, think about the style of the home you are working with and what will compliment it. What colors are already prominent in your home color, porch color, and surrounding landscaping? What style of home do you have? What are the permanent fixtures of the porch, eg seating lighting, etc., and how can you play off those or balance them?

 

Autumn in Indiana is truly a revelatory time. Are you looking for a new home to celebrate in? We’re always happy to help if you’re looking for a home to settle into, to dote on, decorate and open up to family and friends. 

 

Here’s to enjoying everything the season has to offer, to the fullest!