17 Ideas for Decorating with Mums That Will Elevate Your Fall Display

Take inspiration for decorating with mums outdoors from these classic and creative ideas.

A few containers of brilliantly colored mums always set an autumnal tone on your front porch. But you can also go big with a more elaborate display. Whether you want a simple yet sophisticated look or something more flamboyant, these photos of mum-filled spaces are sure to inspire you to use these favorite fall flowers to their full potential.

Mix and Match Your Mums

Mixing mums with other plants that offer different colors and textures in your fall container gardens will give you an appealing arrangement that keeps the eye moving. Cheryl Spicy Orange mums mingle nicely with the magenta spikes of 'Caracas' celosia, purple 'Viking' asters, trailing English ivy, and bittersweet for a fall display that's packed with vibrant color.

Set a Color Theme With Mums

In this mixed fall arrangement, soft pink 'Calisto' mums look especially bright against the dark green and purplish leaves of 'Redbor' and 'Red Russian' flowering kales. Magenta-flowered 'Viking' asters and 'October Daphne' sedum spilling over the side echo the pink color theme. The combination of pinks and purples is also a refreshing change from the traditional red, yellow, and orange arrangements often seen in fall.

Choose Tricolor Mums

For added impact, choose a combination mum plant to add to your front porch display. Here, purple, yellow, and white mums come together in one planter. Display them with other mum plants or make a statement with one oversized arrangement.

Line Front Steps with Mums

Lining your front steps with mums is one of the easiest, yet most effective ways to decorate with mums in the fall. Choose to go for a monochromatic look, or play with different mum varieties and colors. Put the flowers in outdoor pots, and place them on your front steps alongside pumpkins and gourds.

Related: 43 Pretty Fall Front Entry Ideas You Can Keep Up All Season Long

Go Monochromatic with Your Mums

Cloud-like white mums in white containers line this front entry, contrasting nicely with the house's darker colors. Painted pumpkins help to reinforce the white color scheme. Plain orange pumpkins provide a splash of brighter color to the display.

Contrast Colorful Mums with Rustic Metal

Create this pretty front entry look for fall by making these simple metal pot covers for your mums from a corrugated steel roof panel riveted around your containers. If you want to achieve varying heights for an interesting grouping, place your potted mum on top of an empty, overturned pot before measuring and cutting the metal.

Pair Mums with Grasses

Because mums are so showy on their own, they work well with less flamboyant partners like ornamental grasses. Together, they make an even bigger visual impact. Here, the tasseled purple fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum') adds height, texture, and just enough color to contrast with vivid magenta chrysanthemums in a classic terra-cotta pot.

Use Mums as Both Accents and Centerpieces

Experiment by using mums in a supporting role instead of as the main attraction. A tub of Cheryl Spicy Orange mums helps unify and add bright color to this autumnal display of assorted plants such as purple heuchera, red-stemmed chard, orange strawflowers, pansies, and bittersweet.

Play with Different Sizes of Mums

When displaying several single mums in pots, try using varying container types and sizes. This dynamic display uses a very large pink mum in a galvanized tub as a dramatic centerpiece, set off by smaller pink and white mums in terra-cotta containers and baskets. An assortment of ornamental kale, pumpkins, and gourds tucked among the mums helps to unify the whole grouping.

Add Seasonal Color with Mums and Gourds

A simple arrangement of mums and gourds by your front entry makes for a beautiful celebration of fall's colors. To make mums the star on your porch steps, pick pumpkins and gourds with paler hues because they'll add texture without competing for color.

Mix Plants in the Same Color Family

Give your fall window boxes a burst of color with mums and other seasonal plants in similar hues. Multi-colored cabbages with dark leaves and pink centers harmoniously complement the mums in this window box. A bountiful harvest of white gourds and small pumpkins enhance the whole effect.

Make Casual Arrangements for Easy Fall Color

Sometimes simplicity is the way to go for showing off fall favorites like mums. This galvanized steel tub provides a low-key way to display individually potted cabbage, kale, and pink mums. Not only is it quick to assemble, it's easy to change up the look as you wish.

Place Potted Mums in Hollowed-Out Pumpkins

For a fun fall display, drop potted mums into carved pumpkins and arrange in a row or in groups on ledges and steps to welcome guests to your next autumn get-together. You could even combine your pumpkin-potted mums with Halloween decor by placing them in painted pumpkins. If you need the display to last longer than a few days, opt for a faux craft pumpkin, shown here.

Display Mums in Vintage Finds

If you happen to have an old bicycle around or can pick one up cheap at a garage sale or thrift store, use it to show off a bunch of colorful fall mums. Attach baskets using hooks or wire to hold the plants. Try other vintage containers or finds to display plants for a truly unique, rustic look.

Celebrate the Harvest Season

Mums with orange tones coordinate well with gourds and pumpkins for a classic harvest look. Complement this pairing with other plants in similar hues like ornamental peppers and grasses.

Display Mums at Various Heights

Display potted mums at various heights to create visual interest in your garden or porch. Place some pots on the ground and others on pedestals or steps. Fill spacial gaps with other plants like coleus and flowering kale.

Make a Mum Bouquet

Place mums in a vase with other fall flowers such as dahlias, African daisies, and asters, for a quick centerpiece. Set the bouquet on your outdoor table for al fresco dinners, or set it on a small table beside your front door to welcome guests.

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