How to Decorate Your Front Door for Fall

The crisp, fall season is about embracing nature's changing colors and taking in all the fun we're only allowed a few short months of the year. Memories strike of pumpkin picking, wagon rides, leaf raking, and apple bobbing. From our childhood and beyond, the traditions never change—and we wouldn't have it any other way.

When that first leaf starts to turn a crimson red in early September, it's time to start planning your fall front door decorations. This year, we were inspired by fall's most classic elements, like the colorful foliage and booming pumpkin harvest. You can create all our fall decorating ideas, composed of items available at your local crafts store, in just a couple hours. Throw in an homage to one of your favorite fall traditions—we're suckers for billowing grasses—for an added personal touch.

Add Soft Candlelight

Lanterns are a beautiful way to bring a certain elegance to your outdoor fall decor. We love them for their antique look and versatility. Extra-large lanterns, such as the ones we used, can be filled with a variety of fall items including candles, small pumpkins, or faux leaves. Grouped between pumpkins and fall foliage, the wood lanterns are a perfect fit.

Safety Tip: If you choose to place candles inside your lantern, opt for flameless or LED candles. It is unsafe to leave a burning candle on your front porch unattended.

No Such Thing as Too Many Pumpkins

This porch would not be the same without, of course, a big collection of pumpkins. Kick up your fall front door decorations by putting out not just one but 10 or more real pumpkins. There are many varieties of pumpkins, ranging from the most-recognized plump orange to sleek white and even funky green pumpkins! Ask your local pumpkin farmer about non-traditional pumpkins and where you can purchase them. Pile them on your fall front porch with hay bales for a harvest look.

Editor's Tip: If you have crafty kids, try decorating your pumpkins with paint or stickers this year. They will last a lot longer than carved pumpkins, which tend to go bad in about a week.

Create a Layered Look with Hay Bales

Unless you live near a horse barn, hay bales are likely something you only see in the fall. Invite them into your own home by including three or four in your front porch decor. These naturally beautiful blocks work great as a foundation to your fall front door decorations. You can also find readily-available straw bales at your local craft store. We stacked ours in various sizes on each side of the door; they act as risers to show off other fun fall accessories. There are plenty of ways to use hay bales in your decor, so have some fun finding out what works best for your style!

Dress Up a Basic Wreath

With a gorgeous double door like this, we had to find wreaths that were equally as beautiful. However, wreaths made with living materials last for only one season and can make a big dent in your holiday funds. A longer-lasting alternative is to use simple, store-bought wreaths as a base and dress them up with seasonal accessories. Here, we started with a faux grapevine and berry wreath. Then, we added silk flowers with floral wire for an asymmetrical design.

Editor's Tip: If you only have time to add a DIY fall wreath to your front door this season, embrace the fact that it's going to be the star, and don't feel shy about using bold colors. We're always fans of the classic gold, red, and copper color scheme.

Embrace Fall Blooms

You might associate fresh blooms with a springtime front porch, but there is just enough opportunity for natural elements in the fall, too. Take advantage of fall flowers by dressing your front deck in brightly colored mums. Bright yellows and oranges are a nice transition from summer to fall, but we're also big fans of deep reds and purples. We planted our mums in adorable red store-bought wood baskets. The handles make it easy to move the mums around as you play with different styles and fall decorating ideas.

Plant in Style

The best kind of planter is one that makes as much of a statement as the plant growing in it! Flank your front door with this stylish piece, which features a farmhouse-inspired exterior and a strong, sturdy base. For the fall season, fill it with layers of long grass and flowers at the base. These one-of-a-kind planters are the perfect fall front porch decor item that seamlessly transitions into winter decor.

Related: Build Your Own Farmhouse Planter