6 Tips for Decorating a Cozy Fall Porch

Can I make a confession? And you have to promise me you won’t boo me and throw rotten tomatoes at my head? Especially any of you Clemson / Auburn fans. I really really despise the color orange. Orange sweaters, orange paint, orange upholstery. No. Whew! There. I said it.

Except… when it comes to fall leaves and pumpkins, I go all weak in the knees. Orange and I, we have a very complicated relationship.

So today, I’m embracing my hue taboo on our porch and joining Taryn from Design, Dining, and Diapers for a fall porch tour!

If you’re stopping by from Ashley’s porch at Cherished Bliss, I’m so glad to have you here!

Earlier this week, I shared the full fall home tour inside. We always have a bit of a dilemma when it comes to decorating the outside of our house. Because we live in a stock builder subdivision, it’s not all that easy to stand out. On our street, every house looks pretty much the same.

But I’m not very good at being the neighbor who blends in. I’m always trying to figure out how to get away with adding more character on our porch without having the HOA after me. Total rebel status. 😉

If you struggle with the same thing, here are 6 tips for decorating a cozy fall porch: (Affiliate links are provided in this post for convenience. For more information, see my full disclosure here.)

1. Add something with a little drama.

Last week, we hung this rusty chandelier out here and I love the little bit of charm it’s added! I got it from this cute online shop called Farmhouse Refined. If you want cozy, add some outdoor draperies or string lights, something that creates an ambience and will make you want to linger a little longer.

2. Incorporate an outdoor rug.

A lot of times, I’m able to find outdoor items at a major discount in the fall because stores are trying to get rid of their summer inventory this time of year. I love an outdoor rug where I can kick my shoes off and hang out. I discovered this 4×6 tan geometric one for way cheaper on Amazon than anywhere else.

3. Opt for changeable pillow covers.

I like buying pillow covers rather than pillows because they’re easier to store as I swap them out for the changing seasons and they’re much cheaper than buying an entire pillow. Most of the time, I can find pillow covers at IKEA and H&M for around $5 or $10.

I couldn’t resist this pillow cover from the amazingly talented Lucy at Craftberry Bush.

And I think this Get Cozy pillow from CoverLove says it all.

4. Utilize lanterns and candles.

One of my favorite things to do if I want to relax, indoors or out, is to light a candle or two. Lanterns are even better for adding the coziness factor. I usually park this favorite lantern of mine smack in the middle of my dining table for an easy centerpiece, but I love how it looks out here too.

5. Have fun with foliage.

I kill every plant that ever dares to try to live on my porch, so I keep the living foliage to a bare minimum. But it’s amazing what a pretty wreath can do for an entire outdoor space.

I picked up this wild leaf and berry wreath from Two Inspire You on Etsy, and I think I’ll be a bit sad when I have to take it down this winter.

Placing some wheat stalks in a pitcher or bucket is an easy way to add some fall color too. I found a huge dried wheat bundle for $10 at HomeGoods a few weeks ago and have been able to use little bits of that one bundle all around our house.

And mums and pumpkins too of course. Although, for me, those mums will be lucky if they make it to Halloween. Little Miss Black Thumbs over here. Since it’s still early, I just have some fake pumpkins from Michaels out here until we’re ready to carve the real kind.

6. Include comfortable seating.

This one’s probably a thank-you-Captain-Obvious point. Duh, Lauren. I love being able to sit on a porch and feel the fall breezes this time of year (that could be my Southern side talking), but even if you can’t buy new seating, you might be amazed how much great outdoor furniture hits Craigslist, thrift stores, and local Facebook buy/sell/trade groups regularly.

Robert and I found this wicker settee and rocking chair at a nearby thrift store when we first moved in, and while it did need a paint job and a coat of polyurethane, it’s served us well for nearly 3 years.

Add a comfy throw and you have the makings of a fancy schmancy porch. Eat your heart out, neighbors. 😉

I found this gray throw blanket in the as-is section of IKEA for $5 because it had one tiny little pull in the fabric. But that didn’t deter me one bit.

If you want to add more interest to your porch’s wall space, you can hang decor, like this sign, using these siding hooks or build a pair of these DIY board and batten shutters for either side of your windows or doors.

Our shutters were our solution to add some oomph to our door since it looked pretty plain all by itself without sidelights.

Do you have any comfy cozy porch tips of your own? Or have you used any of these in your outdoor spaces too?

If you want the full list of our porch decor sources, you can find all of it here:

• Wicker Settee – (Our set was $80 at the thrift store)
• Rusty Chandelier
• Board and Batten Shutters
• Tan Geometric Outdoor Rug
• Pumpkin Pillow Cover
• Get Cozy Pillow Cover
• Red-Orange Pillow Covers
• Leaf and Berry Wreath
• Orange Leaf Garland
• Dried Wheat Stalks
• Gray Throw Blanket
• Crate “End Table” (stained with DIY stain and sealed with polyurethane)
• Windowpane Lantern
• Happy Harvest Sign
• White Pitcher
• Faux Pumpkins
• Braided Door Mat