If you’ve followed this blog for longer than a day, you probably already know that “cozy” doesn’t come easily in our house.
The builders of our suburban cookie cutter subdivision somehow left that little feature out of the plan. We’ve come a long way in a year and a half, but our porch usually doesn’t get as much love as the inside.
This is how our porch looked a year ago:
So I set out to cozify our porch over the weekend. (Yep. That’s totally a word.)
We had our first cool, crisp day here in the Carolinas yesterday, so it felt so right to bust out some hot cider and warm throws. And it seemed like a great time to welcome fall with a giveaway too! Stay tuned for more details on that at the end of this post.
I wish I could tell you that I curled up on our settee and read for hours, but motherhood calls most of the time around here. I’ve found myself wanting about 5 more of that plaid throw I picked up at Ikea.
Robert and I found our wicker set for a bargain at our neighborhood thrift store last year, and I love the bit of Southern charm it adds to our little builder grade porch.
My mother-in-law actually made these scrap wood pumpkins a few weeks ago. Aren’t they awesome!? That took major skills!
I’ve stuck to mostly neutrals for the inside of our house, but I couldn’t resist a bit of orange out here. It’s normally my least favorite color, but there’s just something about fall that completely changes my perspective on it for a couple of months.
In case you’re wondering, those pumpkins are most definitely fake. We’ll pick out the real deal ones in a few weeks for our pumpkin carving party that we have every year. We sit around a campfire in my in-laws’ backyard, play country music, sip cider from our favorite local orchard, and laugh all night long. We make it a contest to see who comes up with the most creative jack-0-lantern carving.
I’ll be sharing more details later about those wooden shutters Robert and I built to add a bit of rustic around our door. No space is complete without a little bit of wood grain.
And I’m so excited about this beautiful fall wreath that I was provided by Two Inspire You on Etsy. I love DIYing things, but I could have never made one like this.
I love the wildness of it, if that even makes any sense.
It definitely gives some much needed personality to our basic steel door.
I get questions sometimes asking what paint color is on our front door, and I wish I had the answer. It was what our builder chose in our house’s package. All of the Doctor Who fans out there have deemed it Tardis blue.
So now that the slight cool fall breeze is back for a little visit, I so hope I can make it out here for a morning read and a pumpkin spice latte.
And read some Edgar Allan Poe for old times’ sake.
But, honestly, I’ll probably put old Edgar away for some J.K. Rowling re-reads instead.
Sorry, Edgar. It’s me, not you.
After teaching close to a thousand students collectively in literature classes, you start to build a love/hate relationship with some of the authors. (Although, Shakespeare will always have a part of my heart.)
So about that happy little giveaway? I’ve teamed up with Two Inspire You to give away one of their gorgeous wreaths!
I had such a hard time choosing just one for our porch. There are so many stunners in this Etsy shop! These were some of my favorites:
Pumpkins and Cream Berry Wreath
To enter, just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. (Eligible only to residents of the continental U.S.)
So have y’all busted out the fall decor yet? Is the fall weather creeping in where you live? Even if it still feels like mid-summer, we can just pretend until it really arrives.
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I like the Autumn Harvest Wreath
This porch is FAR from cookie cutter! I love it! Leave that Poe book out there!
Thank you, Paige! I’m tempted to. 🙂
I love the fall pumpkin wreath!
Your fall porch is beautiful! I just got done decorating mine this weekend and it was SO much fun. At first I thought your white pumpkins were real, that one has such a unique shape. I love the wreaths, especially the monogrammed one from the Etsy shop. I also love that you went with a grayish plaid throw and pillows. Very pretty. That apple cider looks delicious!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
It looks so cozy! And that throw!!!! Love it!
So hard to choose! I really love the XL Cream Berry Wreath, it’s so timeless I feel as though I can’t go wrong with that beauty!
I love the ‘All Season Berry Wreath’!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/78037653/holidays-christmas-decor-berry-wreath?ref=shop_home_active_16
I love the Fall Wreath Pumpkin Pie Berry Wreath! Although they are all incredibly beautiful!
SOOO GORGEOUS!!! PINNED~~
It looks so inviting and cozy! Love the boots, too.
Thank you, Elma! I’m so ready for boot season! Haha
Love your front porch decor…the shutters on either side of the door was the perfect touch! Have a beautiful day.
Thank you, Tina! Hope you have a beautiful day too. 🙂
I really like this wreath the most: Red Petunias, Annual Petunias, Petunia Hanging Basket, Summer Petunias, Petunia Flower Baskets, Annual Flowers, Summer Wreaths.
LOVE this update to your porch! Those throw pillows are so beautiful!!
Thanks girl! I totally cheated and stole them from our couch. 😉
Love the olive branch wreath…actually, I love them all. I can see why you had a difficult time choosing!
I just LOVE that olive branch wreath you linked as well as all of her boxwood wreathes! Also I’m totally with you – some J.K. Rowling and PSL on the porch sounds PERFECT. Love your space! Wish I had a front porch! 🙂
I love that one too! That’s going on the wish list for later. Harry Potter and PSL all the way, baby! Haha Thanks, Erica!
I really like the XL Spring Fern Wreath! So many things can be added to that one to change it up as the year progresses.
You did a wonderful job on creating a relaxing place on your front porch…two thumbs up! By the way, I love the Pumpkins and Cream Berry Wreath…simple but beautiful.
Thanks, Anne! I love that one too.
Your porch looks great! You’ve inspired me to work on mine. Wreaths are all beautiful!
Thank you!
I love all of the wreaths, but the one that is catching my eye the most is the olive branch wreath. And, you house and porch look like anything BUT builder grade! 🙂
Aw thanks, Carmen! I love that one too. It’d be beautiful year-round.
Lauren….your porch looks beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win a wreath…I am a wreath fan for sure.
Rosa
Love TwoInspireYou’s shabby chic berry wreath!
Lauren,
Your porch looks beautiful! I love wreaths so thanks for the opportunity to win one of these! 🙂
Rosa
Thank you, Rosa! So glad you like them. Fingers crossed for you. 🙂
Love your porch! And the wreath 🙂
Thank you, Linda!
CU-UUUTE!! Which reminds me, my decorations were starting to slip, I need to hop to that.
Thanks! I’m a total early bird this year. Normally the fall decor doesn’t hit our porch until October. I think you’re good. 😉
Porch looks great! It was cooler here in TX this weekend, too, but took advantage to clean carpet, now wanting to do fall decorating before temps return to 97 this coming weekend! My favorite is the hydrangea wreath with the monogram inside.
Thanks, Donna! I’m sure we’re in for another heat wave or two also. Texas is a TOTALLY different kind of heat from ours. Whew!
Love the bittersweet wreath 🙂
Autumn Wreath – Pumpkins and Cream Berry Wreath with Leaves for Fall Decor is my favorite!
Gorgeous porch! I wish ours was as big, but hopefully, next year we’ll be working on a new courtyard and entryway. Thanks for the opportunity for entering the giveaway! The wreaths are all stunning! 🙂
Ooh exciting! I’ll trade you the porch if I can have a cool courtyard! Wow! 😉
Love your wicker set (I have a crazy obsession for anything wicker)
Love the Bittersweet wreath but its so hard to pick just one, they are all fantastic!
Thanks, Leslie! Ours was a lucky thrift store find. Fingers crossed for you. 🙂
Love the blue door & the wood pumpkins!! Your porch is beautiful!
Swooning over that Olive Leaf Wreath.
Me too! I might have to revisit that one for Christmas. It’d be beautiful year-round.
Your porch looks stunning! Beautiful colors and decor! I really like the Pumpkins and Cream Berry Wreath!
Thanks, Ruthie! I love that one too.
My favorite wreath from Two Inspire You would be the Autumn Harvest Wreath – I love the fall leaves, the pumpkins, gourds & pinecones, not to mention all the great fall colors! Love your fall porch, Lauren, especially the scrap wood pumpkins!! Would love to see a tutorial on them… Great giveaway – hope I’m the lucky winner!
Blessings,
Lanita
I really like that one too. 🙂 Thanks, Lanita! I believe you can find the tutorial that my mother-in-law used here: http://findinghomefarms.com/fall-decorating-diy-reclaimed-wood-pumpkins/
Hi ya Lauren. I love what you have done with your house. I think it looks cozy. I like the heart shaped wreath the best. They do have a lot of beautiful ones. In fact, I didn’t see one that I didn’t like. I was so impressed.
Thanks, Faye! I’m right there with you. It’s so hard to pick a favorite. 🙂
I think your porch is cozified.
Thank you! 🙂
Your porch looks so welcoming! I like the cottage berry wreath on Two Inspire You Etsy store. Thank you for having the giveaway!
Thanks, Sharon! I think that one is beautiful too.
I like the Floral Pumpkin Wreath. Thanks for the giveaway!! 🙂
Thanks for entering! 🙂
I really love the olive branch wreath it is seasonless (yes that’s a word, lol), and symbolic.
Totally agree! Probably more of a real word than “cozified”. Haha! Maybe we all need olive branch wreaths on our doors to bring peace into our chaotic homes sometimes. Think it’ll work? 😉
I particularly like the floral pumpkin wreath but they are all beautiful!!! Your porch is absolutely darling! Definitely not “cookie cutter”! I wish you would come to New Mexico and style my porch!!! It’s lacking something and I don’t know what it is. Yours is perfect!!
Aw thank you so much, Tess! I’m sure pulling off fall decor in the climate of New Mexico is tricky.
All the wreaths are beautiful. If I should win a surprise would we nice. Your porch is darling and nothing beats a good book. Happy Fall!
You won me over with the Tardis blue! And J. K. is not bad either, I got into her by reading the books to the kids years ago… Oh, you are going to really enjoy reading those with Olivia! As for your porch, well, I’m coming right over to share a cup of tea! That’s how warm and inviting it is!
I cannot wait to introduce her to some J.K. Rowling. It was the only way my mother ever got my younger brother to read, and that’s when I got hooked on them too. I would love a visit over a cup of tea one day, Mary. Maybe one day if you ever make it to a blog conference. 🙂
Love the floral pumpkin wreath! Thanks for the opportunity!
I love that olive wreath. So gorgeous! I so wish builders built houses with charm and character like they used to. I feel ya on the lack of character issue. I always love houses with cool nooks and crannies, built-ins, and unique features that stand out. But I’m loving the pretty porch details that you added.
I know. It takes some creativity for sure. But for the price, I guess it’s not too bad.
I love the olive branch wreath!
Looking very fall- ish! I haven’t done any outside decorations yet…waiting for pumpkins! Thanks for the chance to win a wreath!
I like the Baby It’s Cold Outside Wreath!
So beautiful! Love the wreath!
Thank you!
Love your porch! And pick just one out of all those gorgeous wreaths? No way! But I guess the fall leaves? Whew! Too hard! 😀
I agree! It’s tough to choose. Thanks, Lynn. 🙂
Cream Berry Wreath – Spring Wreath – Year Round Door Decor – Shabby Chic Decor is my favorite. It would make my door, welcoming and inviting.
I like that one too.
I totally agree with the orange comment. Something about the fall makes the color orange the perfect perk while the whole rest of the year it’s just a color. I am totally inspired now to autumnify my front porch! Thanks for sharing!
Glad I’m not the only one. Orange is a tricky color to work with I think.
I’m really digging the boxwood wreath
I like that one too. We have a boxwood for spring/summer and LOVE it. It’s great any time of year.
Your decorating skills are fantastic – love your porch! I love their fall boxwood wreath – I have a real think for boxwood wreaths and would love to own one.
Aw thank you! I have a weakness for boxwood wreaths too. Love em year-round.
I don’t do twitter but I love your porch. I memorized The Raven last year and hope to spook someone with a recitation thus Fall. It’s a great poem!
Ooh yes! It’s a good one. I used to have my students write parodies to that poem with any subject matter they wanted, and we’d turn the lights off in my classroom as they would sit in front of the class to recite them while holding a jack-o-lantern with a light bulb inside. Some were creepy and some were downright hilarious. It was so much fun. 🙂
I love the olive wreath and the pumpkin wreath if I won I would let my mom pick she needs something like this to smile.
Aw that’s so sweet of you, Heather!
Love the hydrangea monogram wreath and love your porch! We considered building “The Jasper” last year:) Love what you’ve done with it!
Haha! You know our floorplan! I’d totally forgotten that’s what it’s called.
I really love the Floral Pumpkin Wreath. And I love your blog too! 8)
Thank you, Wendy! 😀
Your front porch looks beautiful. I really like those wood pumpkins your mother-in-law made. Hoping for a tutorial in the future! My favorite wreath is the bittersweet but there are so many that I like!
Thanks, Madeline! My mother-in-law used this tutorial for her pumpkins: http://findinghomefarms.com/fall-decorating-diy-reclaimed-wood-pumpkins/
Love the floral pumpking wreath! I have expensive taste!
Haha! I do too. Champagne taste on a beer budget.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97490151/lavender-wreaths-lavender-fields-spring?ref=related-7
I love this spring arrangement of lavender in a lovely pail hanging on a front door. I may just have to order this for myself in 2016 spring! Thanks for introducing us to this great shop and artisan!
Ooh! I somehow missed that one! That’s gorgeous! Mental note for the future for sure.
Your porch looks very inviting!
Thank you!
Gorgeous and so cozy!
Thanks, Samantha! 🙂
Love the olive branch wreath – it totally fits the Mediterranean climate of my home in coastal California.
Ooh that would be great for the warmer weather places. I’m sure fall and winter are tricky to decorate for there.
I’m so glad I found your blog during my “insomnia time” tonight! What great ideas! And, what a beautiful wreath! I’d love for it to be on my front door! : )
Yay! Thank you, Betty! I hit bouts of insomnia too…it’s when I’m most productive. There’s a silver lining for everything. 😉
Your porch looks so inviting. I love all the wreaths but Olive branch is my favorite! Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanks, Yvonne! That’s one of my top faves too.
Floral Pumpkin Wreath is gorgeous!
What a gorgeous porch, Lauren! I feel honored to have my wreath on your front door this fall!! What an awesome choice! That wreath is my favorite too!! Thanks so much for allowing my wreath/shop to welcome your guests to such a sweet and inviting porch!
Thanks for letting me show you off, Tonya! You are so incredibly talented. I truly do love every single one of your wreaths. Just gorgeous.
I love your porch, so inviting and cozy. I think the hydrangea monogram wreath is so beautiful.
Thanks, Holli!
I think I like the bittersweet wreath. Really any of the ones with monograms are wonderful! Love them but not in the budget at the moment. I would love to win.
I love your porch and the hydrainga wreath.
I love love love hydrangeas so I naturally love the Hydrangea wreath, but I am also digging the Olive Branch wreath, I love the colors and love the unique look.
Wow, you have some stunning creations! I love this one https://www.etsy.com/listing/113171412/fall-wreath-front-door-wreaths-holiday?ref=shop_home_active_2 it just looks so … voluptuous!? I also love the Monogrammed “FALL WREATH” with the monogrammed medallion center.
Good Luck everyone and thank you “blesserhouse”.
I really like the Sunflower Wreath.
Love the look of your porch, it’s gorgeous
The wreath that I like is their Cottage Berry Wreath – Berry Wreath
Thank you!
My favorite is this Christmas wreath: https://www.etsy.com/listing/34923460/wreaths-merry-christmas-wreaths-holiday?ref=shop_home_active_15
The mornings are really starting to feel like fall here in NJ too…pretty soon the snow…yikes!!…Your porch is lovely…and the wreath you selected looks perfect on the blue door…I love the pumpkins your MIL made….very talented…
Ack! Snow! No! (Says the Southern girl who freaks out at the sign of a snowflake.) Haha Thanks, Paula! Hope you have an awesome day. 🙂
So I don’t usually enter giveaways because usually they are not for me. But wow, these wreaths! I had a hard time deciding. I love the green hydrangea and also the berry wreaths. Especially the neutral colored ones. The red, white, and green hydrangea Christmas wreath was soooo pretty and so was the red and white one. And then that patriotic wreath. Basically, I can’t just pick one…..
Right?! They’re all amazing. I knew I had to share her shop when I stumbled upon it. So many goodies!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/113171412/fall-wreath-front-door-wreaths-holiday?ref=shop_home_active_8
This is one of my favorites, they are all beautiful so its hard to pick!!
That’s one of my top faves too. Definitely tough deciding!
Fall Hydrangea Wreath
I love their Hydrangea Monogram Wreath! All of them are gorgeous though.
Lovely shop! My favorite wreath is for sure the Spring Tulip Wreath. I love the flowers & bright colors. Thank-you. 🙂
I love the Pumpkins and Cream Berry Wreath. So delicate and pretty!
I love the Christmas Wreath, The Spirit of Christmas, Christmas Holiday Wreath, Monogram Christmas Wreath, Holiday Wreath, Wreaths, Red Berry Wreaths.
I love the olive branch wreath! And I love everything about your fall front porch. I may try my hand at those shutter! Lovely!
Thanks, Tina! You totally should! We had them completely built in less than an hour. Super easy.
I love the Autumn Pumpkins, Gourds and Fall Berries, Front Door Harvest Decor, Pumpkin Wreath. It would look great all fall season,
The wreath you chose for your front door I’d have to say is my favorite. But if I need to choose another, I’d say the bittersweet wreath is pretty cute, too.
The wreaths are just so beautiful! I love to decorate for the fall. It is my most favorite time of the year to decorate.
I love decorating for fall too. There’s just something homey about those cozy-up-in-front-of-the-fire months.
I love the olive branch wreath
The floral pumpkin wreath is adorable and would complement the burgundy accents on my front porch!
Fingers crossed for you, Leslie. 😉
I love the Autumn Harvest Wreath, XL Fall Wreath, Wreath with Gourds, Autumn Foliage Wreath,Artificial Fall Wreath, Fall Wreath Front Door, Fall Colors
https://www.etsy.com/listing/80704635/autumn-harvest-wreath-xl-fall-wreath?ref=shop_home_active_13
Lauren,
I thoroughly enjoy your blog (coming straight to my inbox) and can’t wait to open it up to see what inspiration I can derive from you! Great job!
Thank you so much, Caryn! I truly love hearing that.
I really like the Baby It’s Cold Outside Wreath!
I love Autumn Sunset – Wreaths – Fall Home Decor – Oktoberfest – Gourds – Autumn Harvest Wreath
I would love to have the Fall Hydrangea Wreath, Fall Wreath Etsy, Fall Hydrangea Wreaths for Front Door, 20″ Fall Wreaths, Outdoor Autumn Wreaths
All are so beautiful…I do love the Fall Harvested Berry wreaths..
My favorite is the Fall Bittersweet Wreath
Love the blue door, wreath, and everything. Beautiful for Fall?
Thank you, Erin! So ready for that cool fall weather to stay for a while.
OMG, I love these wreaths. I just can’t name just one. Fall is my favorite and I love the berry wreaths, but I also love Field of Flowers. I just love them all.
BEAUTIFUL!
GORGEOUS wreaths!
My favorite one is the one on your door…just sings Fall and harvest!
Thanks, Debbie! I’m partial to that one too. It’s even more beautiful in person.
I just found you via Pinterest, I love your style!!!
Yay! Thank you, Mandy! So glad you’re enjoying it!
I love the one you picked but they are all beautiful for sure.
Honestly, I like so many of them ~ I just adore all of the Autumn BERRY Wreaths and the Weddings Wreaths are just SO lovely ~ Especially the Year ’round Champagne Wreath.
One of my most favorite favorites is the one featured in many/most of the photos posted with this giveaway and also the stunning Bitterberry wreaths, so striking and enticing!
GORGEOUS FALL hydrangea wreath love it!!
Was a winner for the beautiful wreath chosen? If so, congrats to whoever won!
Still in moderation?
The winner has already been randomly selected and contacted. Thank you!
Hi Betty! Yes, a winner has been chosen. The Rafflecopter widget (that runs the giveaway) didn’t display the winner previously, but I’ve fixed it now. Thanks so much for entering! Maybe next time. 🙂 We might end up doing another again in the future.
I likee the blanket and pillows
Thanks! Me too. 🙂
Hi Lauren, stunning, as always! I might have said that already in a comment 🙂
I love hearing it, Dagmar. 🙂 Thank you!
Lauren, where did you find the CAFE letters in your kitchen? Btw, Love your style❤️
Thank you! I found the cafe letters at HomeGoods a couple of years ago. I wish I knew where you could get them online but I have no idea.