Decorating my New England front porch in the Fall with pumpkins and cornstalks is one of my favorite things to do every year. Today I will show you some creative ways I used pumpkins to decorate my porch for Autumn.
Fall Front Porch Decorating Ideas
Every year I try to create a new look to share when I decorate my front porch for Fall. This year all I had on my mind was lots of pumpkins!!
I kept scouting my local farm stand waiting for her to start putting out her pumpkin crop. The day that I saw her post on her Facebook page I rushed down to get the first pick!
Although she had lots of bigger pumpkins I have a smallish porch to decorate and wanted to use lots of smaller ones instead.
So I filled up the back of the Jeep with lots of smaller, colorful pumpkins. Can you believe all these pumpkins were $2.50 or less each!!
Decorating a Potting Bench for Fall
Well, I was trying to think a little outside the box when I started visualizing my Fall porch. Last year I saw a Pinterest image of a potting bench that was all jazzed up for Fall and thought it was so pretty, I didn’t even have a potting bench yet!!
At the beginning of the Summer, I bought this potting bench to use on my back stone patio area for room to store things I use when we are hanging outside and also for gardening tasks. You can see it in all its Summer glory here.
Decorating The Top Shelf Of Potting Bench
One very New England-y tradition that I love to see on all the old farmhouses and homes around here is the row of small pumpkins people put on the shelf above their front doors.
Maybe other parts of the country do this as well but we have some of the oldest colonial homes standing still.
Keeping that traditional look in mind, I created a similar look on the small top shelf of the potting bench with white and orange small pumpkins. To finish off the Fall look I tucked in a few colorful branches from my maple tree.
Main Shelf Of Potting Bench
Strung across the front of the bench is the Pumpkin Garland that I made a couple of weeks back using a few common crafting supplies.
It was a fun little DIY project that you could personalize with whatever color ribbons work with your home decor.
A little wicker basket was the perfect spot for me to get in a few more flowers. This one is filled with dried hydrangeas, lamb’s ear flowers, amaranth, coneflower seedheads, ornamental grass stems, and vintage garden tools.
The garden tools, mini terra cotta pots, flower packets, and bird’s nest were from a wreath I took apart that I had outside my garden gate this Summer.
Mini terracotta pots keep with the gardening theme. One had a small lavender that I rooted and the other one I stuck in a mini bird’s nest.
How cute are these little pumpkins with stems bigger than they are???
bottom shelf of potting bench
This vintage harvest basket was a Todd Farm flea market find over the Summer. I think it was 10 bucks and he threw in the old books for free. I’ve been waiting to use it for Fall (I also think it will look amazing in the winter filled with greens and berries!!)
Now don’t tell anyone…but I filled it with fake pumpkins!! Some years my pumpkins have been ravaged by squirrels, chipmunks, & voles so I figured if I lost the real pumpkins I would still have something that looks pretty!!!
One thing you will notice about my home this Fall is that I am using lots of dried plants and flowers that I grew myself in the garden. I love the natural & organic look that it creates in all my spaces whether inside or out!
One of my absolute favorite flowers that I grew this year was ‘Sunfill Purple’ sunflowers. They have the coolest look to them and were very pretty in fresh bouquets but I was really growing them to dry out the stems. Of course, I let the birds have some fun with them before cutting the stalks to dry indoors.
The Sloggers I use daily to check out the garden (especially now that the grass is wet every morning) are tucked right in foot’s reach under the bottom shelf.
I’ve had the white resin pumpkin with the cutout stars for probably a decade now, originally from Marshalls. The rattan pumpkin is probably about the same age and was from the Christmas Tree Shops.
Every year I do reuse lots of the same items but just try to come up with a fresh idea on how to display them.
On the opposite side of the bottom shelf, I reused a natural planter basket that I had out in the garden and just popped a faux pumpkin on top of the dirt and added a bit of Spanish moss and a wired mossy branch ( I have no idea where I got that one from). In the back is a vintage rusted lantern for a little character.
Decorating a Porch Corner for Fall
In the corner of the porch, I set up a separate Fall display using a corn stalk, a vintage chair, and a row of hanging brooms.
This little chair is probably my favorite…and most used thrifting finds!! I scored 2 chairs for $4 about 5 years ago. The chair is the perfect spot to display a basket of flowers.
Or in this case to add a vintage metal basket filled with gourds from my local farm.
I’ve had the witch broom with “the witch is in” sign on it for-evahhh (insert Boston accent!)! The other two I found at Trader Joe’s (Michael’s and even my local grocery store have them too).
You could totally buy a blank hanging sign at the craft store and use a Sharpie or paint pen to make your own version!
They are hung with vinyl siding hooks.
Adding Pumpkins To The Stairs For Fall
OK, maybe I overdid it a little bit!! I shoved pumpkins and gourds down both sides of the stairs. My stairs get wider as they go down which adds to the charm of the porch.
Down both sides, I stacked and arranged different colors and shapes of pumpkins and gourds. The wood lanterns are from Walmart and are under $20 each.
I love the mix of colors and textures of all the pumpkins from the traditional bright orange pumpkins to the popular greenish hues.
For a whimsical look, I used terracotta pots and added rattan pumpkins to break up all the pumpkins and to bring in another visual element.
The Finished Fall Pumpkin Porch
Isn’t this a fun look for Fall? Loading up the pumpkins and gourds really made an impact on the final look. So this year have a little fun when you are decorating and add a touch of whimsy to your porch too!
This porch was featured in Real Simple Magazine.
xo, Jennifer
Love your porch it’s decorated so cute.
Thank you, Marlene!
Jennifer, your porch looks so lovely for the fall. Love your potting table on it. You inspire me to decorate above my potting table in my garage.
Can you believe that was a dumpster find!!!
the porch looks so pretty! I love all of the cute pumpkins and decor! xo
I love that cute corner, Jennifer. I need that sign. LOL
Jennifer, I love all of the pumpkins. Your porch looks so beautiful for fall. I am heading out now to go get some from my home.
I can’t wait to see them!!
p.s. I forgot to say I’m also going to share a link to your pretty porch with my readers on Saturday as part of my week in rewind post. I know they’ll love it too!😘
Who’s better than you??!!!! No one, that’s who…
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. The potting bench is so cute and my favorite thing! So adorable for fall. I have a potting table on our little back patio. I’m going to have to remember this for next year. Pinned!
I know, I had it in my mind for awhile but hadn’t mustered up the strength to empty if off and drag it around to the front of the house! I’m so glad it fit!
I love this! So pretty!
Thanks so much, Renae!
Your porch looks so adorable! I love everything about it and especially that you used lots of natural elements. Having to buy everything at a store takes the ‘fun’ out of decorating for me. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks, Sharon!! I’ve been trying to reuse and find natural things to add to my decorating a lot lately.
So many pretty pumpkins! I didn’t see anywhere in the Mitten that had that many! It must be a New England-y thing…those pumpkins on the shelf above the door. I have never seen that here. Your porch looks fab!!🧡
Jennifer,
You fall porch looks beautiful. What great pumpkins this farm had to choose from too. So many pretty touches with the garland, potting bench and sunflowers.
Pinned!
Fabulous. Love it.