Falling in love with Fall…..  from your front porch

It’s hard to say goodbye to the Summer. The warm sunny days, vacationing, and time at the beach. But we get the opportunity to experience something different and beautiful with Fall. It’s a time to witness all of nature’s glory in colour. It’s also a time to set new routines and get cozy as the temperature starts to drop. So, instead of being sad to see summer go, let’s embrace this season and fall in love with Fall.

One thing I like to do is decorate my home for the season and one of my favorite areas to do this is my front porch. It’s a chance to clean and freshen up this space and add the colours and textures of the season while also providing a warm and welcoming feel with beautiful curb appeal.

I like to start with making sure I have the right furniture for the space to create that cozy feel to sit and take in all the beauty around me. This year I bought a dark rattan bench with a taupe cushion.

I generally recommend the bigger pieces in neutral tones to allow for a timeless look that will carry you through many seasons and decorations. Benches, porch swings, chairs and a table are all good furniture piece options; the pieces you choose will depend on the space you have and the layout you’d like to create.  

Next, think about the fabrics in the space. Fabrics can really set the tone to make the space unique to the look and style you are going for. Warm reds, oranges, yellows, browns, muted green and cream colors are perfect! Check patterns are an ideal example of a stylish Fall look. For texture think cozy and soft weather-safe fabric for cushions and throw blankets along with a natural coir fabric rug. Infuse these colours, patterns and textures in the fabrics throughout.

This year I chose a burnt orange and warm brown in a soft, yet durable outdoor fabric. Both colours are perfect for the Fall look and are on trend. They also go well with the soft brown exterior colour of my house. It’s very important to always coordinate with the existing colours in any space to ensure a cohesive look when decorating.

Next, I choose plants. I always look to what is in season and will do well with minimal care. This year (and most) I chose potted chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemums are said to be one of Fall’s quintessential flowers. They will provide that last pop of colour before the frost comes. And they come in a wide range of colors, including perfect Fall warm tones. This year I chose a cream colour, as I’m going for a classic, timeless look. But I also love the orange, red and yellow varieties.

Marigolds, asters, black-eyed susans, sunflowers and ornamental grasses are also good choices. Arranged in decorative pots at various heights and locations on the porch will add interest and balance.

Add décor pieces of choice. For the Fall I love signs, lanterns, wreaths and of course…. pumpkins!

There are so many different varieties of pumpkins in beautiful and fun colours. Make an outing to your local pumpkin patch and choose your favorite ones. Arrange décor in varying sizes and heights with balance and harmony in mind in the space.

Have fun with it and get creative!

Finally, throw on a warm sweater, grab a pumpkin spice latte, take a seat, and fall in love with Fall from the comfort and style of your beautiful porch.