It’s hard to believe it’s already that time of year again! Temperatures are dropping (slowly here in the south 😅), leaves are changing, pumpkin cream cheese muffins are back at Starbucks, and these cheetah print booties have officially made their appearance for the season.
One of my favorite parts of this time of year is transitioning our home to fall, and what better place to start than the front porch! So without further ado… here is a first look at our fall porch for this year!
KEEP READING FOR ALL THE DETAILS!
(including where to find these affordable and realistic faux pumpkins, and a round up of my favorite fall finds for this season!)
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THE DETAILS
1. THE BEST DOORMAT I’VE EVER HAD
Literally the best doormat ever. If you’re looking for a high quality, custom doormat that is perfect for any season, this is IT! We got this as a wedding gift back in 2019, and it still looks brand new. Unlike most people, we use our front door multiple times a day (probably more than our back door honestly), so this thing gets a lot of foot traffic from both us and our pup. Even so, it has held up incredibly well in comparison to some of the cheaper doormats I’ve bought in the past, and it’s truly been a porch staple for us since we bought our house. If you’re looking for a mat that will last and carry you through all of the seasons, I would highly recommend checking out Black Butterfly Signs on Etsy!
Not looking to splurge or commit to the same doormat all year long? Here is a round up of some affordable, seasonal options to carry you through spooky season!
clink on the names below this image to view links
welcome fall // hello fall // oh my gourd // thankful //spooky vibes // pumpkins // shoes off // fall sweet fall // cozy up
2. THE LAYERING RUG
So I don’t know who started this layered doormat trend, but I’m a big fan, especially because we use this same doormat all year round! Changing up your layering rug with the seasons is an affordable and easy way to add seasonal flair to your porch with a piece that can be washed and reused again and again. We used this one from Amazon all through last fall and winter, and it washed up great when we switched it out for a different one in the spring. This will be it’s second season on our porch, and I’m certain it will not be its last!
clink on the names below this image to view links
b+w plaid // tan plaid // southwest plaid // b+w stripe
3. THE PUMPKINS!
Okay so these pumpkins may just be my favorite part of our fall porch! I have been on the hunt for some realistic and affordable faux pumpkins this season, and let me just say that it was TOUGH! I know, I know… there is nothing like the real thing, but it is just too darn hot here in the south for real pumpkins to make it outside all season, and there’s nothing worse than a rotting pumpkin full of critters on your front porch 🤮
I totally agree though, nothing will ever compare to the real thing, but I’ve seen some pretty close contenders in my search, the best being these faux pumpkin figurines by the Holiday Aisle, as seen on Chris Loves Julia’s porch in this blog post 👇
Can you believe those pumpkins are fake? My mouth definitely fell open in disbelief… and then again when I saw some of the prices 🙈
If money was no thing, these would already be on my porch, but unfortunately many of those pumpkins were over $40 each, with the most expensive being around $75. They would make great investment pieces for fall since they will last forever, but they are definitely a splurge, and let’s be honest… I’m only willing to make that kind of splurge on Christmas decor (sorry spooky season lovers 🎅🏼).
All jokes aside though, I really love the advice of investing in one or two really nice pieces of seasonal decor each year so you can build up a collection of nice decor over time, but I don’t think I’ll ever be willing to spend $75 on a pumpkin…so I decided to look for some other options that fit the bill of realistic, yet budget friendly, and I think I found some winners at… MICHAEL’S!
They’re definitely not on the Holiday Aisle level, but they’re a pretty good alternative for the price if you ask me! I love the colors, imperfections, unique shapes and sizes, and, of course, the price! The larger size is definitely a little more than the smaller ones, but still a great price in comparison to some of the other ones I’ve seen.
If you’re not super familiar with Michael’s, their prices fluctuate often, and everything is usually on sale at some point (and if it’s not, there is usually a coupon to be found)! Moral of the story: you should never pay full price for anything at Michael’s!
When I purchased our pumpkins, they were all 40% off (sale price reflected above), but this week all fall decor is 50% off, so…RUN DON’T WALK!
clink on the names below this image to view links
13″ taupe orange // 11″ patchy blue slate // 9″ cream // 6.5″ dusty green // 9″ orange & cream speckled // 9″ patchy blue slate
4. THE WREATH
Let’s talk about wreaths! So similar to the pumpkin problem, I had a really difficult time finding a realistic and affordable fall wreath. I wanted something simple and natural looking that didn’t scream “I’m made of plastic” or cost hundreds of dollars. I searched and searched online and I finally landed on what I thought was a winner…
I had such high hopes for this Nearly Natural wreath that I found for just $35.99, but as soon as I opened that box, I knew it was heading right back to store. It looked cheap, felt cheap, and worst of all… IT HAD GLITTER. If I would’ve known there was glitter, I wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but that detail was left out of the description, and it looked soooo much cuter online! Needless to say, this guy got returned and I was back on the hunt for a new fall wreath.
The next day, I decided to take a trip to Home Goods to see if they had any good options, and of course, they had exactly what I was looking for at just the right price👇
Coming in at just $39.99, this wreath checked all the boxes! It’s made with real, sun dried and preserved stems in gorgeous fall colors, making it about as natural looking as it gets without buying a real, fresh wreath! If you have a Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, or Tuesday Morning nearby, I would highly recommend checking out what they have if you’re looking for a fall wreath.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find this brand online to link for you guys, but I did round up a few I saw online during my initial search! Disclaimer here though… as you saw from the first wreath I ordered, online images can be deceiving, so I can’t speak to how any of these will look in real life. Order at your own risk, and always check the return policy!
clink on the names below this image to view links
one // two // three // four // five // six
5. THE ITTY BITTY PORCH COMMITTEE STARTER KIT (STOOL, PLANT, & WELCOME SIGN)
If you were here during Christmas time last year, then you probably recognize this set up! A wooden stool, a plant, and a welcome sign are the perfect combination for a small front porch like ours. When space is limited, a simple grouping like this can add visual interest to your porch without making it feel cluttered.
We found this stool on Facebook Marketplace for $5, and it’s the perfect place for my porch plant of the month. This spot doesn’t get a lot of light (and to be honest, I’m bad at remembering to water it too), so every plant I’ve had here so far has died 😅 Here’s to hoping this one makes it through the season!
The welcome sign came from a local vendor at an antique store, and I love its size and simplicity. I’m a big fan of shopping local and shopping small when you can, so I would definitely recommend checking out some of your local antique shops and craft shows if you’re looking for a front porch sign!
LOOKING FOR MORE FALL PORCH INSPIRATION?
CHECK OUT MY FALL PIN BOARD FOR A CURATED COLLECTION OF GORGEOUS FALL PORCHES!
FALL FAVORITES
I thought while we were on the subject of fall that I would share some non-porch related things I’m loving this season! Some of these things I have, and some I’m just drooling over (like that absolutely gorgeous McGee & Co pillow cover and the pumpkin cream cheese muffin from Starbucks😍), but either way they’ve all caught my eye recently!
oh my gourd mat // pumpkin mug // tricks or treats dish towel // pumpkin dulce candle // pumpkin cream cheese muffin // fall ribbon // chenille throw blanket // ghosties bandana // dried florals // marla block print pillow cover // pumpkin pecan waffles candle // booties // colorblock sweater
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