How to decorate a {tiny!} porch for fall

October 10, 2010

We have what is probably the teeniest porch EVER. We didn’t even think about it when we picked out this house though – we loved the exterior so much. It’s another one of those things you realize later…it would be nice to have a porch to sit and rock on. And maybe to decorate.  :)

But I have found ways to make it work for each season, and fall and Christmas are of course, my favorites. It’s these times of year that I quite love our little porch, because little changes make a BIG impact.

I showed you my Dollar Tree wreath a few weeks ago:

Not many of you believed our door really isn’t blue – it just photographs that way close up. ;)

My tried and true addition to the porch are my corn husks:

corn husks

I mean really – you couldn’t get more fall than these! I get bunches of them at a local nursery and I’ve seen them sold for $5.50 to $7 a bunch. (At least around here, where the corn isn’t hard to come by!)

Of course, mums are a necessity!:

They are just about to burst open – any day now!

One of the items I took from my father-in-law’s house was his American flag:


He immigrated to this country 70 years ago and became a U.S. citizen. I’ve always been so proud of him for that, and he was so proud to be an American.

The beautiful new flag was the perfect finishing touch for our fall porch:

Oh, and the pumpkins from our weekend trip to the patch don’t hurt! I absolutely love the green pumpkins. :)

I usually plant mums in the window boxes, but this year I was taken with the kale:

We’ve gotten SO little rain over the past few months, so these beauties should hold up well. I stuck some (fake!) pumpkins in with them, and I absolutely love how full and pretty they are!

And a cutie patootie peeking out sure helps too:

OH, be still my heart. :)

Our itty bitty porch is so easy to make over for the holidays – just a few additions make a HUGE difference:

Just in time to string the purple and orange Halloween lights everywhere!

And speaking of Halloween -- no worries, I move everything off the steps and porch that night, so there’s plenty of room for the kiddies. :)

So, do you decorate your porch for fall? Do you have an itty bitty porch like ours, or a big one? If you tell me you have a porch swing, I’m officially jealous. :)

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Comments

  1. Beautiful photos!! I wish we had a big front porch too ~ for some reason we didn't even think about it with the new house. Makes me miss our old one!

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  2. Your porch may be small, but it speaks volumes. It is simple yet makes a great statement. You have done a wonderful job with it!

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  3. Darling porch -- that is really really cute -- colorful, charming. You made the most of what you've got and then some... as a farm girl, I have to point out that your corn "husks" are really "shocks" of corn. "Husks" are the leaves that cover the ears.

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  4. One of my most favorite things about our current house is that it has a big front porch. I've always wanted a front porch, and up until we moved here, we never even had a covered stoop. Now I have what I like to think of as an outdoor living room! (You can click here if you want to see photos: http://www.impartinggrace.com/2010/09/greeting-autumn-at-front-door.html .

    I do not, however, have a front porch swing. So you don't have to be jealous. You can just come to North Carolina and hang out on the porch with me, okay?

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  5. I have a medium-large front porch on my 1921 cottage, and NO idea how to decorate it?

    Any ideas? My house is pale blue and white. I have an american flag hanging and a rocker on the porch, that's it.

    I need some help in this area big time!

    I'll start with some mumms and pumpkins at the very least - you've inspired me!

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  6. I love it! Our porch is just plain ugly, that's probably why I don't bother. But Husband said this probably isn't the last house we'll live in, so I'm patiently waiting for my dream home! :)

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  7. Small porch, but HUGE impact. It's beautiful! Of course, that cutie in the window adds the perfect touch! ;o)

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  8. Love the porch and the cutie patootie. :) (had to look back in your post to see how to spell that!)

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  9. That is stunning. I just want to walk right up there and deliver brownies. So inviting. Well done. So much charm. We have a little wrap around porch bit it's more of a challenge. Yours is just perfect. Happy fall

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  10. You did a beautiful job! I love decorating for fall and our front door area looks similar - we don't quite have a front porch, rather a patio with an outside door. Thank you for being so inspiring - I love your blog! I just started my own blog...I would love if you checked it out when you had the time @ http://nestdecorator.blogspot.com/ Thanks!

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  11. Your porch may be small, but it makes a huge impact--love it! And the grin on your little boy is adorable! :)

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  12. Kale in the window boxes is awesome!

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  13. The little boy in the window is the best part of your porch!

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  14. I love everything about what you did! It all makes a huge statement. And I think having the exterior you have is worth giving up the huge front porch. Your home looks beautiful.

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  15. Your porch looks so great with those tall corn husks and I really love the kale in the window boxes. I had no idea that green pumpkins even existed:) Our porch is kinda weird because you walk up to the door and then it goes to the left- hard to explain but you've inspired me to add some fall decor STAT!

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  16. That is so festive! Love the shot of the window boxes, I like how you put the faux pumpkins in the plants. It all looks so good!

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  17. I'm normally not one for flags out front, but there is something about knowing it was your FIL's flag that made it my favorite part of your porch. I think it is tradition, plus knowing fall has a lot of rememberance/thankful holidays that makes it perfect.

    I don't have a porch (city condo), but I am keeping some of your ideas in mind for my sunporch! I'll have to convert them to indoor ideas, but I think I'll manage.

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  18. This is so cute! I want to decorate our porch for fall but my husband would prefer I not. :) I think I'll have to do some dollar store/de-stash porch crafting tomorrow while he's at work and I have the day off! :)

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  19. What a lovely porch!!!! It's so vibrant and welcoming!
    We have a small porch as well and still trying to find the right items for it. You've given me wonderful ideas!!!
    I always forget that the Dollar Stores can have awesome things! Just today I was looking for a Fall wreath (I loooove Fall) and couldn't find one to my liking. Dollar Store here I come!

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  20. I love what you've done with it...even if on the smaller side...looks great!

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  21. Ok...so I don't even know why?, but the pic of the flag flying made tears come to my eyes...not that I don't love the USA... I DO! LOVE that you have it on your CUTE front porch in the FALL...nobody would ever even notice it was tiny 'cause it's so Awesome! :)

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  22. I am in love with your corn husks! :P

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  23. I love the kale and pumpkins. I almost planted kale and flowering cabbage in my daughters school garden and now I wish that I had!

    Your little man is getting so big! And just as stinking cute as can be!

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  24. Be thankful, our porch is even worse! No steps, just one tiny little window. My porch decorating consists of a wreath and two pumpkins. Oh, and I found white! :)

    Your son is adorable .. he looks exactly like you!

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  25. Loverly! I don't have a huge porch but mine is a bit bigger than yours. Come and check out my fall porch decor on my blog! The bub, what a doll!!! Makes me wish mine were young again! Did I say that, temporary insanity!!!

    http://ms-smartie-pants.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-old-and-new.html

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  26. so cute....love the pumpkins in the window....

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  27. Everything looks so great! Such warm touch. You did a great job!

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  28. My porch is WAY bigger than yours. By about 8 inches. Gah! What was I thinking? What's nice about the small porch is the HUGE impact those items made, and you didn't have to spend a lot of money. I think it's absolute perfection! Don't even get me started on those window boxes!

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  29. Your porch is lovely: the polished brass kick plate and the shiny "Welcome" script really jump out of your dark door. It's beautiful. Everything looks neat and crisp, including the flag and your light fixtures. Did you spray your pumpkins? How do they look so shiny?

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  30. Your porch is fab as is your house. I love your halloween decorations and the kale. Jumping way forward but I am looking forward to seeing how you dress your house for Christmas now!!!..Sinead

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  31. LOVE the fall decor! So pretty! BTW, I don't know if you have ever planted kale before, but there are some pretty destructive moths that will come after it. I recommend spraying the leaves with some soapy water! Thanks for sharing all of your beautiful adventures with us!

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  32. Beautiful! I love the pic you got of the flag fluttering in the breeze!! Looks fantastic!

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  33. Small porch, BUT a BIG statement! Looks great!!!!!

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  34. I think we have the same space but ours is simply a front 'step' as there is no rail. You have inspired me to take pics of what I have & change something that's been eating @ me for a while. THANK YOU!!

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  35. I was enjoying the pics of your litle porch-thinking how NICE you made it look....then I scrolled upon your cutie patootie's face peeking out the window! How SWEET! That is the BEST of all photos! Thanks for the smile!!

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  36. Simply gorgeous! The wreath and window boxes are my favorites. It looks like you could gain some room on your steps if you moved the railing over to the right. I did it to my porch and it was easy.

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  37. LOVE your porch Sarah! And your son looking out the window is too cute!

    Oh, and there is nothing wrong with "fake" pumpkins! I'm using some too!

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  38. Beautiful. I love the fall square wreath, and the corn stalks.

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  39. we have a small porch also and you have inspired me!

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  40. So beautiful! I love the corn stalks framing the door. I might have to visit the farmer's market this weekend to look for some. :) Thank you for all the wonderful ideas for all of us thrifty-conscious folks!

    I have a small porch as well and just decorated it for fall. Pictures here...

    http://simplyweekends.blogspot.com

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  41. I loooove the corn husk idea. We have a tiny porch as well and I think that is a great idea!

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  42. I haven't read all the comments, so maybe someone already mentioned this but, I had to pop in to say...

    BEWARE the corn stalks!

    I used them one year and discovered they make great homes to furry little creatures! :) Yep, mice love the corn stalks. Of course, it doesn't help that we have wild land and a pond behind our house, even though we ARE in a neighborhood subdivision. That little mouse ended up in our attic and over the winter feasted on all of my fall decor! *pout*

    Just a little FYI.

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  43. Adorable! I love the kickplate on your front door.

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  44. I actually really like that kale!!! Looks great, and I thought the mini pumpkins were real. Your REAL "pumpkin" smiling through the window is so cute. :)

    I don't even have a front porch. Just a big square of concrete that sort of rounds the bend from our front walk. Then one weirdly sized brick step to get up to our front door.

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  45. Have you ever considered removing the handrail? It doesn't look like your steps are that steep or high. It would sure open that space up. Just a thought.

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  46. Beautiful front porch display! Perfect as is!
    I have LOVED checking your blog for the longest time, just officially started following today :)

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  47. Very cute! I think my "porch" ( really just front steps) is smaller. It needs a railing and when you open the storm door the guest has to back up from it...
    Love your shutters and window boxes too!

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  48. I love the simplicity and yet it makes a great impact. Beautiful!

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  49. LOVE the square wreath!! Too cute! As is the cutie peeking out of the window!! I have a front porch about the same size and you have given me food for thought about how to decorate it!!...Thanks for a beautiful post!!

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  50. Your porch looks fantastic and your cutie patootie does too :)!

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  51. Your porch looks very festive! I had a HUGE porch at our last house we built it after living with one about the size of yours for 20 years - then we moved 4 years later. My current porch is wider than yours, but no deeper - I miss my big porch!

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  52. Cute images. I love the colors...fall is just perfect.

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  53. The flower boxes are just great with the foliage and pumpkins! Also digging the square wreath! Janell

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  54. I do have a somewhat larger porch than you but only a SMALL portion is covered so I have to be careful how I decorate it. Your porch may be small but it is great! I love how you have decorated and the GREEN pumkin is GORGEOUS!!!!! I am going to look for one of those now! XO, Pinky

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  55. Sarah, it is HUGE with style! I absolutely love it:)

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  56. love how your porch looks it may be small but still brings so much to the front of your house we are having one built as i write this so i am very excited to decorate ours in a couple of weeks

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  57. Yeah the porch is beautiful yadidadido. But talk about that cute kid stealing the show!!!

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  58. Very classic! Kale also makes great kale chips (wash, tear, sprinkle with olive oil and sea salt, bake until crispy)!

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  59. your porch looks gorgeous! and your front door is so cute too!! i love it!

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  60. Really beautiful! Love the angle on the last photo.

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  61. Gorgeous, Sarah! I want to come in! I especially love your bubs in the window...such a cutie.

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  62. Beautiful! I've been looking everywhere for a 'welcome' vinyl for my front door just like that....can I ask where you got yours??

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