Front Porch Decorating for Fall

Decorating for fall has become extremely popular over the past few years. After a long hot summer in most areas changing from flowers and plants to the gorgeous colors and textures of fall. Every farmers' market and roadside stand is bursting with all sorts of possibilities to use. You don't even need a trip to a craft store. Fill in with pine cones, seed pods, twigs and berries gathered on a walk in the country and your front porch will be the talk of the neighborhood.

Pumpkins and Indian Corn

Pumpkins and Indian corn are the two essential elements for fall front porch decorating. Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes and can be used the entire fall season for both Halloween and Thanksgiving. No longer just the traditional orange pumpkins, you can now get white, bumpy and multi-colored pumpkins. Put these up your front steps in varying sizes, lay a few on their sides for texture and continue on up to your front door. Scatter leaves and stones around their bases to give a more finished, natural look.

Indian corn also comes in many gorgeous colors and can also be used through the Fall holidays. Tie a bunch together with a bow for each porch post or hang a large bunch made up of several ears on your front door. You can also secure Indian corn to a wreath frame and make an unusual wreath by pointing all of the ears inward with the husks around the outside edge.

Bittersweet and Vines

By using florists wire and tying in continuing bunches, you can make a vine of bittersweet and leaves to use as a garland on your porch or as an arch around your entryway. You can further enhance this garland by attaching small pumpkins, gourds and pine cones. Straw ribbon woven through will also help fill in and make a lush effect. Some people like to use small clear lights in their fall decorations to highlight them and add drama at night.

Scarecrows

If you are decorating your porch for fall, how about making a scarecrow to welcome your friends and relatives. Use a long board with a smaller board nailed across it to form the shoulders and arms. If your scarecrow is around 5 feet tall, leave about 12 inches above the cross piece to secure the head. Put an old shirt on it, and tie the sleeves shut with straw ribbon, be sure to leave a lot of edge dangling for the straw look. Stuff the shirt for fullness. Then put the whole structure down inside a pair of pants or bib overalls and stuff them a bit with leaves or newspaper.

To make the head you can use a pumpkin carved like a jack o lantern or with a face drawn on. Be sure to put an old hat on his head with straw and leaves sticking out. You can add work gloves by tying them onto the end of the sleeves.

For fun, purchase an artificial crow, or perhaps more than one, and sit it on his head, and arms. Be sure to put a flower or two in his pocket.