Decorating Your Outdoor Entry for Fall

Although fall doesn't officially start for a few more weeks, with the kids back in school and the pools closing up for the season, it sure feels like the end of summer to me. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with fall - I hate the fact that fall means the end of the relaxing days of summer and that it leads into winter (my least favorite season by far). I love the cooler weather, the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves, the fun of Halloween, Graeter's pumpkin ice cream, and decorating my house with the colors of the season. My old fall wreath has seen better days, so the first thing on my fall decorating list is to find some inspiration for making a new one. And wow - did I find some gorgeous ones! Better Homes & Gardens has an easy tutorial for making this colorful wreath using a straw base, miniature gourds and pumpkins, and a few silk leaves:

{Better Homes & Gardens}

Do you have any old potpourri laying around that has lost its smell? Michelle from Sweet Something Designs found the perfect use for it by making this beautiful potpourri wreath: 

{Sweet Something Designs}

Do you love the personalization of a monogram? Whitney from Shanty 2 Chic crafted this shabby chic fall monogram wreath with burlap rosettes and painted pumpkins:

{Shanty2Chic}

Jen from Scissors and Spatulas also created a fantastic fall monogram wreath but with a totally different feel:

{Scissors and Spatulas}

The two fall wreaths I found that probably fit best with my decorating style are sold on Etsy and are actually very similar to each other - they are from stores Two Inspire You

{Etsy:TwoInspireYou}

and Door Wreaths by Design:

{Etsy: DoorWreathsByDesign}

Once I get my wreath figured out, the next step will be decorating our small front porch. If you've been following the blog for a while, you may remember that I have a love for galvanized metal planters so of course I love the idea of placing a tall galvanized planter filled with fall branches at the entry to our home:

{Pottery Barn}

Using both planters and hanging baskets filled with mums is a simple but beautiful way to decorate your home's entry - I love the look of planters lining both sides of the stairs leading up to a home:

{Better Homes & Gardens}

Pumpkins are one of my "must-haves" for outdoor fall décor - they look fabulous in a simple arrangement with mums and some greenery,

{Ask Anna}

cascading down stairs alongside mums and hay bales,

and intermingled with grapevine or rattan pumpkins that add some nice texture:

{Pottery Barn}

I've never tried stacking pumpkins, but after finding this gorgeous image of pumpkins stacked in urns, I may end up giving this a try:

{Pottery Barn}

Maybe it's just the idea of pumpkins placed on urns that I love because I think these pumpkin topiaries with hydrangeas and fresh boxwood cuttings are just as beautiful:

{eab designs}

Another fabulous idea for decorating a front porch (or for your front yard!) is arranging pumpkins and gourds in an old wheelbarrow, complete with a welcoming message:

Better Homes & Gardens

{Better Homes & Gardens}

Are you looking forward to changing up the front of your home for fall?