I find fall one of the most glorious times of the year! There’s something about feeling the crunch of the fallen leaves beneath my feet, breathing in the cool, earthy scent of nature, and seeing the warm yellows, oranges and reds that dot the surroundings.

You know what I love even more? Dressing up my porch and patio for the season! It really gets me in a celebratory mood and lets me create an inviting atmosphere for my family and guests. So here are a few of my favorite ideas for bringing life to my outdoor spaces during autumn:

Autumn Wreath

This is a classic! You can even make one yourself and round up the family to work on it together. The project is inexpensive too; just get materials from the local craft store or even from your own backyard. By choosing elements in yellow, orange, red, brown and green, you can come up with a beautiful wreath that brightly welcomes people into your home.

Cornucopia

Fall is about harvest and bounty as much as it is about heralding a new season. What better symbol for this than the cornucopia? While the traditional cornucopia adds a nice touch to the table on the porch or yard, why not come up with something grander? Using a planter or deck box, you can actually put larger items like pumpkins, cornstalks, stalks of longer blooms, and more.

Scarecrow

This is my personal favorite. Nothing announces the arrival of fall better than a straw man standing guard at your front porch! Another great project for the family, you can really let your creativity and resourcefulness shine through by using items you can easily find around the house or in the shed. While propping it up is the traditional way of displaying a scarecrow, sitting your sentinel down on a rocking chair is a more novel approach.

So, how do you decorate your porch or patio in the fall? We’d love to hear your ideas!