Spice up your front porch for fall

You don't have to be a farmhouse fanatic to make your home festive this season. Here's some inspiration for decorating your front porch.

Pumpkin palettes Instead of orange-everything, choose a pastel color palette with peach, light blue and white pumpkins, or freshen up your porch with lime green, yellow and off-white gourds. For a bold, classy look, forgo the natural colors altogether and spray paint your pumpkins gold and white.

Seasonal plants Mums are hardy fall flowers that bring a pop of color to your front steps. Marigolds, ornamental kale, snapdragons, and coral bells are also ideal for fall arrangements. For some extra flair, use rustic planters such as bushel baskets, wooden crates, olive buckets, or even hollowed-out pumpkins.

Finishing touches Add fall-themed throw pillows and a plaid blanket to a porch swing or wooden bench. Intersperse a few candles or lanterns with your pumpkins and fall flowers, and arrange your decorations symmetrically on either side of the steps.

If you don't have a porch, move your fall display to the front yard and anchor it by using a larger decoration such as a hay bale or red wagon.