9 outdoor fall decor ideas that will elegantly elevate your exterior and welcome in the new season

Outdoor spaces are meant to be inviting all year round, and fall is no exception. Just because summer is drawing to a close, that doesn't mean you should wave au revoir to the outdoors – in fact, fall is the most wonderful time of the year to admire Mother Nature in all her glory.

And what better way to properly celebrate the season than with some stylish outdoor fall decor ideas? With simple tweaks like a new wreath for fall front door decor, pretty pumpkins for your fall porch, or adding twinkly string lights, you can easily create a space that feels both cozy and welcoming.

To ensure your home stands out from the crowd this fall and up your curb appeal, our outdoor fall decor ideas are here to inspire.

9 fall-inspired outdoor decoration ideas

Just like indoor fall decor ideas, embracing seasonal decorations, fall planting, cozy lighting ideas and more in your outside spaces will only help to make your home feel more cozy and inviting during the colder winter months.

1. Start with a fall wreath on the door

One of our favorite (and easiest) decor ideas is of course the fall wreath.

'Start with a wreath that reflects the natural beauty of the season,' says the design team at Studio McGee. 'Think rich, warm colors like deep reds, oranges, and golds. A wreath made of dried leaves, like the Faux Autumn Grapevine Wreath seen above from McGee & Co, or florals brings a festive, organic touch to your entryway. To elevate the look, consider adding a ribbon for an extra layer of texture and charm.'

You can even make a fall wreath yourself with anything from flowers to seed heads, pinecones to cinnamon sticks.

2. Place plenty of colorful pumpkins

Don't just stop at a wreath. Pumpkins and gourds are so synonymous with fall decor and Halloween decoration ideas and make for such a beautiful display.

Placing a collection of pretty (faux or real) pumpkins in all shapes, sizes, and colors around your front door, or on your front porch or back porch, is a simple, yet highly effective way to celebrate the season with outdoor fall decor.

We love how the scattered pumpkins on Shea McGee's front steps add eye-catching color to the outside space, creating a rich and elegant contrast with the white facade.

3. Plan your planting for a fall display

It takes some planning, but planting the best trees for fall color really is an outdoor fall decor idea we should all be prioritizing. 'Colorful trees or trees with beautiful berries will not just look beautiful, providing an extra layer of color, but will provide important food through fall for wild birds,' says Homes & Gardens' Garden Editor Rachel Bull.

'My favorite way of shepherding in the fall season outdoors is by incorporating seasonal annuals into the landscape, which provide such a great swatch of autumnal color,' agrees Will Hunt Lewis of Hunt & Bloom. 'I love to plant ornamental cabbages, marigolds, crotons, and mums in varying shades of oranges, yellows, greens, and golds.

'I much prefer a lush, full look so I always err on the side of too much rather than not enough,' he continues. 'Once all the ground plantings are done, I do plantings in several vintage pots to incorporate onto the front porch for continuity. Once all plantings are complete, I will take pumpkins and gourds in varying shapes and sizes and actually incorporate them into the landscape, creating a sort of a pumpkin patch effect.'

4. Create a cozy and warm area for outdoor dining

If you're dining outdoors on cooler nights, you need to make sure everyone is as warm as possible. This can either be by setting up your tablescape in a garden room or by making your patio feel cozier for chilly evenings by looking into outdoor fireplace ideas, such as a backyard firepit.

You could also try lining chairs with sheepskins – or faux sheepskins – providing blankets, wraps, and perhaps patio heaters and outdoor lighting ideas, such as candles and lanterns are, of course, a must.

For backyards and outdoor spaces to function as cozy dining spaces, you can demarcate the chosen space in various ways: 'Fall planters can form a screen to separate an area, or lighting can mark out spaces,' says RHS Gold medal-winning garden designer Rosemary Coldstream. Plus you can make a space feel cozier still with fall table decor ideas that are layered and welcoming, in wonderful fall colors.

5. Make a statement with a fall floral arch

It doesn't get much bigger or better than a stand-out floral archway for the front or back door.

As fall is associated with a beautiful palette of colors, from rich reds to deep ochres, greens, and purples, a floral design filled with these shades can really make for a truly wonderful design feature – ideal if you plan on doing plenty of hosting and welcoming of guests over the season.

'This stunning floral arch is adorned with fall blooms and greenery, it will set the scene for this cozy season and add a splash of color and texture to your porch,' says Jennifer Ebert, Editor at Homes & Gardens. 'Simply choose the best plants for fall color to provide the basis for the arch and work seasonal blooms into it for added jewel tones.'

6. Light up the backyard

Gone are the days when the last rays of evening sun signaled a quick retreat indoors as the garden descended into darkness.

Today, there's an infinite amount of smart lighting options that allow us to transform what was formerly a foreboding dark space into a magical landscape, complete with color, beams and a variety of effects, whilst also providing safe passage down steps and through pathways for your garden path ideas – all perfect for fall decorating.

A suitable fall outdoor lighting scheme might include anything from well-placed lanterns of flickering candlelight, energy-saving solar lights to a state-of-the-art digital system controlled by your mobile phone.

7. Create a cozy and comfortable porch

Just as with living room fall decor, textiles will help add coziness and character to your outdoor areas. If you already have a well-covered seating area in the garden, think about matching the color and pattern of the coverings to whatever you choose for your fall porch ideas – perfect if you want to play up to an authentic fall color scheme.

Alternatively, switch rugs and cushions as the seasons change to add interest. Use texture in interior design to create a specific feel in a space. Rough and coarser textures like reclaimed wood or terracotta have more 'visual weight' and create a cozy, rustic aesthetic – perfect for the fall season.

In this fall-inspired porch, shiplap walls, a rattan chair, an outdoor rug and blankets are textures that all combine to create a warm and cozy scene.

8. Leave plenty of space for Halloween decorating

Of course, you still want to welcome friends and family with a beautiful exterior display fit for the fall season. But as Halloween isn't that far off you're going to want to leave some room to build on your fall door decor with some spooky additions.

Halloween this fall will be back with a bang, which does, of course, mean that you have the perfect excuse to double down on outdoor fall decor ideas to make your home look more frightfully festive than ever.

Once Halloween decor ideas are done, add in some lanterns or twinkling fairy lights to help transition your display into winter (and eventually, Christmas).

9. Gather by the fire in a garden room

When planning a garden room, think carefully about how you’d like to use the space in the colder months.

If you plan to entertain well into the evening, or simply revel in your garden after sundown, then an outdoor fireplace could be the answer to those chilly evenings, and is perfect for casting a warm glow over other outdoor fall decor ideas.

Setting up an enclosed seating area around a fireplace is a fool-proof way of upping the comfort factor to your garden ideas. As well as warmth, the fire will add extra light and can be used for seasonal fall treats, such as toasting marshmallows, warming mulled cider or spiced wine.

Wondering when you should start decorating for fall? Generally speaking, early to late September is the best time to start decorating outside for fall. The wisest option is to put up fall decor in September or October, once the weather starts changing.

Follow seasonal cues and go with your surroundings. After all, it’s up to you how and when you’ll decorate for this autumnal season.