Easy Front Porch Glow-Up Hacks for Autumn in Northeast Ohio

Hey friend — Amy here, sipping coffee on my porch, surrounded by mums, pumpkins, and the faint smell of whatever candle I left burning too long.

This time of year always makes me want to fuss over my front porch — not in a “Martha Stewart levels of commitment” way, but just enough to make it look cozy when you pull into the driveway. 🫡

Plus, I don’t want it took look scruffy when the kids come to trick or treat. 😂

So if your porch is looking a little meh after summer like mine is, here are some easy, cheap, and ridiculously satisfying ideas to try. Let’s make our neighbors think we have our lives together (even if we definitely do not). 😅

So let’s do a low-budget, high-impact autumn porch makeover together, because frankly, my porch desperately needs it and I don’t have the time to paint. 😂

So let’s talk tips.

But where do you start and won’t it get pricey?

1 - Start with the basics: layers.

If you only have one lonely doormat, put a bigger rug under it — plaid, jute, or whatever texture you love. It’s an instant “I tried” move that looks pulled together without actually being effort.

👉 See some cute bottom-layer mats here. (Trust me, these are much easier to find online than in local stores.)

2 - Then bring on the pumpkins and/or mums.

Mix up the sizes, shapes, and colors - they look better mixed up together. Stack them on planters or old crates, or tuck a few under a chair. If you’re over the whole rotting gourd thing by mid-November, go for mums like I did.

Pro tip: This is the best time to do this because all the mums are discounted already since retail stores already have Christmas stuff out. 🙄

3 - Lighting is where the magic happens.

Once the sun goes down, fairy lights or lanterns make everything feel intentional (and a little cinematic). These solar lanterns (obsessed) look like flame and are perfect for fall. Add a warm bulb or two, and suddenly your porch looks like it belongs in a cozy-movie montage.

4 - And then - my favorite part - add one “wild card.”

Something slightly unexpected that makes it feel like you. A plaid blanket over a thrifted chair, a vintage basket of firewood, or even a cheeky fall sign that makes you laugh (bonus points if it doesn’t say Live Laugh Love). I went with some art hung on the wall! It’s something I’ve been wanting to try for awhile, and I don’t know why I waited so long!

It doesn’t have to be perfect — just a little warmer, softer, more “come hang out.” I’m planning to spend the weekend thrifting for a few finishing touches, so if you’re decorating too, tag @clevelandish_oh on TikTok or IG and show me what you come up with!

Let’s make Northeast Ohio’s porches look like a fall mood board together. 🍁

Here’s my result - I had so much fun experimenting! Even though my porch has a long way to go to look the way I’d like it to, especially with that big bald spot on the porch step 😅 I’m glad I didn’t wait until I painted to start making it cute.

Simmer pot magic: Toss orange peels, cloves, and a splash of vanilla in a pot of water, and let it bubble on the stove. Your house will smell like a fancy candle shop in under 10 minutes.

👉 Here are some simmer pot recipes to try → homesteadandchill.com/simmer-pot

Blanket basket by the door: Keep a basket of throw blankets near your entryway or patio door so guests can grab one when they step outside to your fire pit. It’s like telling people “stay awhile” without saying it.

Mood lighting, but make it fall: Swap the bulbs in your lamps for warm white or amber light — it instantly makes the whole room feel like sweater weather.

👉 Try these soft-glow bulbs →

👉 Read more about me here

P.S. I loved this blog post about Cleveland’s top ten fall treats! See what they are here.

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