Self-Care For Your Entry: 9 Fall-Inspired Front Door & Entryway Combos

I could start this post off talking about the importance of making a good “first impression” and showing all of your neighbors, as they peek over at your house, that you are PUMPED it’s finally fall with your beautifully plaided and warm-toned porch (or front door) but I am not going to. No. Instead, I want to talk about some good ol’ fashion self-care…design edition. If you read this blog regularly, there is a good chance you love making your home look pretty and feel special. Me, too. Doing that is our part of how I “self-care.”

For me, it is the number one thing that makes me feel good (when my home is clean and pretty) and equally the first thing that makes me feel off if things are in disarray. So how I look at it, changing up your front door/porch area with some seasonal decor love is about putting you and your family in a good mood every time you walk in and leave your home. I mean, I am nearly 1,000% percent sure there are scientific studies done on the positive effects of Christmas decorations so if you are up for it, I say start the seasonal good times rollin’ early…like now…this weekend?

To help with this, I created nine looks, in three different styles, for three different sized front door areas (front door, small porch and large porch) to get you inspired/do the design work for you. Let’s fall (pun intended) into our front door looks.

First, though, let’s take a look at some IRL front facades to get our creative gears churning.

Here’s a good ol’ throwback from 2016 where we styled out a friend’s home with some quick fall vignettes. This set-up is just enough “season” for a small front door area. The candles in the lanterns would be so pretty lit if you’re expecting company at night, while the gold leaf wreath says “fall” but like…glam fall to balance out the more classic stack of pumpkins.

Now, yes, this is “technically” a foyer (by Melissa Brookes), as in…indoors, but I think there’s some inspiration we can borrow from this. If you house has a decent sized porch, a rustic wood bench with a fall-feeling print pillow and just a pumpkin or two might be all you need to get into the seasonal game (and well, maybe throw in a wreath if you want to really drive the point home).

Fall front doors are typically all corn stalks and explosions of mums, but that doesn’t work with every house style. For something a little more “happy modern,” try a whimsical doormat, a smattering of pumpkins, and a delicate wreath.

Yes, another interior but I just love the simple, natural palette. A soft yellow wheat wreath and a rattan basket is subtle yet effective.

A bench is a great styling opportunity for seasonal decor. Swap out any textiles you have that might feel too summery for neutral textures and plaid (just add acorns).

For something a little more modern, don’t be afraid to mix in contemporary planters to offset the traditional vibes of mums and other fall foliage.

Alright, so this is a catalog shot from Crate & Barrel, so, not a real home, but I wanted to show it as an example of something that felt like autumn without screaming Instagram-y fall front facade.

Okay, let’s get to our product boards, starting with the cozy and casual fall front door…

1. 22″ Artificial Goldenrod Wreath | 2. Geo Stripe Rug | 3. Wood and Rope Lantern | 4. Blue Round Planter | 5. Pescador Ombre Planter

This look is for the not-so-traditional seasonal decorator that still wants a hint of fall. We are all big fans of that faux wreath from Target. It’s simple but colorful and has a ton of movement. Then paired with the textures and patterns of the lantern, cream/orange planter and doormat makes it feel seasonal without it screaming. “HEY, I LOVE FALL.” And lastly, to really mix it up and add some visual interest, the blue planter is the perfect little cherry on top. Note the varying heights of the lantern and two planters. As in any and almost all styled vignettes, always mix up heights and pattern scales.

Onto the modern side of fall…

1. Preserved Natural Wheat Bundle | 2. 18″x30″ Door Mat | 3. Ceramic Planter With Stand | 4. Medium Brass Planter

While a monochromatic color palette isn’t the only way to make something modern, it is an easy way to go about it. That is exacly what we did for this cute combo. Instead of choosing the traditional wreath, I went with this very cute wheat bundle instead. Then, I opted for a modern patterned doormat (that would work year-round) with a natural texture to make sure the look didn’t feel visually cold. Then lastly, for the planters, I chose ones with clean, modern lines and made sure I threw in some gold to again keep the look still feeling warm despite the lack of color.

For our traditional front door…

1. Live Magnolia Wreath | 2. Windowpane Jute Doormat | 3. 15.7″x7.2″ Metal Lantern  | 4. 10″x9″ Ceramic Planter | 5. Planter Woven Cement

This look is also very monochromatic but with the softer shapes, cozier patterns and hint of green, it automatically feels classic. The wreath is beautiful (and real!), the rug is traditional in pattern but relaxed in texture and that lantern is another EHD favorite (hello leather handle). That beautiful footed planter and awesome ceramic woven cutie together are under $50. Winners!

Moving on up to our next size category…the small porch.

1. Modern Concrete End Table | 2. Outdoor Lounge Chair | 3. Sunbrella Rust Canvas Outdoor Lumbar Pillow | 4. Plaid Cotton Throw Blanket | 5. Red Broom Corn Wreath | 6. 18″x30″ Striped Tufted Door Mat | 7. Round Wooden Planter | 8. Livorno Planter | 9. Metal Lantern

A slight size upgrade (room for a chair and side table) made this small porch so inviting. I want to know the cool people that live here and sit in that chair while I stare at that beautiful wreath. Fall doesn’t need to mean dark and moody colors. Brighten it up with say, this happy yellow throw and light terracotta accents. But to make sure this porch didn’t feel too spring-y, I added those doses of black to ground the design and help welcome in the cool fall air. Dark colors do that, right?

This next modern look is one of my favorites.

1. Logan End Table, Anthracite Grey | 2. Montego Lounge Chair | 3. Preserved Myrtle Leaf Wreath | 4. Honeycomb Faux Fiber Indoor/Outdoor Lumbar Pillow | 5. Woven Throw Blanket | 6. Market Stripe Doormat | 7. 14″ Cylinder Outdoor Lantern | 8. Hexagon Stoneware Planter | 9. 26″x9″ Brass Planter With Stand

Like most of these designs, I drew color inspo from the wreath. The simple rust color is modern but warm and looks perfect with that throw blanket. How sophisticated would you feel sitting in that chair, draped in that beautiful throw sipping a cup of coffee? I think very. It’s important with any simple and modern design to keep the lines and patterns also simple. A touch of metallic like that planter with the stand will also almost guarantee a more modern feel.

Shall we get traditional?

1. Roger Stool | 2. Henry Chair | 3. Preserved Corn Husk Wreath | 4. Chunky Knit Throw Blanket | 5. Striped Throw Pillow | 6. Cotton Rug Buffalo Check | 7. Copper Earthenware Planter | 8. Fiber Concrete Barrel Pot | 9. Slim Iron Lantern

Traditional doesn’t need to mean a ton of ornate, detailed old pieces. We here at EHD like clean lines in traditional shapes like the chair, lantern and planter. Since the chair, throw and doormat (washable) look a bit on the traditional side, I chose a more modern wreath and side table to keep the overall look fresh. Plus, add a green wreath and/or a reindeer and you my friend have a very pretty winter small porch situation on your hands.

It’s time to go big and then go home…large porch time.

1. Grove Teak Chair | 2. Black Wired Stool | 3. Crosby Natural Teak Lantern 24″ | 4. Reversible Lightweight Throw | 5. Saffron Macrame Indoor/Outdoor Throw Pillow | 6. Cleary Indoor/Outdoor Flatweave Rug | 7. 9″x8.6″ Water Hyacinth Pumpkin Natural | 8. Brice Extra Large With Short Modern Metal Plant Stand | 9. Dried Protea Wreath

Lord, I love those chairs. So chic and versatile. But to make this look cozier, I threw in warm-toned textiles that are full of pattern. Now, the wreath doesn’t scream fall, but it’s beautiful, neutral and has that perfect pop of color. As as we have said 108943 times, the easiest way to make a space cozy is to add texture and this look has it in droves. The pumpkin, side table, planter…well actually just everything.

Alight, that’s enough warmth for one look. Let’s talk about the last modern combo…

1. Modern Adirondack Lounge Chair | 2. Sand Side Table with Handles | 3. Blox 24″ Tall Galvanized Charcoal Planter | 4. 12″x9.5″ Standing Wooden Planter | 5. Elias Planter | 6. Faux Mohair Grid Throw Blanket | 7. Mayne Pillow Cover | 8. Multi Stripe Jute Doormat | 9. Modern Globe Lantern | 10. 22″ Artificial Magnolia Leaves Wreath

Well, this one is also warm (because of the texture) but in a cool way. I love the mix of pattern scale with the textiles and the splash of forest green and wood from the planter. There is a lot for your eye to look at without feeling overwhelmed. Also how cool is that lantern??

This last traditional look is traditional but with a twist…

1. 16″ Round Sunbrella Outdoor/Indoor Seat Cushion | 2. Regatta Natural Dining Bench | 3. Faux Olive Branch Plant | 4. Rattan Basket | 5. Buffalo Check Faux Mohair Throw Blanket | 6. Maxwell Lantern | 7. 11″x10.5″ Papier-Maché Pumpkin | 8. 6″x6″ Papier-Maché Pumpkin | 9. 9″x6″ Papier-Maché Gourd

I wanted this look to still feel really fresh. To achieve that, I chose a bench and then added round warm-toned seat cushions. This way the colors and shapes are traditional without feeling old. Moving over to the right, that tree is faux people! I would be the perfect (long-lasting) moment for a large porch. Plus, no maintenance. Then by adding the neutral-colored pumpkins (very traditional looking) and the slightly more decorative lantern, it keep it all from feeling too modern. The texture of that pretty basket and pattern of throw doesn’t hurt either. 🙂

Oh, and for all of the ideas above, just round them out with natural pumpkins, gourds and squashes, and maybe even some mums if you like that look.

How painless was that? See how easy it can be to make your home feel a little cozier for fall to help put a smile on your face? In the spirit of making things simple, I will stop writing so you can stop reading and get to shopping. Let us know if you have any genius fall front door decorating ideas and if you like this different style and size format.

Love you, mean it.