Every Halloween, we find ourselves walking the incredibly thin line between being fun and celebratory without falling on the wrong side of gimmicky. It is an easy holiday to overdo; however, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have found the sweet spot.
In their upstate New York home, the couple perfected outdoor fall decorating ideas using pumpkins, dried cornstalks, and flowers that complement the dark timber (rather than compete with it). Their porch feels distinctly seasonal without leaning too heavily into Halloween, meaning it'll look just as beautiful on November 1st.
Tall dried cornstalks bring height beside their Halloween porch planting, while the collection of pumpkins feels imperfect.
Interestingly, Blake and Ryan have used different shapes, heights, and textures to give the display a more natural feel. They've also filled their pots with white daisies, thereby interrupting the classic fall palette with something more versatile.
Shop the Chic Fall Porch Edit
Available from Trees.com, formerly Fast Growing Trees, these chrysanthemums are an easy way to bring some fall color to your porch. The full, abundant blooms look especially good grouped in pots alongside pumpkins (naturally).
These bright orange blooms feel right at home in a fall planting scheme. Group them in pots alongside pumpkins to give a porch or entryway the same chic look as the display above.
For a similar curb appeal, swap the plastic pumpkins for the real thing. This live pumpkin plant from Walmart brings the same homegrown feel to a porch, especially when grouped with other seasonal plantings.
With more than 300 mixed seeds, this is an easy way to bring plenty of color to a porch. The mix includes yellow, white, red, and pink blooms, creating a beautiful display that looks great long after October.
This planter makes a lovely base for fall planting, from chrysanthemums and pumpkins to whatever else you want to add. Its generous size looks especially good beside a front door or grouped along the steps for a fuller display.
Matchstick Chrysanthemums are a fun twist on the classic fall flower. With golden petals tipped in red, they have a slightly unusual look that adds texture and interest to a fall porch, entryway, or patio pot.
‘This Halloween entrance is a great example of seasonal curb appeal that still feels warm and livable,’ says Marilyn Comiskey, a San Diego real estate expert and team owner at The Comiskey Group.
‘The flowers, pumpkins, and simple decorations make the front of the home feel special without making it look too staged. It is also a wonderful setting for family photos and the kind of memories people will enjoy looking back on for years.’
There's something to be said for the porch's lack of perfect symmetry. The pumpkins are grouped rather than arranged in a precise row, while the cornstalks sit to one side of the entrance. That slight imbalance keeps the display from feeling overly polished and gives the natural materials room to stand out.
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Plus, you don't necessarily need daisies to get a similar effect. Traditional fall flowers can work just as well, especially when paired with pumpkins in different sizes. ‘Pumpkins are always a fall must-have because they work so naturally with seasonal flowers,’ Marilyn says.
‘Their orange, cream, and red tones look beautiful next to yellow and white mums. Using pumpkins in different sizes also makes the display feel more relaxed and interesting.’
Blake and Ryan strike the balance between the house and its Halloween decor. The pumpkins bring in the colors that are synonymous with fall, while flowers soften the stone. It all feels celebratory without ruining the home’s aesthetic – something of which we could all take note.