Gorgeous DIY Fall Planters To Spruce Up Your Front Porch

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to add some seasonal decor to your porch. These DIY fall planter ideas are not only beautiful, but they’re also easy and budget-friendly to make.

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Check out these ideas for autumn porch decor inspiration and the tips for creating each of the looks at your own home!

Before diving into the specific planter ideas, let’s talk about the one secret you need to know behind creating an arrangement that is so eye-catching and cohesive.

Formula for Fall Container Arrangements

Creating stunning fall containers for your front porch is all about using a formula that balances three types of plants: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. 

It’s a proven winner for ensuring that your arrangement has the height, fullness, and cascading elements needed for a fabulous fall display. 

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Thrillers: 

Typically the tallest, most prominent item in the planter and is the focal point.

• Ornamental Grasses (e.g., Purple Fountain Grass)
• Tall Blooming Flowers (e.g., Black-eyed Susan)
• Pumpkins and Gourds (used as a centerpiece)

Fillers:

Typically medium height items with foliage, texture and color that fills in empty areas.

• Ornamental Peppers
• Coleus
• Sedum
• Zinnias
• Pansies
• Ornamental Kale
• ​Ornamental cabbage

Spillers:

These are the cascading elements in the arrangement.

• Ivy
• Creeping Jenny
• Sweet Potato Vine
• Trailing Annuals (e.g., Violas)

Whether you opt to use real or faux plants and flowers, each one has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. 

• Faux plants are low maintenance and can be reused each season. The most realistic ones are often pricey unless purchased on sale.
• Real real plants offer natural beauty and may be less expensive, but they require more care.

Fall Planter #1

The huge pumpkin in this fall planter provides a great focal point and adds a bit of whimsy to this traditional look.

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My concrete bunny has followed me many places over the years, so I choose to include him in this vignette. Adding a bow, made from the same ribbon as the bow on the wreath, ties together the overall color scheme.

TIP: Calm down the shininess and bright orange color of a faux pumpkin with a coat of dark stain or wax.

How to Recreate This Look

To recreate this look, start with a dark-colored urn containing a round piece of styrofoam foam or some other item to act a as base to support the pumpkin. 

Place a large pumpkin in the center and place a grapevine wreath around it, resting on the rim of the planter. Fill around the rim by poking fall picks in between the vines of the wreath. Use Spanish moss to fill in empty spots. 

Fall Planter #2

The tall wheat is definitely the eye-catcher (thriller) in this arrangement and makes the arrangement feel full and lush.

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The off-center pumpkin adds a tiny bit of the unexpected and creates a bright focal point. It’s balanced by the cheerful golden-yellow fall flowers and other small, colorful pumpkins that pick up the colors in the front door wreath and the arrangement in the basket on the wall. 

TIP: When using real wheat outdoors, spray it with clear acrylic sealer to prevent mold from forming, especially if you live in a humid climate.

How to Recreate This Look

Wedge a piece of floral foam into the interior of the planter to secure the pieces of wheat. T

Position a medium-sized pumpkin to one side, then surround it with clusters of faux chrysanthemums, which will help to hold it in place. Nestle two smaller pumpkins, in differing colors, in the bed of flowers.

Fall Planter #3

Many of you went crazy over this planter. The idea of placing a lantern in the arrangement as an unexpected accent was a big hit!

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The lantern is the central focal point of the arrangement and is definitely the thriller here.

Once again, I placed a grapevine wreath around the rim of the urn and filled it with picks made with a combination of artificial flowers and pumpkins.

TIP: Look for unexpected elements to add to any planter arrangement to make it stand out from all the rest!

How to Recreate This Look

Honestly, this is about as easy as it gets. Begin by stabilizing the lantern with a round piece of styrofoam or some other object placed inside of the urn. Add a tall candle to the lantern that compliments the other fall colors in the arrangement.

Place a grapevine wreath around the urn and fill it with a variety of fall-themed picks.

Fall Planter #4

Last but not least, here is a fall arrangement where I’ve used the entire formula – thriller, filler, and spiller.

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The tall branches in this fall planter immediately catch the eye, adding height and drama to the arrangement.

Nestled at the base is a mix of colorful pumpkins, sprigs of flowers in hues of different yellows, and long leaves and vines with fall colored flowers spilling over the edges.

Once again, the arrangement compliments the hanging basket on the door, tying together the front porch decor.

TIP: Use a less traditional container to give an outdoor fall arrangement a more modern look.

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How to Recreate This Look

To recreate this look, start with a tall, square container filled with floral foam to secure the branches. Place the branches in the center for height.

Add a mix of pumpkins at the base, then surround them with clusters of faux yellow flowers. Fill empty spots with Spanish moss, then strategically place long leaves and stems so that they spill over the sides of the container.