Three easy looks to get your porch ready for Halloween

We’re back in Savannah, Georgia this week taking in the signature southern front porch. For an area that doesn’t see fall color like we do in the Midwest, they make the most of the autumnal season with wreaths and fall swags adorning their gas lit lanterns, iron fences and old brick facades. Today I am just taking you on a quick stroll past three homes that I had to stop and photograph for their completely different take on Halloween decor. We may not all have a grand staircase and hanging chandelier at our entrance but we can take these easy ideas and apply them to our own porches!

The Classic

This home is dripping with southern style. The ivy covered steps give the perfect green background to the contrast of white chrysanthemums and jack o lantern orange pumpkins. Of course we can do our own version of this by lining a sidewalk with pumpkins and flowerpots or spacing the combo across the front of a foundation. Take note of the black potted topiary that adds height at the bottom of the steps. This could easily be an artificial addition flanking a garage entrance that would transition into Christmas decor as well.

The Haunted House vibe

This one has a little more going on and benefits greatly from the historic aspect of a home that is about to be renovated. However, even if you live in a house that looks nothing like a potentially haunted mansion there are some solid ideas here. If you look closely at the porch they hung bats under the overhang.

Also-leave your summer plants out and cover them with webbing. It’s a good excuse to use what you have laying around and delay that end of the year clean up just a little bit longer. Like the previously mentioned topiary, these southern homes usually have beautiful stone planters which add a grandness to the front entrance.

Birds (and a skeleton dog)!

This house is so beautiful with it’s boxwood hedge, black shutters and brick front that a lantern with a crow is probably all it really needs. I adore the fact that they have a lace curtain in the window so you can see the additional crow inside peeking out. The howling skeleton dog is also a nice touch.

And even though this is technically a fourth house I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share the simple stately owl statue by the front door of this amazing home.

Look at the ceiling! The design of the porch railings in wood along with the ornate iron work! Those stain glass windows! The wood paneling on the bumped out area (what does that even look like on the inside!?!)! I had to include it because it looks like the type of house they would have used as inspiration for witch movies and shows like Practical Magic, Witches of East End and Charmed.

While we might not all have our own southern-style front porch to decorate for Halloween, participation in exterior decor for the spooky season continues to rise. If anchoring an 18 foot tall skeleton in your yard feels a little overwhelming here’s hoping these examples provided some simple inspiration while enjoying the architecture of Savannah in October!