10 Outdoor Fall Decorating Mistakes Everyone Makes (And How to Avoid Them)

Creating a picturesque fall exterior is more than piling on the pumpkins, stacking some straw bales and hanging up a few potted mums. Every year, these common outdoor fall decorating mistakes undermine beautiful fall displays everywhere.

From poor decor placement to improper decor choices, Blake Lee, fall decorating expert and owner of The Pumpkin Veranda, has shared 10 of the most common outdoor fall decorating mistakes, and what you should do instead to get the most out of your exterior fall decor.

Trying to incorporate too many competing elements can quickly make a fall porch feel messy. “A beautiful fall display should feel intentional and cohesive rather than cluttered,” Blake says. To achieve a beautiful display like the one above, she recommends settling on a color palette first and using a few larger pieces to establish the overall look.

One common mistake is using pieces that don’t match your porch's scale. Blake says undersized decor can fail to make much of an impact in a larger space. Instead, larger pumpkins, planters and other statement pieces can help anchor the display and make it feel more substantial.

Lining every pumpkin, mum and accent along the exterior wall can make a display look flat. Instead, Blake recommends “creating depth by bringing pieces forward.” By staggering decorations at different distances from the house, you can add dimension and make the arrangement feel fuller and more professionally styled.

Faux fall decorations can certainly have a place outdoors, but using too many of them may keep a fall display from feeling natural. To create a more elegant, authentic look, Blake suggests mixing in real seasonal elements such as pumpkins, gourds, mums, corn stalks, hay and greenery.

“People often choose mums based only on how full they look at the store without considering where they’ll be placed,” Blake says. Before buying, consider the conditions under which you plan to display them. Mums tend to fare better in spots with ample sunlight and where excess water can drain away easily.

Even healthy mums need regular care to stay looking their best. Blake recommends keeping the soil “moist but not constantly saturated.” Check them regularly, make sure water is able to drain from the container and remove faded blooms as needed. She also suggests starting with healthy plants that aren’t already overcrowded in their pots.

“Don’t place pumpkins directly on damp soil or surfaces where water collects,” Blake says. Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause pumpkins and gourds to deteriorate faster. Instead, opt for a dry spot and avoid packing them too tightly.

Once a pumpkin starts deteriorating, it’s best to remove it rather than leave it in the arrangement. Blake recommends checking your display regularly and taking out any pumpkin that starts to spoil. As she notes, this helps ensure it doesn't spread to the others. Removing damaged produce can also make the display less attractive to squirrels and other wildlife.

Filling every available space with pumpkins, mums and seasonal accents can make even attractive decorations feel chaotic. Blake suggests establishing the display with your largest pieces first, then layering in smaller items while preserving some open space between groupings. “Sometimes removing one or two pieces actually makes the entire display look better,” she says.