5 easy steps to the perfect fall front door.

You see a gorgeous front door – or maybe it’s a beautiful kitchen or bedroom – and think, “That! That is exactly what I want to do at home!” So you collect all your DIY supplies, buy the plants, organize the accessories, put it all together … and something just doesn’t look quite right. Why does some décor hit all the style marks and others fall flat?

To help you avoid future missteps, Sara from @simplysoutherncottage helped Schlage break down the perfect elements of her fall front porch and why they work together.

1. Colorful front door

No matter the season, a pop of color on the front door is eye-catching in the best way possible. Here, the warm, welcoming color draws you in to the cozy cottage and serves as the perfect backdrop to the matte black door hardware and dramatic porch lights.

2. Wreath

With such a vibrant door, you don’t want to go too crazy with your wreath, which is why this asymmetrical beauty works so well. A touch of color with the flowers and ribbons balances the natural grapevine. It’s festive and fun without being busy and overbearing.

3. Mums

It’s hard to go wrong with mums of any color in the fall. What makes these so perfect, though, is they way the yellow and rusty orange flowers play off the rest of the décor. They help create a cohesive design being paired with that yellow door and the rusty hues in the crotons’ leaves.

4. Layered doormat

You’ll find two top trends in this single piece of front porch décor. First is the natural material of the top mat. It’s not only effective in removing dirt from shoes, keeping your home cleaner, but natural décor is one of the most popular choices in home design right now. Layering mats is a leading trend as well and shows that you did more than just toss out a mat and call it a day. The orange plaid design brings in the autumnal colors and motif as well.

5. Symmetry

While the décor does mirror itself on either side of the door, it isn’t identical. Yes, there’s a mum of each color, a croton and a flower bundle on each side, but the pumpkins are scattered more naturally, varying in size, color and location on the steps. This helps strike that balance between chaotic and messy on one hand and matchy-matchy on the other.

“While I like order and symmetry, I also think a smidge of off balance always draws interest,” says Sara, “In fact, I really like arranging things in odd numbers. It creates interest and draws in the eye to the unexpected. Our brains like order, so when things are a little ‘off’ it captures our attention.”

For more fall porch inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram and Pinterest. Happy autumn!