One Front Door, Three Ways – Part 1

Move Over October

For some of us, once the clock strikes midnight on October 31st, the green light to decorate for Christmas is ON!  Let’s get real, I have already seen plenty of Christmas decor in full swing, and I won’t lie to you,  my new Christmas tree arrived at my front door yesterday, and I won’t be storing it.  That baby is going up this weekend…but, I won’t decorate the outside until after Thanksgiving.

I have teamed up with the generous folks at Birch Lane to bring you, “One Front Door, Three Ways” and Thanksgiving is on tap first.  I am pleased to share how to style your front porch in late fall.  I will link the exact decor I used later in the post.

Clean Slate

The only way I can restyle a space, and feel like it’s a successful refresh is to wipe the slate clean.  In the present season it meant going outside when it was 40º and removing everything styled around my front door.  I almost always have to just dive into styling a space, and then re-style it before I’m happy.

First of all, do you just die with this giant galvanized gourd?!  I was so stunned with this guy’s size when he arrived from Birch Lane, and I quickly realized he would take center stage.

The urns have found their way back to my front door.  Click here to view how they were styled previously.  Try as I may, I just can’t mask that it’s a little tight with both, but I’m a creature of symmetry.

 

The openings to the urns are a bit large for regular size pumpkins, so I cheated and brought out some inexpensive chargers and they fit perfectly across the opening.  The pumpkins sit nicely on top, but something just wasn’t right.

Round 2

I felt strongly that I just needed more height, so I dismantled it all again.  I sat on the step to think a moment, and just then I saw the flat pumpkin I was using in my bird bath – light bulb.

Friends, I have seen this idea of stacking pumpkins on an urn for years.  It’s definitely been pinned on my Pinterest board, but I have never tried it!!

I      LOVE     IT!

Once I stacked the pumpkins, the rest fell together within minutes, and I ended up only using one urn!  I instantly loved the grouping on this side so much more.  The different heights and textures are so charming together.

Styling the other side of the door was easy.  My welcome sign provided the balance my poor brain needs, and the other 2 galvanized buckets sealed the vignette.  These buckets, from Birch Lane, come in a set of three, and they were so fun to fill.  The openings aren’t round, but oblong which makes for a little more interest.  Honestly, it held my tree better, because it has a tighter fit 😉

Do you notice the one fern still remaining?  It survived the frost!! I have tried keeping them from season to season but they always give up the ghost due to my neglect.

Here’s a close up of the wreath.  I love its smaller size, because it showcases our front door knocker, and I happen to like it 🙂

Birch Lane Decor

• Rustic Medium Pumpkin Statue
• Pumpkin Wreath
• 3-piece Metal Bucket Set

Wrigley tried like mad to help me, and it was all fun and games until he insisted on stealing my pine cones.  He doesn’t look guilty much, does he!?

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving even though I am certain you will hear from me again before then and, as always, I love hearing from you!  Let me know if you have any questions about the products listed.

*This post was done in collaboration with Birch Lane.  All opinions are 100% my own.

Author and photos – Martha Knake

Chief Editor – Emily Schunke