How to Decorate the Entry of a Home for Fall

Curb appeal isn't only important when you're selling your home; it just makes sense to make the entryway of your home a welcoming place for friends and family no matter what season or holiday. Learn how to improve your curb appeal with a few simple ideas presented here.

Things You'll Need

• Plants (real or silk)
• Plant pots,
• Holiday lights
• Old shoes
• Rocks

Instructions

1. Gather items that are unique and water and weather proof to create an inviting area for the guests to your home. Making the exterior entry of your home welcoming is a talent that anyone can acquire; all it takes is a little imagination and creativity. Plan ahead for holidays--a month ahead of the holiday is about right.

2. 

   Pick sunflowers and place them in a watering can for Fall, or place a plant pot filled with marigolds. Add stalks of corn or a straw bale. Use gourds or mini-pumpkins or a vase filled with dried grasses.

3. 

   String white mini-lights around the door frame for Winter. Place an antique sled with small wreath decorated with holly or abasket filled with snowballs. Try the "Ice Vase"(see below) with holiday lights in the color of your choice. Put a large plant pot filled with various evergreens, spray-painted (white, silver or gold) small branches from trees and cedar branches.

4. Place colorful plastic eggs in a basket by the door; if the entryway is somewhat protected from the weather, or a stuffed bunny complete with Easter basket will bring smiles to guest's faces. Use a spatterware coffeepot filled with tulips and daffodils.

5. Plant impatients or lobelia in soil-filled boots or shoes for a conversation starter, or plant herbs in a large plant pot. Use a basket (lined with plastic with some holes to allow water to drain) planted with allysum or nasturtium. Raise an American flag with stars (take 2 inch wooden stars, drill a hole in one of the points and string with colored wire) wound around the pole.

6. Make an Ice Vase by pouring 1 quart cold water into a pitcher. You will need two deep bowls and one must be smaller than the other. Put water in larger bowl and then place smaller bowl inside. Add water to the larger bowl until it comes to the brim with the small bowl pressed down. Use rocks or something as heavy in the small bowl to weight it enough to keep the bowl submerged.If the outside temperature is below freezing you can place this outside to freeze; otherwise use your freezer to freeze the water in the bowl until solid. Take out the weights and pour hot water into the small bowl until it releases from the ice in the larger bowl. Once it releases, lower the larger bowl into hot water until the ice releases from the larger bowl. Set it outside and place holiday lighting inside. When the lights are plugged in, the bowl will glow from your front step. You can make more than one and in different sizes to stack to create an even more eyecatching display.

Tips & Warnings

• Coat wooden items with a protective coat of polyurethane to protect them from inclement weather.

• Check out yard or garage sales to find old shoes and boots and other seasonal items to enhance your curb appeal inexpensively.

• Keep safety in mind at all times; make sure guests can't trip or slip on decorative items.