Creating a Fall Front Door Using Succulents

Even before guests enter your home, your front door has already given them a glimpse of your own personal style. In order to give your front door — and your guests — a truly spectacular fall welcome, we reached out to the pros at Colonial House of Flowers and Tristan Needham Design. Christy Hulsey (Mayesh 2017 Design Star) shares her top four tips for creating a welcoming, gorgeous, and (most importantly) easy-to-recreate fall front door.

Fall Front Door

This is the best fall front door I’ve ever seen.

I just have to take a minute to show you all the pretty that went down last week when Tristan Needham Designs met me for a front door update (like every season, since I’m being honest). And, just about certain it’s my all-time favorite, DIY EVER which has everything to do with the the versatile faux magnolia leaf by Pottery Barn. The reason is simple: As the brand new 2017 Mayesh Design Star, this entry tells my whole story: my love of fresh flowers and obsession with faux succulents. Both combined in a brand new way that’s stunning. Plus if you can believe it, this is my very first project with my new title that I get to make something big and pretty! The images from The Happy Bloom show you the simple steps to the most fabulous front doors in your neighborhood. Roll up your sleeves and get ready — it’s as easy as pumpkin pie!

As the end of summer becomes fall, luxe looks become surprisingly simple this cozy time of year. And if I wasn’t in love with fall enough, the Eclectic Galvanized Metal Planters with the Blooming Echevaria Succulent Stems has me admitting autumn is honestly perfection. It’s easy to pull together classic style this time of year that’s picture-perfect and fun — so effortless that it doesn’t even look real. But when you look, you’ll see the flowers, the color palette, the laughter, the simplicity — it’s obvious this is a real day.

Fall Front Door

Tip 1: Use the same color fresh flowers and plants and faux botanicals throughout.

It’s easy to get arrangements that are all the same color right. The clippings can be grouped in galvanized containers like the Eclectic Galvanized Metal Planters and on the door wreath for a look that’s effortless and stunning. To save time and money, shop at your neighborhood flower shop for fresh succulents, clip grasses from your garden and imitate plants like the Blooming Echevaria Succulent Stems from Pottery Barn. They look so real! Add them loosely for a natural look.

Fall Front Door

Tip 2: Use in-seasonal florals in rich neutrals on doors.

Palettes that are fall-specific are impossible to get wrong, especially when you put them at the entry. Fiddle leaf figs, olive branches, succulents, blushing brides and pumpkins are a few simple things you’ll find in fall. Tristan recommends neutrals (cream, grey, beige) with pops of your favorite / trendy fall colors, such as mustard. Guests are sure to feel warm and welcomed with simple wreaths. Imitate nature, avoid fussy and contrived. It’s easier than you think because you can’t go wrong by sticking to one color like green.

Fall Front Door

Tip 3: Pops of unexpected details.

Add personality by incorporating your favorite things. There’s no denying the fiddle leaf fig is my all-time weakness. Tristan recommended tucking Golden Magnolia Stems randomly in the branches for a prevailing ode to autumn. It looks so natural! Surprise, you can go from common to seasonally-extraordinary in a minute! According to Tristan, this is a critical element that makes guests feel relaxed and special.

Fall Front Door

Tip 4: Add found moss and faux plants elegance.

Fall foliage and moss? Fresh trimmed succulents and faux air plants like the Tillandisia Succulent Stem? It doesn’t get more beautiful than that. I can’t resist a freshly-painted faux or real pumpkin. “Paint them a neutral color like grey or white,” says Tristan. “It goes with anything and you can use them throughout the year!” Plus, when it comes to setting the mood, you can’t beat the immediate impact of something seasonal to give a natural feel.

Fall Front Door

Products featured:

If you’re not in the mood to DIY your own front door décor, check out our gorgeous (and impossible-to-kill) Faux Succulent Wreath. As for indoor decorating, take a look at our always-in-season Amber Hydrangea Arrangement and our classic Succulent & Stone Arrangement.