How to Decorate Your Porch For Fall and Winter to Get That Hygge Feel

Have you heard of “hygge?” If not, you will soon, especially now that cooler weather is upon us. Hygge (it’s actually pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a Danish word that roughly translates to “coziness” in English. The concept is actually about 300 years old, at a time when it probably wasn’t as easy to get too cozy, and the practice remains popular today.

Here in the U.S., hygge is often on full display as porch décor or entryway décor (inside and out) during the fall and winter months. Whether you live in a villa, condo, or apartment, an entryway space is typically compact with a door as the central focus, so it’s the perfect canvas for creating maximum hygge with a minimum of effort!

Ideas for Hygge-Inspired Home Décor

Arts and craft stores are typically bursting at the seams with porch décor in this period, so the opportunities to express your creativity and present the warmest welcome for guests is easy and fun.

For inspiration, you can find a slew of porch decorating ideas, as well as ideas for your inside entryway, online from sites like The Spruce, and in magazines like Martha Stewart Living and RealHomes.com. To get your mind on the whole cozy craze, here are the key hygge design concepts to keep in mind, along with a few decorating tips to help bring each of them to life:

Bring on the layers – Outside and inside, think layers and texture. Place a small inviting bench out front or in your entry area and pile it with cozy pillows and a knitted throw. Add a textured fall-colored rug underfoot (there are plenty of pretty indoor/outdoor types to choose from).

Add a warm glow – Group LED candles on a small table on the porch and scatter others in and around your décor. Tiny fairy lights outside and even inside in your entryway add a glowing touch, plus they’re a cinch to hang with small screw-in cup holder hooks.

Mix in natural elements – Fill a wooden bowl with collected pine cones or dried potpourri to set on the porch, or pick up a few artful-looking branches to place in a decorative pot on the porch. Buy or make a fall-inspired foliage wreath for your door.

Focus on weathered and vintage finds – Old wooden bins make wonderful fall planters, vintage baby carriages piled with pumpkins and a plaid blanket, or a milking stool holding a pot of mums add a touch of warmth and color. Comb local antique shops for inexpensive pieces and let your creative juices flow.

Celebrate all that is fall – Prop a couple of cornstalks on either side of your door and artfully surround them with some of the unusual pumpkins you can find at the grocery store these days. A bale of hay makes an interesting tabletop for colorful gourds and LED candles.

Create a snow show – When the snow flies, trade in some of the fall pieces for winter porch décor. Think garlands of evergreens around your door, artificial berry sprays in pots and tucked into the garlands, blankets in holiday plaids, and perhaps a snowman or two. Add a couple of holiday pillows to a vintage chair and put out a happy welcome mat for boots.

Welcome to the Perfect Place to Create Your New Cozy Lifestyle

When you live in one of Crestwood Manor’s spacious welcoming apartments and villas, every season inspires the hygge feeling. Browse our independent living floor plans to find the perfect fit for you. If you’d like a tour, get in touch and we’ll arrange one. We look forward to meeting you!