I’m a little behind on fall decorating this year. To be fair, we didn’t get our first chilly day in Charlotte, North Carolina until this past weekend, so it didn’t feel like fall until then.
That first cool day was pure magic — the kind that lets you finally wear boots without regretting it. We spent the afternoon at my in‑laws’ pumpkin carving party and the air felt crisp and refreshingly clean. It was exactly the nudge I needed to get our porch ready for the season.
After we brought our freshly carved pumpkins home, my husband — who gets excited about every holiday — immediately started planning the porch. While he was at work the next day, I snuck in a little project of my own: DIY sidelight signs to give our entry a more finished, seasonal look.
Those quirky pumpkins in the photos? My husband’s handiwork — he carved while I kept our toddler away from sharp tools. They’re playful and perfectly suited to our family’s style. Still, the porch needed a bit more personality to feel complete, and because our front door doesn’t have real sidelights, I decided to make a pair of wooden sidelight signs instead.
I took my daughter to Lowe’s and had an associate cut a sheet of plywood into the dimensions I wanted. It was quick and easy, and the supplies were inexpensive — which makes this an accessible DIY for most porches.
Supplies I used:
- 2 plywood cuts, each 12″ x 70″
- 1 sample pot of Valspar Blackstrap paint
- 10 sheets of heavy cardstock
- X‑Acto knife
- Masking or packing tape
- White craft paint
- Paint brush
Cost breakdown: the plywood sheet was about $17, but I used roughly a third of it for these two signboards, so I counted the material cost at about $6 for the pair. The sample paint pot was under $3, and I still had plenty left over for touchups or another small project.
I painted the plywood directly with the Valspar Blackstrap. Raw wood soaks up sample paint quickly, which meant fast drying and great coverage. I still had at least half the pot left when I finished.
For the lettering, I created simple stencils. I used PicMonkey to lay out the type and printed each letter on cardstock. I went with Times New Roman for a clean, classic look — a little nod to my background as an English teacher, I suppose.
I carefully cut out each letter with an X‑Acto knife to form stencils, then arranged the cardstock on the boards and taped the edges so the stencils wouldn’t shift while I painted. The cardstock made it easy to keep consistent spacing and alignment without guesswork.
To avoid bleed under the stencil edges, I used a pouncing technique with white craft paint — lightly dabbing the brush rather than brushing across the stencil. That gave me crisp, clean letters. The whole project took less than an hour once the paint was dry enough to handle.
Once the signs were finished, I added inexpensive cornstalks I picked up while I was at the store — just $5 for a bundle — and used them to frame the doorway. I also refreshed my door wreath, which had been looking too summery. Two fall garlands wrapped around the existing wreath and secured with floral wire gave it instant autumnal charm.
I leaned into traditional fall colors this year — reds, oranges, and yellows — since our yard lacks large trees with falling leaves. Bringing those hues to the porch gave the entryway an instant fall feeling, even without natural foliage.
I also want to share a few photos from our pumpkin‑carving day and a short hike on my in‑laws’ property. The trail behind their house is beautiful — mossy paths, an old barn to admire (from a safe distance), and perfect spots for family photos. It was one of those days that makes you feel close to nature and grateful for simple moments.
Watching my little girl explore the leaves and trails was the highlight of the weekend. She loved every minute, and seeing her with her dad absolutely melts my heart.
So now our porch feels warm and welcoming for fall. I’m ready for trick‑or‑treaters — as soon as I can stop snacking on the Halloween candy myself. If you’re thinking about a simple DIY to update your entryway, these sidelight signs are inexpensive, fast, and make a big impact.
Have you had cool fall weather yet? Is your porch decorated? I’d love to hear what autumn crafts you’re working on.
Blessings,
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