This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission- at no extra cost to you.

I didn’t want our Halloween porch to feel overly polished or filled with pieces I would only use once. I wanted it to feel playful, nostalgic, and a little like the porches we remember from childhood. The hanging pumpkin buckets became the detail that pulled everything together, while two tomato cage ghosts, faux mums, and a few real pumpkins kept the rest of the porch simple.

This is an easy look to adjust for your own porch. You can use the railings, posts, hooks, or ceiling you already have, repeat the bucket-and-ribbon detail across the space, and fill in the lower areas with decorations you may already own.

I have seen many variations of these hanging buckets all over on social media. My inspiration came from the sweetest pumpkin-pail idea from IG @tableshoppeco, I adapted it for our 36 ft long porch with alternating ribbons, lights and extra drainage holes.

The porch plan

The porch has four main sections, each measuring about 82 to 83 inches. I treated each section as its own small arrangement so the pumpkin buckets would look evenly spaced from one end of the porch to the other. The two tomato cage ghosts add height at floor level, and the mums and pumpkins soften the harder lines of the porch without making the setup feel crowded.

• Across the upper area: hanging pumpkin buckets with mixed ribbon tails

• At floor level: two tomato cage ghosts

• Around the ghosts and entry: faux mums, lanterns, plus a few real pumpkins

Supplies

• Plastic jack o lantern treat buckets [I used 11 total across my porch]
• Black and white striped ribbon
• Solid black ribbon
• Burgundy ribbon
• Orange gingham ribbon
• battery operated lights
• Scissors and measuring tape
• Drill with a small bit for holes
• fishing line (to hang the buckets)
• Two tomato cages and the supplies used for my ghosts- see the tutorial and supplies
• Two faux mums (mine are from Hobby Lobby)
• A few real pumpkins in varied shapes and sizes

Shop my Halloween porch supplies here (scroll through the list to see it all):

How I made the hanging pumpkin buckets

1. Measure the porch sections. I measured each span separately because even sections that look identical can vary slightly. Mine were approximately 82 to 83 inches wide.

2. Lay out the buckets before hanging them. This makes it easier to check the rhythm of the orange buckets and the ribbon colors across the porch.

3. Drill holes in the bottom of every bucket. I drilled two in the center for the ribbon, I drilled 3 around the outer bottom for drainage, This small step keeps rainwater from collecting inside the buckets after a storm.

4. Cut the ribbon tails. I used 36 inches of ribbon for each tail, which creates an 18 inch drop on each side after it is threaded through the holes in the bottom of the bucket. I singed the cut edges of the ribbon with a lighter so they wouldn’t fray.

5. Mix the ribbon patterns. I alternated black and white stripe, solid black, burgundy, and orange gingham so the porch felt collected rather than perfectly matched.

6. Attach the ribbons to the bucket handles, leaving long loose tails. Keeping the bows slightly imperfect gives them the nostalgic look I wanted.

7. Hang and adjust the buckets. Start with the center points, then work outward so the spacing stays balanced across each porch section. Step back often and adjust the height or ribbon tails as needed.

How I used the tomato cage ghosts

The two ghosts give the porch a bigger Halloween moment without adding a lot of small decorations. I placed them at floor level where their white fabric stands out against the darker ribbon and orange buckets. Their soft shape also helps the porch feel playful instead of spooky.

Build the ghost forms using two tomato cages. You can find all the supplies and details on how I made mine HERE.

Place the ghosts where they add height without blocking the walking path or the front door.

Finishing the porch with mums and real pumpkins

I finished the lower part of the porch with faux mums and will add few real pumpkins as soon as the temperature starts to cool down here. The faux mums give me the full fall look without needing daily watering, while the real pumpkins will add the natural variation.

Instead of lining everything up, I grouped the pumpkins near the ghosts and mums. I varied the sizes and turned a few pumpkins slightly so the arrangement would look relaxed from the sidewalk and in photographs.

Outdoor decorating tips

• Drill drainage holes before the buckets go outside.

• Choose ribbon that can tolerate moisture, or bring special ribbon inside during severe weather.

• Secure lightweight ghosts at the base and check them after windy weather.

• Keep decorations clear of the door swing and the main walking path.

• Use faux flowers for the fuller look, then add a few real pumpkins for texture and color variation.

A simple nostalgic Halloween porch

The hanging pumpkin buckets are the part that makes this porch memorable, but the whole look is still simple enough to recreate. A repeating decoration overhead, two larger pieces at floor level, and a few fall elements were all this porch needed.

I first saw the pumpkin-bucket idea from [ORIGINAL INSPIRATION CREDIT AND LINK], then adapted it to fit the measurements, colors, and layout of our porch. If you try your own version, save this post so you have the measurements and ribbon details when you are ready to decorate.

Frequently asked questions

How long were the ribbon tails?

Each ribbon piece was cut to 36 inches, giving me approximately 18 inches tails.

Why did you drill holes in the buckets?

The center two are for the ribbon to be thread through. The outer 3 holes allow rainwater to drain instead of collecting inside the plastic buckets.

Can I make this for a smaller porch?

Yes. Use fewer buckets and keep the spacing consistent. Center the arrangement on the door or divide it into the natural sections of your porch.

Do I need real mums?

No. Faux mums are easier to maintain and can be reused. A few real pumpkins bring in the natural texture and color variation.

How do you keep the tomato cage ghosts from blowing over?

Secure the base with your preferred outdoor weight or stake and check the fabric and fasteners after windy weather. I usually add a heavy rock to the bottom of the base and you can use a landscape pin on the back of the head to help hold the plastic tablecloths in place. If we are expecting severe weather I bring them inside.

It’s a simple porch filled with inexpensive DIYs, but every time I see those glowing pumpkin faces, it brings back a little of that childhood Halloween magic—and that’s exactly the feeling I wanted to create. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you’ll come back soon!