How to Decorate a Porch

Porches are a quintessential American architectural feature. A front porch is one of the first impressions your home gives to visitors, and probably a place you pass through on a daily basis. But is it really living up to its potential? Give your porch a theme and make it more than just a blank canvas; make it a room of its own and a pleasure to be in. Whether large and expansive across the front of your house, or a tiny alcove containing the front door, porches provide an excellent space to decorate seasonally and also make a great place to use found objects or things in your home you don't use on a regular basis. So, let's take a tour and see what hidden potential your porch has.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Porch :)
• Theme
• Imagination

1. 
    

   Take a walk...away from your porch. Look at your porch and house from across the street or down the block, seeing it as a visitor or passerby might see it. Take a few digital picture while you're at it, for visual reference later. Then look at the overall style of your house. Colonial? Tudor? Cottage? You'll want your porch's decorating theme to compliment the overall style of your home, but that doesn't mean you're limited strictly to that style. Since porches are usually smaller than inside rooms, you can experiment mixing up classic elements with quirkier finds for an eclectic look, or using urban industrial materials in a country setting. It's all about having fun with a space that can change its personality as you wish.

2. 
    

   Once you get a feel for a theme, look at the size of the space. Can it hold a chair for reading the paper with coffee on a weekend morning? Is it just a landing outside the door? Remember you will need room for doors to open and to move in the space. Would a small table by the door serve a dual purpose to hold packages while you unlock the door, as well as hold a potted plant or a floral arrangement? Grab a chair or end table from inside the house to test what the space can hold. You'll get an idea before you actually spend money on specific items for the space.

3. 
    

   If you have a tiny space, think vertically and with color. You can add decorative items to the walls or above the door. If you want a splash of color, consider painting your front door a new hue. Paint is inexpensive and can instantly add a new personality to your porch. Try a porch mat in a similar or complimentary color and perhaps a tiny metal table with a brightly colored plant.

4. 
    

   If your porch is protected from the elements, you can pretty much use any kind of furniture or decorative items, even some from inside your home. If it's exposed at all, you'll need to get furnishings that can handle rain, wind and sun, or you'll need indoor space to store items during inclement weather. And if it's exposed to any wind, avoid glass or fragile items that would be blown over.

5. 
    

   Flowers and green plants are always a great outdoor decorating idea. Make sure the pots are heavy enough not to blow over in wind, and any hanging baskets are securely fastened to overhead structures. Remember to water frequently, especially the hanging plants, if they are exposed to sun and wind, which can cause water loss. Don't rely on rain to keep them watered. Pay particular attention to keeping them looking their best as well. Tired, droopy or neglected plants are not a welcoming site.

6. 
    

   If your porch has outdoor lighting, upgrade fixtures to match your new scheme. Sometimes a simple switch out of light globes can make an immediate and dramatic difference. If you're going to go all out and replace entire fixtures, remember that they are the most permanent part of the decor. Choose carefully so that they match the style of your home more than they match the decorating theme of the porch. Furnishing may come and go, but the fixtures are going to be part of the house. You may be able to swing a Tuscan inspired front porch on a Tudor home, but chances are light fixtures not in keeping with the house's style will look glaringly out of place.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the number of elements in any small space to a minimum to avoid a clutter, yard-sale feel on your porch. Take that walk across the street periodically during your decorating to assess the effect from a distance. Sometimes less is more.
• For large spaces, group items together to keep them from looking lonely and abandoned in the space. Try repeating two or more arrangements of chairs and a table along with a few decorative items. Anchor the front door with matching arrangements on either side to give it a grand feel. But again...don't over do.
• Keep colors similar to create a unified feel. Door color, matching chair cushions, and rug in the same color family can keep the effect looking cohesive and not incoherent.
• Try a punch of unexpected color, such as the red porch chairs in the picture above. Used as an accent, it can add a playful element to the rest of the design. Just don't introduce too many colors or the look can be chaotic.
• If your furniture isn't weatherproof, you'll need indoor storage during inclement weather. Porch owners in northern climates can replace summer furniture with winter themed items such as sleds or toboggans, since it's probably going to be too cold to sit on the porch anyway. Switch out summer florals for evergreens and wreaths for holiday decorating.
• Don't place valuable items on a porch that is open to lots of street traffic. Use heavy items that are not easily taken, or investigate how to unobtrusively attach them to the porch. It's a sad commentary that things sometimes go missing.
• If you use any electrical item on your porch, and your space is exposed to the elements, make sure the item is rated for outdoor use.
• Use non-skid rugs or use a non-skid backing to prevent visitors, or yourself, from falls. Rugs on some painted porch floors slid easily.

[coffeefirst]

on 4/29/2009 I think looking at it from a different angle, like from down the road helps a lot! It shows you what passers by are seeing. Thanks for sharing.

[coffeefirst]

on 4/29/2009 I think looking at it from a different angle, like from down the road helps a lot! It shows you what passers by are seeing. Thanks for sharing.

[LilacGirl]

on 4/19/2009 Good article on decorating a porch. Lots of inspiration, decorating ideas and suggestions here.

[sksartell]

on 4/15/2009 thanks, gave a recom.sk

[carmensjones]

on 4/12/2009 your article on how to decorate a porch is very insightful. i do flowers for seasons on mine. 5