Some people are fortunate enough to have a porch as part of their home. The porch provides shelter around the front door and can be used as a living space in summer. It should be a wonderful place to welcome you home from a long day in the world and invite your guests to join you.
How it looks tells the world a lot about your home. It sends a message about how you live.
When you look at this area objectively, what do you see? Start with the structure itself: Is the paint fresh or peeling? If you have screens, are they clean and in good repair? Does the porch light sparkle in the sun and glow with artificial light or is it filled with cobwebs? Maybe it has a bulb that doesn't suit the design of the fixture but was put there on impulse and you have never gotten around to buying a better one.
What else do you see? Are kids' sneakers in a heap or are they neatly in a row under a bench? Are outdoor toys strewn about? Have the potted plants been watered lately?
Does it give the impression of a warm and well-kept home? If not, let's make this important area send the message you really want to communicate.
First, the structure should be in good condition. If you are going to do repairs, it is also a good time to change the front door hardware, exterior lights, house numbers and mailbox. These things are the "jewelry" of the house and should sparkle and flatter the building, much like a pair of earrings should flatter your face.
Be sure to choose fixtures that are consistent with your house's architectural style. An Arts and Crafts period light fixture would look out of place on a Queen Anne Victorian home.
Second, consider decorating the area with furniture and plants if you intend to use it as a room outside the house. It can be a place to have informal dinners, to sit and enjoy conversations with friends, or a place to relax and read a book.
A porch swing would make this the most sought-after part of the house in summer. Think about all the romantic images a porch swing conjures: sharing an intimate moment with a friend or child, having a cooling glass of lemonade or iced tea while you contemplate the world.
Porch swings are re-emerging in popularity with the renewed desire to enjoy time at home. They're easy to find online, and there's one for every budget.
With a woven wood whitewashed screen for privacy, comfortable seating and enough potted plants to make the porch feel like an extension of the garden, this space conveys a warm welcome. | |
To create an area for conversation, be sure to include chairs; nothing conjures up gracious living like a couple of rocking chairs. Put a small table between them so there's a place to set that glass of lemonade. If you have room for a dining table and chairs, even better, as lunch or dinner outside is a truly memorable experience.
Fabrics that are durable enough to reside outdoors have been transformed from the predictable white, green or blue "duck" cloth into fabulous colors and patterns thanks to new textile technologies. Use this opportunity to do something original with seat cushions and throw pillows. Sunbrella has re-invented the whole outdoor fabric category with wonderful colors and patterns so you can let your creativity express itself here too. Now add the finishing touches with plants. Lots of pots of plants. Layer the sizes from large to small. Choose pots styles that complement the rest of the decor and select plants that will do well in the shade.
Nature gives us color so go for it with a cornucopia of flowers. In addition to flowers, mix in perennial plants that can grow over time, like ferns and ficus trees. Remember that they will need to survive the cooler winters so choose plants that are hardy shade plants. Include a decorative watering can as a functional accessory.
The finishing touch is the welcome mat at the front door that says it all: "Welcome to our home."
