One of my favorite parts of our home is the front porch and I have shared progress on our front porch each spring. I took a little bit of a hiatus from this space for a couple of weeks, and part of the reason was because David and I have been updating some of our landscaping and arranging planter boxes for the front porch. After living here for a couple of years, here are our tips for making the most of your front porch no matter the size of your space.
3 Tips for Making the Most of Your Front Porch
Include Texture
Adding texture is an easy way to elevate your space and include some interesting pieces. I love having ferns on our front porch to fill up the space and to add some color. I also am a big fan of layered door mats and rugs (I included some pictures with and without rugs for a visual). Not only is it stylish, it is also protects your space regardless of the material of your front porch. David also painted our front porch and sealed it with a weather protectant since the wood on our porch was unfinished when we moved in. David and I have two of these rugs on our front porch and this one under the rocking chairs in the middle of the porch. You can find favorite planters and rugs below.
Add Seating
Our front porch has a bit more room than any of the spaces I’ve previously lived so it has been fun to add seating each season. From an economic standpoint, I commit to a section each year to add designs to so I don’t overspend. The first thing we added were rocking chairs because it’s one of my favorite seatings for a front porch. We also added a small table in between the rocking chairs for candles or small plants. I added this bench to be flanked by large planters, usually with ferns, but sometimes I’ll try other plants, too. Ferns just always seem to do the best for us. Last year, David added our porch swing, which he built to fit the nook. We took a crib mattress to our favorite seamstress and had her make a cover using Sunbrella fabric.
When something happens to the small bench, I’m eying this as an option for a functional upgrade.
Make it Cozy
Add comfy and cozy pieces! This is perhaps my favorite part now that we’ve gotten the essentials. We added these ottomans and table. They are easy to move around and useful for both the swing and the rocking chairs. I like to change up the pillows, but for the porch swing, I went with a classic option (on sale at Pottery Barn!). I also added a few more from Amazon that are easy to clean. We also added the gate for the boys to be outside with us, which has been incredibly helpful. Consider a garden stool or two that can be used for end tables or for plant stands. I also keep blankets easily accessible as needed if it get chilly. And I always love to have candles–citronella to help with the bugs–plus a Thermacell for an enjoyable evening, even when the mosquitos are out.
What are your porch essentials?
Looking for other exterior inspiration? Check out how I installed Vantage Shutters here and other projects here.
Outfit Details:
J. Crew Striped Dress | Michelle McDowell Earrings | David Yurman Bangles 1 2 | Hart Studio Necklace
Target White Tank | J. Crew Striped Pants | Amazon Sandals | Hunter Blake Earrings
Lou & Grey Tank | Lou & Grey Linen Pants | Alice & Wonder Sandals | Amazon Bangles
Williams Sonoma Vintner Champagne Flute | Williams Sonoma Vintner White Wine Glass
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