Have you taken a good look at your front porch lately? Did your once cozy and charming porch space become a home to skateboards, bicycles, and cobwebs? Summer is here, so what better time to reclaim your space and create a dreamy place to enjoy your days and evenings? Here are a few tips to create the perfect porch space for entertaining.

Spring Clean

The best way to recreate a space is to start with a blank slate. Park the bicycles and skateboards back in the garage and remove any potted plants and porch decor, allowing yourself to visualize the full amount of space that you have. Next, it’s time to clean, so remove any cobwebs and spider webs, sweep, and wipe down the siding and window sills. Chances are that a thorough porch cleaning is not on the weekly to do list, so a good top to bottom scrub will be an instant improvement.

Make a Plan

Now that you have a clean slate to work with, it’s time to plan the layout for your dream porch.  Do you want to use the area to enjoy a meal? Do you want a space to curl up and read a good book? Would you like to incorporate a gardening bench or a porch swing? Do you have an area that gets a lot of direct sun that may need some shading? Obviously, these decisions are going to be dependent on the needs of you and your family as well as the amount of square footage you have to work with. 

Add Some Color

A home makeover wouldn’t be complete without a fresh coat of paint. Giving your porch a new look with paint doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change the exterior color of your whole house – you can touch up the house color and add bolder and playful colors to your front door, porch rails, banisters, trim, and the floor. Consider creating a fun and playful design with stencils on your porch floor. A brightly hued porch can add a fun and whimsical bit of color into your life.

Let There Be Light

Most porches will have a porch light, but you may want to add a bit more lighting that’s more conducive to entertaining. A good option for an outdoor space is a ceiling fan with a light fixture that includes a dimmer. Not only can you set the mood lighting, but you get a nice breeze.  Other options can be candles, lanterns, Japanese paper lanterns, solar lights, or recessed lighting. Lighting goes a long way in setting the ambiance.

Have Fun with Decor

You certainly have some choices when it comes to furnishings for your porch – many big box and hardware stores offer faux wicker couches and chairs complete with coffee tables and side tables. This are a good option for enduring the extreme weather in the colder and wetter months. However, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and go a bit more eclectic with a fun and shabby chic design aesthetic. Browse garage sales, flea markets, and second hand stores for items that can be reused or repurposed to give your porch a funky vibe or shabby chic feel. Take a look at your current furnishings that could be better served in your outdoor living area. Do you have an old rocker in the attic? Bring it down and give it a makeover with some paint. Want a place to lounge and read a book? Consider hanging some hammocks or a suspended bed. Don’t forget to decorate the walls. You could hang mason jars with dried flowers, hang an old shutter with framed photos on it, or hang a mirror to reflect the greenery from the lawn. Lastly, add some potted flowers and herbs, a nice new door mat, and updated house numbers as the finishing touches.

The porch is often neglected when it comes to renovating, but it doesn’t have to be hard. These few tips will have you creating your dream porch in no time.