Spring is here and porch season is just around the corner! The sun is peeking out, and the days are growing longer. This is the perfect time to refresh front entries and back porches in preparation for those barbecue party Saturdays and lemonade sipping Sundays. We’ve got plenty of tips to share when it comes to planning the perfect porch.
Warm Up Your Welcome
Greet guests with a warm welcome before you even open the front door with thoughtful porch decor. A welcoming porch includes personalized details like a natural wreath door hanger, planters with a seasonal arrangement of fresh blooms, a properly sized welcome mat, and a vignette of cordial signs, lanterns, and/or seasonal holiday accessories.
A properly sized welcome mat supports the door and more; extending beyond the width of the door including other porch accessories, defining the welcome space as more than just the door.
Layers of Light
Lighting sets the mood for relaxing evenings on the porch watching fireflies and enjoying friends. Add layers of lighting from bright ceiling lighting for visibility to subtle wall sconce lighting for a soft glow. String lights, chandeliers, and lanterns add perfect ambiance when entertaining especially. Integrate dimmers for better lighting control and consider motion detector lights for safety near driveways and doors.
Softening Outdoor Spaces
Blend hard surfaces like concrete floors with softer organic surfaces like surrounding landscape and lawn. Soften porch spaces with cushions, pillows, and outdoor rugs. Decide what sort of space you would like the porch to be—fun, relaxing, eventful, sleepy, etc. Then select a textile color palette that supports those emotions.
Man-Made Meets Mother Nature
Just off the porch, you are surrounded by nature’s beauty. Find ways to marry the two spaces creating a seamless transition. Mix natural furnishings like teak wood with colorful painted wood and metal dining chairs. Add groupings of potted plants to porch spaces and blur the lines between man-made and mother nature.
Porches are for Perching
Seating is a very important element of porch design. First, consider what types of activity you plan to do on the porch, and then design seating accordingly. Aesthetics, function, and comfort will all play a role in finding the perfect seat.
Rockers, loungers and adirondack chairs all provide simple places to perch. Grouping two to four single chairs is recommended. Including cocktail tables between chairs is handy for holding beverages and other small items. Outdoor sofas and daybeds are more suitable seating options for moonlit movie nights and afternoon napping. Oversized swings are another fun choice, especially for children. Dining tables and chairs are usually reserved for back patios where meals are more commonly enjoyed.
Everything Home can help you design the perfect porch. Contact us to learn how we can elevate your outdoor living experience!
Happy Home. Happy Life.
