A front porch is an open invitation to neighbors to stop by, sit down and relax

When decorating front porches, give your porch that welcoming look by following these decorating tips

A porch is a transitional space. Porches offer the best of both worlds: the sights, scents and sounds of nature along with the comfort of inside living. No matter what style you choose when decorating front porches, it should be relaxed and inviting. Comfort is the key element in porch decorating.

Treat your front porch as an outdoor room. Use the same design elements outside as you would use inside the home. Comfortable seating, good lighting, carefully chosen accessories and art will all help to make your front porch memorable.

Porch Furniture

Whatever you choose for seating, the first thing you should consider is comfort. Nothing is more aggravating than seating you can't get up from gracefully. Sure it's great to sink into that huge Papa-San chair or the cutesy bean bag seat. But remember, people have to get out of them. Be especially aware of this if you have elderly friends or family who enjoy sharing your porch with you. Wicker sofas and chairs, lovingly restored, with cheerful colorful cushions or upholstery, are a natural choice for front porch furniture. Bentwood rockers and metal tables and chairs are also good choices that can sustain heat and humidity. If you have the room, be sure to make room for the classic piece of front porch furniture, the all time favorite hanging swing.

If you have a hodge-podge of furniture but would like a more unified look, consider spray painting everything one color. Use a high quality exterior paint and take the time to clean everything throughly before painting. You will be amazed at how quickly your porch starts to take on that decorator look, simply by coordinating your various pieces of furniture with one color.

Of course you can use any piece of wood furniture on your porch. Just be sure it isn't something you would worry about ruining out in the heat and humidity. Even if you plan to bring it back into the house every time you use it, there's always that one time when you forget or are away and a huge, windy thunderstorm comes up unexpectedly. It's so much easier to have casual relaxed porch furniture that you can just put into place and forget about.



Porch Flooring

Most front porches have the original flooring as a base. Painted with a high gloss deck enamel, they look good with just a quick sweeping. If you'd like to do something different, consider stenciling a pattern right onto the wood as you paint. You could do the black and white rectangular pattern that resembles marble flooring. You could stencil a border to look like old time floor cloths. Or you could just stencil an all over geometric or floral pattern.


If you would like to separate your seating areas, linoleum is still available in standard sizes such as 6X8 or 10X12 sizes. Area rugs are also a choice as is indoor/outdoor carpeting. Canvas floor cloths are also well suited to porches.

Protect Yourself From Noonday Sun

As much as we enjoy being outside, sometimes the hot summer sun can be brutal. Roll up shades whether cotton, bamboo or canvas, are easy to install. Blinds allow the greatest degree of sun control because they can be opened or shut as needed. Curtains can be used outside on a porch as well as inside. These can be hung on drapery rods installed at the top of the porch overhang and can be opened and pulled closed as needed.

Accessories for the Front Porch

The most natural of accessories for the porch is a plethora of plants. Since the porch is a transition area, it makes sense to use nature's gifts as a unifying element between the inside and outside of your home. This is a great place to let your imagination run wild. All kinds of fun and funky containers can be used as planters. An old leather hiking boot makes a great container for small cactus plants. Galvanized pails and watering cans add to the porch ambiance as do all types of old time farm tools and kitchenware items.

If your porch is more formal, mismatched tea cups, china teapots and vases rescued from yard sales can be containers for small plants and flower arrangements.

Birdhouses, windchimes, scented oil burners and tabletop water fountains are a few more accessories you could consider.

Art on the Front Porch

Because the porch is outside, don't think you have to live without art. The outside walls of the house make a great place for an art gallery. It is usually sheltered and so you can use this as a display area. Florals, landscapes, inexpensive watercolors can all be used here. If you have a great view, hang a large mirror to reflect and accent it.

Front Porch Lighting

Outside lighting is as important as it is inside. You can install wall lighting on the outside wall of your home. If this is one of the things you are considering, be sure to include dimmers in your installation plans. Nothing says pleasure and romance more than a dimly lit atmosphere. Lamps on end tables make reading outside on beautiful nights a pleasure. A variety of candles can also be used either on tables or in wall scones.

What do You Want From Your Porch?

Think of your porch as an outside room and you'll be inspired to do some quick decorating. A porch can be fun and quirky or formal and serene. It can be whimsical, cozy or a natural retreat. It can be a reader's paradise or the neighborhood gathering place.

Think of the end result you are striving to achieve and work backward from your vision. When you decorate your front porch to suit your needs and preferences, you may find yourself using and enjoying it every chance you get.