Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting

Here are 5 budget-friendly ways to give your porch a makeover in time for warmer days

Karen Mills February 24, 2018

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Spring is just around the corner — is your porch ready? One of the best things the shifting season brings is the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy the changing weather. Here are five ways to make your porch a more inviting place to do just that.

CM Glover

1. Bring in vintage or repurposed furniture. If you don’t already have comfortable furniture on your porch, you’ll want to get some in time to take advantage of the lovely spring weather — and you can do this on a budget. This Washington, D.C., porch features a vintage daybed that does double duty as an outdoor sofa. An industrial platform truck serves as a coffee table.

Keep in mind, though, that if you purchase an older sofa it’s simplest to buy one with fabric and cushions that you don’t need to replace. Re-covering a sofa can get pricey; in Kansas City, where I live, rates start at $600 for cushion labor, plus fabric costs (and my town is relatively low-cost compared to other cities). A good general rule is to expect to spend as much re-covering a piece as you would purchasing a new, comparable piece — so you’d be smart to scout for something in satisfactory condition. If you search long enough, you’ll have a good chance of finding that bargain.

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Kayla Stark

Another great option is adding a collection of rockers for your porch. Just think of rocking with a book or cool glass of lemonade! On this New Orleans porch, a row of vintage rockers creates a pleasing line across the shuttered windows and provides an inviting place to sit and watch the world go by. No worries if you can’t find matching used chairs or rockers. You could purchase several that have a similar scale and style and then paint them all the same color to create a cohesive look.

Francis Dzikowski Photography Inc.

2. Provide sufficient lighting. Though it often can be overlooked, lighting is a key element of a porch, particularly if you like to sit and read in the evening. In this photo, a striking black chandelier creates a dramatic contrast against the porch’s white walls and ceiling. Similar fixtures can be found at flea markets, thrift shops and resale stores, such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. You might even consider painting a fixture to get the look you want. Unless you are fully confident in your ability to install a lighting fixture, you’ll probably want to hire an electrician. This can be an investment of a few hundred dollars, but the safety is well worth the cost.

Find an electrician near you

Corynne Pless

Here, industrial-style sconces and a strand of string lights provide a wonderful ambiance after dark in this home in Alabama. When searching for the right string lights, consider the size you’ll need for your space and whether you’ll need more than one strand. Candles — especially flameless ones for safety — are another great potential source of light for your nighttime porch.

Adrienne DeRosa

3. Make your porch feel like a room with an outdoor rug. A patterned rug layered on the floor of this Ohio porch helps unify the furnishings and color scheme, while adding a layer of texture and warmth to the space. A rug is something nice to purchase new, since dirt and wear can show up on these pieces over the years. If you prefer to purchase a used rug, I recommend you hold out for one that is in nearly new condition. Plenty of owners either hardly use their things or take excellent care of their items so that they age well.

Browse outdoor rugs

Adrianna Beech

4. Incorporate color and texture with containers. A pot of green hydrangeas creates a beautiful touch of nature on this porch. Adding plants and greenery is one of the simplest ways to refresh your outdoor room to bring in life and texture. Pots and plants can be purchased at a variety of prices, so look around to find a good deal.

Porch Life: 12 Ways to Beautify a Porch With Plants

CM Glover

5. Add layers of decor like you would for indoors. What can really make an outdoor porch feel like a comfortable sitting spot are the layers of decor you’d also see indoors — things like pillows and accessories. For example, on this Maryland porch the oversize clock and clear jar vase contribute to a beautiful design.

You can find similar items at flea markets, thrift stores or garage sales. I found my vintage rolling cart for only $35 when driving past a yard sale in a rural area. Look for serving trays, outdoor toss pillows and colorful cushion seats to bring style and energy to your spring porch.

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