Turn your front porch into both an inviting space and a style statement with these tips from a local design professional
By Jaime Simpson
Nothing says summer like sitting on the front porch with an ice-cold lemonade or sweet tea in hand and a soft breeze on your face. The front porch is a place of comfort: it can be a gathering spot for conversation and laughter, as well as a place for peaceful reflection. It’s where neighbors can wave hello when passing by or stop and sit a while.
I’ve lived in many places, having a father that was in the Navy, and I have a multitude of memories of our various porches. Our family spent a lot of time out there: chatting, reading, watching the fireflies, stargazing, enjoying our various communities.
Decorating a front porch solidifies that feeling of home. Whether a straight walkway up to the door, or an extensive wraparound, gathering pieces of furniture and décor can give your front porch a unique personality and presence.
Here are a few tips for making your front porch feel cozy yet put-together.
First Things First: Furniture
Seating for two to four people is ideal for a porch. When possible, arrange the seating toward each other to encourage conversation. Incorporating side tables or trays provides a place for drinks and snacks.
It is important to consider the materials for outdoor furniture as well. Look for pieces meant for outdoor use so they will withstand the elements (and the sea air, especially if your home is close to the water).
Seating with movement such as rocking chairs, gliders and swings is always a winner. These pieces should be arranged so that there is enough area for them to slide and swing without hitting adjacent furniture or railings.
Cushions with tie attachments or removable covers make cleaning more convenient. Nesting tables are wonderful for their flexibility, and they can be placed throughout the space when needed and then stacked away. Cocktail tables are also a nice addition if space allows.
For porches that get lots of sun, it is best to stay with medium to lighter tones for hard surface materials and to avoid metal; dark tones and metal will absorb more heat from the sun and can be uncomfortably hot to the touch.
Décor, Lighting and More
Décor helps further personalize your porch and create a connection between the porch and the style of the interior of your home. Accessories help establish a full color palette, while layers add visual interest and create a feeling of a living space.
It is important to also look for décor items made with fabrics and materials meant for the exterior for longevity. Accent pillows are a wonderful way to add color and pattern. Wall décor pieces (if possible, depending on your home’s exterior material) bring the eye up and help connect the furnishings to the structure.
Outdoor rugs bring color and softness and help ground the seating area. Runners are a great option if space is limited. And, of course, the front door is a year-round opportunity for a wreath or other hanging feature.
Exterior light fixtures are not only important for visibility and safety, but they are also lovely additions visually and can enhance the style of the space. Freestanding lanterns provide a lovely glow when softer lighting is desired.
String lights come in an array of sizes and styles and provide a more dispersed (yet still soft) light source. Solar options are also available if an outlet is not convenient.
The Power of More Plants
In my humble opinion, every porch should have a plant or two (or 10). Having multiple levels of plants (low, medium, and high) helps to connect them to the surrounding furnishings and to the home itself.
Before heading to the garden center, it’s good to take a few days to see how the sun rises and sets over your home this time of year, to see how much, and for how long, the sun shines on your porch. This will help direct the types of plants that will flourish in your space.
Ferns, impatiens and begonias prefer part shade; geraniums, million bells, petunias and lantana prefer full sun. Be sure to check about the watering needs for the plants you are interested in as well. Many will need to be watered daily in the hottest weeks of summer. All plant containers should have drainage to prevent water from sitting in the base and affecting the roots.
Hanging plants are the staple of porches, though it isn’t always possible to hang them from above depending on the ceiling or soffit material. Plants can also be hung from brackets attached to the exterior wall or to posts.
Freestanding shepherd’s hooks can be placed throughout the porch area. It’s best to use a plant that will drape a bit so that the fullness shapes around the basket such as ferns, petunias or million bells.
Placing potted plants and flowers of various sizes on the sides of the porch steps creates an inviting entry. Flower boxes along a railing are perfect for smaller plants and flowers, and they provide an opportunity for a mix of draping and vertical plants—known as “thrillers, fillers, and spillers.”
Topiaries are another way to incorporate plants at the top of the steps or on either side of the main door. Plant stands of varying heights allow for plants and flowers to be included within the furniture grouping
The front porch is such an important part of home; it is where the welcome happens. It’s the link between outside and in, while still being a place all its own. It’s definitely a place I like to be.
Learn more at creativendcurated.com.
Jaime Simpson
Jaime Simpson is an interior designer and the owner of Creative and Curated, LLC. She has been in the industry for 20 years, loves all things design, creates mixed media artwork and nature photography, teaches and choreographs ballet.Learn more at creativeandcurated.com.
