Spring Front Porch Refresh Ideas
Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash
Spring is in the air! The sun is shining, birds are singing, and warming temperatures are on the way — finally! Get ready for spring with a refresh of your home’s front porch. Bright light, fragrant greenery, and vibrant colors bring visitors to your door and, at the same time, boost the property’s curb appeal.
Depending on where you live, it’s almost a certainty that weather can play a part in what you’re able to leave outside — even under a covered porch. Still, no matter what strikes your fancy, you’re sure to find affordable ways to spruce up your home’s entryway this season.
Clean, Stain, Paint
Refreshing your front porch starts with a deep scrub down — add this task to your spring cleaning checklist. Power wash the deck, stairs, and railings ... the porch is sure to be dirty after a long winter.
Paint or stain wooden portions of the porch, stairs, railings, and trim. Polish and shine light fixtures, door knobs, handles, and doorbell buttons. Replace the house numbers — large modern address numbers are easier to see from the street.
Theme Dream
Choosing a theme for your front porch helps to keep you from buying things you really don’t need. Decide what you want to show off ... perhaps nautical ocean-seaside décor? Your favorite sports team? How about a “zoo” full of animals?
Whatever the layout, remember that it’s the first thing onlookers will see when they look at your house — don’t overdo it. But planning a simple theme before hitting the stores is a strategy to stick with.
Furnishing With Furniture
When it comes to furnishing the front porch, the possibilities are practically endless. Solid bright hues, pastels, and various prints puff up outdoor upholstery. Stripes, stars, diamonds and other geometric shapes spice things up, too. (Tip: To keep mold at bay, all fabrics should be suitable for outdoor use and stored inside during wet weather.)
Outdoor loveseats, wicker chairs, and accent tables give a home-like feel to the front porch. Take a swing on a hanging chair or bench.
Greens and Colors
Hanging baskets of colorful flowers, leafy ferns, fragrant miniature strawberries, and pungent herbs brighten up your front porch. Add a few suncatchers for colorful light to stream through.
More Ideas
Dried florals bring a bit of “vintage” to the décor.
Planters, urns, decorative umbrella stands, and flower pots are cost-efficient adds.
Hang a floral wreath on the door for a fresh Spring feel.
Outdoor (battery-operated) candles show off faux-flickering stems.
Door mats have evolved over the years. Along with “welcome,” (or instead of it), door mats have various messages and graphics. Order a welcome mat with your name or initial or family crest.
Hang a mirror under the porch so that visitors can primp a bit before entering your house.
Second-Hand Treasures
Shopping at antique and second-hand stores can save you a few dollars (and the planet at the same time) — and you never know what you’ll find! Reusing perfectly-good items for your home décor means less wear-and-tear on Mother Earth. Environmental benefits of thrift shopping include cutting back on waste, reducing the need for packaging and transportation of new products, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to production.
Yard Refresh
A spring refresh of the front yard allows visitors to see your well-maintained property in one glance. Mow, edge, weed, fertilize, water, and re-seed, as necessary.
The time for mowing the yard this spring is when soil temperatures warm up to about 50 degrees (or higher) for cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, ryegrass). Warm-season grasses (St. Augustine, Bahia, Zoysia, Bermuda, Buffalo, etc.) must have soil temperatures around 65 to 70 degrees. Soil thermometers are available at your local garden store.
After a long, dreary winter, we’re all ready for the sunshine, fresh air and a new outlook — changing “old” into “new” is a good start. Start with the front porch and then venture forward. Bright light is waiting!
About the Author
Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.