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75 Best Front Porch Decorating Tips for Making the Dreamiest Space Ever
Inviting guests for an outside visit? These ideas will pretty up your porch with ease.
There's no better feeling than the start of porching season. Whether it's first trips to the gardening center to pick out your fresh blooms, pulling out your favorite outdoor decor, or prepping for all the warm-weather entertaining headed your way, there's just something magical about this time of year. In that spirit, we've pulled together a list of over 70 of our favorite front porch decorating ideas. From finding the perfect containers to flank your front door to our editor-approved tips on making your petite porch feel larger, there's something here for every porch and budget. And, after you're done with the front porch, don't forget to get your screened porch ready—especially as the weather warms up and people want a respite from the heat (and bugs...).
For more porch decorating ideas:
Go for Grand
Since the front porch is the first thing guests will see upon arriving to your house, we're giving you permission to go a little overboard (on scale, on furniture, on everything). Opt for large planters to flank your front door. Fill them with tidy boxwoods for a more prim-and-proper approach, or go for more unkempt greens and spillers to keep things feeling a little humble.
RELATED: Our Best Container Gardening Ideas
Add A Pair of Classic Rockers
The classics are classics for a reason, right? A set of wooden rocking chairs looks great on almost every porch and help create a welcoming, laze-about vibe that is quintessential to front porches. Here, designer Claire Zinnecker surrounded two vintage rocking chairs with freshly planted greens and a wedding ring quilt sewn by her grandmother.
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Go Green
It's no secret around here that we love green. (We mean it! Don't believe us? See below....) So, why not bring it out to the porch? While painted wicker is always in style, painting it green means you'll be blend trendy whims with timeless style.
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Think Outside the Box with Upholstery
Textiles are the perfect way to show off your porching personality. For a subtle country flair, pick something like gingham or a patterned quilt, likethe homeowners did here on their California porch. If your upholstery is graphic, pair it with plain pillows in the same palette to bring the space together.
Lean Into Wood
If you love the look of a classically clean porch but still want seating to enjoy the views, then stick to simple silhouettes made from outdoor-friendly woods such as teak. Even if the silhouettes differ, the common material they share will keep the porch from looking too mismatched.
Set Up a Mini Kitchen Garden
If you're a dedicated green thumb, then you know that every spot—and we do mean every—could use a little greening up. Here, a small potting station acts as a mini kitchen garden with quick-grab herbs and small greens.
RELATED: Everything You Should Know Before Starting an Herb Garden
Accentuate Architectural Features
If your home has unique architectural detailing, such as archways, along the front porch, then your finishes should compliment. Here, designer Erick Espinoza hung geraniums from the arches to draw the eye up.
Rely on a Classic Color Palette
If you aren't sure where to begin on your porch design project, start with a simple color palette. On this Texas porch, varying shades of blue and white set the base while an antique flag hung on the wall provides the proper pop of red. A mix of country patterns, such as gingham and grain sack ticking stripes, add texture.
Bet on Black
If you've gone bold with a black exterior, keep your front porch furnishings neutral. Stick to neutral taupe tones that help bridge moody schemes with softer palettes.
Choose a Candy-Colored Palette
Bright, happy colors instantly boost curb appeal. Here, a pink dutch door pairs perfectly with a white-and-yellow painted metal awning. Choose white furniture for a neutral base, then pile on colorful pillows to complete the palette.
Pick Petite Plants
On smaller porches, you may be tempted to fill the space with larger-than-life plants to make an impact. Instead, try picking plants with smaller silhouettes, like homeowner Bambi Costanzo did here. This allows you to have more plants in the same area and doesn't take up precious walking space by the front door.
Paint Your Floors
Not only are painted floors a quick and easy way to upgrade your existing porch, but they're also on trend. You can keep it simple by washing the space in a single color or mixing it up with dynamic patterns. You also don't have to have wood flors to paint them! Here, a concrete slab got a major upgrade with green paint.
RELATED: Brilliant Ideas for Painted Floors
Bring On the Color
Love an all-white exterior but want to add some color and don't have a ton of room to do so? Take a note from creative Nancy Fishelson! Her longstanding affinity for whites and neutrals doesn't mean she isn't open to pops of color. Happy hydrangeas add just a dash of color when set against her white farmhouse flush with greenery.
RELATED: Best Blue Flowers for Your Garden
Hang Graphic Paddles
If your lakeside porch is in need of a quick spiffying up, try hanging graphic canoe paddles as art! They'll set a happy and welcoming tone right by the front door.
Get the Look
Red Paint Color: Rustic Red by Sherwin-Williams
RELATED: This Lakeside Cabin Has All the Old-School Charm of Summer Camp
Craft a Party-Ready Porch
Get your porch ready for summer parties, last-minute get-togethers, or casual hangouts with rocking chairs, ample storage, and a long table to display food and small bites. Then, set the scene by adding green garland and comfy floor pillows. Be sure to stock your cooler (a wheel barrow also works!) or prep your favorite sangria recipe.
Sculpt Shapely Boxwoods
If you love the look of topiaries flanking the door but don't love all the fuss of having to care for them, go simple. A pair of rounded boxwoods in tall planters adds height and drama without the maintenance required to care for more fanciful topiaries.
Mount a Pile-it-On Peg Rail
Blend beauty and function with a peg rail hung right by the front door. It makes a stylish dumping ground for hats and towels in the summer, and when school rolls around it can easily corral your kids' clutter.
Vary the Height of Your Stair Decor
This idea is perfect for the person who lives to style up seasonal decor up and down their stairs. Instead of relying solely on the stair height to create separate levels, bring in another layer to instantly elevate (both stylistically and physically) your favorite pieces. Here, old stumps hold up vintage lanterns and pumpkins. In the summer, try old coolers or vintage cans!
Create a Feature Path
Lacking the dreamy landscape you've always desired? (It's totally fine to be in a replanting year!) Boost curb appeal by crafting a featured pathway like the one shown here. Choose a mix of materials that contrast with your home's exterior for maximum style power.
Go Vintage with Planters
Terra-cotta pots are lovely, but why not opt for something a little more original? These particular tins once held potato chips, and their bright, cheerful colors make for a beautiful addition to this porch. Fill them with geraniums in summer and mums in fall.
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!
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