Jazzing up the front porch
It doesn't have to cost a bundle and is a great way to show personality
Nancy O’Halloran loves decorating her front porch for all seasons.
“When it comes to decorating, there are no rules. It needs to express your personality, interests, and budget,” she says.
Some people love to decorate, while others are busy and have no interest, says the Kentville resident. Regardless of your personality, there are things everyone can easily do.
While some people only have a front door and steps, others have an actual porch. Everyone, says O’Halloran, can be included in the decorating trend.
As owner of BraveHeart First Aid, O’Halloran says safety is always on her mind when decorating. This year, it's predicted there will be an increase in hurricanes, so people should be sure that whatever they put outside for decorations is well tied down, she says. Make sure everything is secure, so it doesn’t blow into a car or a neighbour's property.
“Whatever you do for decorating, it needs to suit weather of the location."
O’Halloran has two main suggestions to easily spruce up a front porch.
“I love a wreath. I love a mat. Those are musts,” she says.
WREATHS
Wreaths on doors are underrated, says O’Halloran, noting how a wreath can say a lot and really change up the look of the door.
It can be as simple as twigs or fake flowers or, if you're not crafty, there are plenty of lovely wreaths that can be purchased.
Every door needs a wreath, she says, as it really makes the door pop and states who you are while welcoming people to come in.
MATS
The trend now, she says, is to layer mats by putting one mat down and another over top of it. If you do this, she says to always use two-way tape from the hardware store to secure them. This will help ensure the mats won’t blow away and that people won’t trip. Refurbishing
People are now trying to find something junky from the garage or basement to refurbish and repurpose it as a decor item for the front porch.
Don’t put anything out that is expensive or personal
because it could get moldy or wet, says O’Halloran.
When you do find something to use, just repaint it and give it a pop of a unique colour to make it look as good as new.
COLOUR TRENDS
O’Halloran says she has seen two extreme colour trends this year when it comes to porch decorations. One uses vibrant colours, while the other uses a grey/white/black modern look.
Both are beautiful, she says, pointing out there are no rules and the look needs to reflect your personality.
When it comes to figuring out what colours to use, O’Halloran says to get advice from the local paint store. They can help with what you are trying to express. Take something you like that is the colour you like and ask the paint store to match it. They can make paint colours for whatever you want, she notes.
Ask the paint store workers what they think of your colour choices. You don’t have to take their advice, but it’s good to get outside opinions. You can also find out from them what the trendy colours are.
PLANTS
When putting out plants, O’Halloran says to make sure the pots are secured or glued down for safety reasons.
Then, look at the weather conditions, including the amount of sun you get, before deciding what plants to use at your front entrance.
Although flowers are nice, you don’t have to use them. You don’t have to feel guilty for having flowers that you kill by not watering them or having the wrong plants for the type of sun you have. Instead, go for something green and earthy.
Grow tomatoes, ferns, basil, or mint in a pot on your porch, she suggests. As an added benefit, they smell nice when you walk by.
"Pretty and green is always nice," she says.
You can also use fake plants in the pots from the dollar store among the real plants to fill them out a bit, says O’Halloran. This is less maintenance and using them as filler makes things look better.
"It can be a nice touch," she says.
ENTRANCE
The front door or porch should flow into the main entrance inside the house, says O’Halloran.
The trend now is to have everything simple, minimalistic, and uncluttered. Use baskets and antique or interesting hooks to hang things to keep things off the floor, which makes the space look simple and open, while also being safer and easier to clean.
Consider having something for people to sit on, as well, making the space universally usable for everyone.
STORAGE
Don't have room to store things at the end of season? O’Halloran sells most of her decor items online via social media. This way, she doesn’t have to worry about where and how to store everything.
The money she makes from selling the items goes into a pot to be used for purchasing items for the following year.
By constantly turning over her decor items, she can keep her decor fresh and interesting. She does keep some, and those items are given a fresh coat of paint every year.
If you do keep things in storage, make sure everything is given a good wash and a good clean for spiderwebs before use.
Don’t forget to wash the front windows, too, she adds.
START SMALL
When decorating, remember you don’t have to start big. Try something simple like the mat and wreath and work towards more, one step at a time.
When it comes to decorating a front porch, O’Halloran says, there should be no judgement made. It’s just one person’s expression of creativity.