Easy, fun ways to jazz up your front porch
It doesn’t have to cost a bundle and is a great way to show personality
Spring has sprung and it’s like we are emerging into a new world.
One of the best ways to do this is through home décor. Nancy O’Halloran, from Kentville, N.S., 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 have no interest, says O’Halloran. Regardless of your personality, there are things that everyone can easily do.
While some people only have a front door and steps, others have a porch. Everyone, says O’Halloran, can be included in the decorating trend.
As owner of Braveheart First Aid, O’Halloran says safety is always priority when decorating. This year, it’s predicted there will be an increase in hurricanes, so be sure that whatever you put outside for decorations is well tied down, she says.
“Whatever you do for decorating, it needs to suit weather of the location,” says O’Halloran.
She has two main suggestions to easily spruce up a front porch.
“I love a wreath. I love a mat. Those are musts,” she says.
SEASONAL WREATHS
Wreaths on doors are underrated, says O’Halloran, noting how a wreath can say a lot and really change the look of the door. It can be as simple as twigs or fake flowers or, if you’re not crafty, there are plenty that can be purchased. Wreaths make the door pop and states who you are while welcoming people to come in.
MATS
A door mat is a must, says O’Halloran.
The trend now, she says, is to layer them 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 mats. This will help ensure the mats won’t blow away and people won’t trip.
SPECIAL REFURBISHING
Find something junky from the garage or basement and refurbish and repurpose it as a décor 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.
When it comes to figuring out what colours to use, O’Halloran suggests getting advice from the local paint store. Take something you like that is the colour you like and ask the paint store to match it.
Ask them 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 for that year.
PRETTY 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.
You can also go for something green and earthy. Grow tomatoes, ferns, basil, or mint in a pot on your porch, she suggesst. As an added benefit, they smell nice when you walk by.
You can also use fake plants in pots from the dollar store among the real plants to fill them out a bit. This is less maintenance and using them as filler makes things look better.
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 hand 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, 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 décor items online via social media. 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.
Some, though, she does keep, 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 for spring, or any time of year, O’Halloran says, there should be no judgment. It’s just one person’s expression of creativity.