Budget Front Porch Summer Refresh
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Are you looking forward to enjoying your front porch this summer? With my porch looking a little tired and my budget being minimal, I needed a plan. This year I decided I would actually like to use the space for more than just for a pass-through to my front door.
Front Porch Plan...Repairs, Paint, and Decor...
There was a rotten floor board that needed replacing, and the entire floor needed to be stained to make it last a few more years. Also, a fresh coat of paint on the posts, railing and pergola would spruce it up. I have plans to replace them with beams in the future, but that probably won’t happen this year. Over the years I have collected an assortment of furniture and accessories for inside and out. Repurposing what I already had was the name of the game. Finally, I had to get some flowers and lights.
Front Porch Floor Refinishing...
Touching Up the Paint...
Because I didn’t think I would get new posts this year I decided to paint the posts, railings and balusters white. The Christmas lights finally came down. As you may already know from my previous post, I painted the exterior house siding and trim last year. I noticed a few little spots that needed touching up.
Front Porch Furniture...
Last year I didn’t get around to putting up my porch swing. I had taken it down to repaint and ran out of time to get it up. My son made this for me when he was in high school and I’ve had to move it to every new home since then. I was glad that I actually had a place to put it here. In my collection of stored furniture I also had a wicker coffee table I’ve had for over thirty-five years. A small metal industrial shelf stand has been brought out to hold some plants and decor.
Front Porch Accessories...
Now comes the fun part of doing a front porch refresh…bringing in the accessories and decorating.
I “inherited” some curtains from a previous tenant and thought they would be perfect to provide some shade and privacy. Tie-backs were made from a remnant of an old shower curtain.
Three blue seat cushions, purchased a few years ago fit on the swing. I made cushion covers with some aqua fabric my mother had given me for some extra cushions I had.
I repaired my butterfly chimes that my granddaughter gave me for Christmas one year.
The “Butt out” ashtray stand I bought almost a decade ago, got some new paint to freshen it up. I used a gift card from Homesense to buy the “Home Sweet Home” door mat.
On my metal shelves I put a cement bust of Apollo that I got at a discount store many years ago for $3.00. A round wood and wicker tray came from Value Village for $5.00.
Finally I wanted to hang some type of art on the brick wall behind the swing. Keeping in mind my tight budget, I shopped my home first and then looked in thrift stores. I found this sun and moon metal wall art at Dollarama for $5, but it was a little too small. While looking in my shop for items I could use for a DIY, I found an old ceiling medallion. With some left-over silver paint and PL construction glue I attached the two to made it bigger. My hubby had a drill bit for the brick wall and hung the sign and medallion for me.
Lighting for Ambiance...
Since I removed the Christmas lights, I thought I should get some type of patio lights for evening ambiance. I found these at Giant Tiger on sale for $14.50, but had to go back for a second set. Unfortunately the second set didn’t work so I had to exchange them. A few of the balls fell off, but I was able to glue them back in and, voila…they work.
Finally...the plants...
Now… I am not a gardener, but this year I am really going to try and keep my flowers alive. There are two new hanging planters and two “window” boxes. I already had the brackets for the window boxes, and several assorted plant pots. I used a store credit at a local garden store to buy all my annual flowers. My geraniums from last year survived inside and are doing fine.
Potting soil was the only other expense I had and I have to say that I learned the hard way that the type of soil you use is important. Not all dirt is created equal.
Enjoy your front porch oasis this summer.
You can watch the video below...
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