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Sunday, February 24th, 2019

Uttermost Lamps and Lighting Nashua 4 Light Wooden Lantern Pendant 22050
Big or small, the front porch is often just a dream for a lot of homeowners. Perhaps you are one of those who – for the longest time – wanted to have a front porch where you would welcome your friends and neighbors over.
But, is the front porch meant to be used only during the summer months? What happens with the rest of the year when the sun’s not as bright and cheerful?
First, the Porch Maintenance
A porch that you can use all year round needs to be safe, to begin with. Prior to planning the décor that will be used in the porch, you need to thoroughly inspect the porch.
See if there are any broken boards. If you weren’t dutiful enough to maintain the porch in the previous months, then it could show some signs of damage by now. Make the necessary repairs which would cost around $1,350.
Another safety feature that you need to carefully inspect is the railing. This is a part of your porch that will prevent accidents and falls. The front porch that stands higher than 30” should have no less than a 36” railing.
Find out what the local codes require, though.
Remember that you can design the front porch so it does not become an eyesore. Instead, you can beautify it to even help improve your home’s curb appeal.
A wooden porch railing should also be up to code. Give this railing a fresh coat of paint. White’s a wonderful option if you want the porch to have a classic look.
You could also replace the wooden spindles with wrought iron or any metallic material. Doing so will give the porch a more contemporary look.
Enjoy the Evenings with Correct Porch Lighting
One other feature that will ensure the safety in your porch is the correct lighting fixture. You will clearly see the improvement once the lights are properly placed. You could begin by enhancing the overall look of the porch railing.
Use string bulbs to line the railings. This is an incredible look that will increase the rustic appeal of your home.
A trendy lantern would also be a nice addition as would wall sconces.
Pick the Porch Furniture
As soon as you know that your porch is in excellent condition, then you can begin shopping for furniture. You should also immediately include the decorative elements that would complement the theme.
Compared to decks, the front porch has chair requirements. So put a chair or a two with a small table if there’s still ample space. If you want to put a wooden rocking chair there for a more classic look, then go ahead. This is also an ultra-comfortable chair so you get two features with just one seating unit.
How about a porch swing? There are a lot of sizes to choose from. If this isn’t for you, then you can always invest in a bench.
Porch Décor
When you’ve decided which furniture pieces to buy, then it’s time to decorate. This is one of the more fun parts of porch design. Put cushions and pillows to add color to your porch. You can also use an outdoor area rug to add a little pattern and texture to the whole ensemble.
And since you’re about to decorate an outdoor zone, there must also be decorative plants. Use planters and large plant stands that will beautify the porch further. Add flowering plants for more pops of bright colors.
The Fall Porch
Use fall shades such as orange, reds and browns to replace the bold colors that were used during spring and summer. Get rid of the flowery patterns, too, and replace them with the bright pumpkins instead.
The Christmas Porch
A lot of homeowners never use the porch during winter. It could get too cold to enjoy any scenery so the first thing that you need to do is to cover the furniture. You can have them stored for the rest of the cold season.
You can replace the furniture with a Christmas tree that’s adorned with fairy lights and garlands. Use the planters for your winter greens and reds.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, porch design, porch design elements, porch maintenance, porch style
Posted in Architectural Elements, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Outdoors Style | Comments Off on The All-Year-Round Porch
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