Styling the Front Porch – Summer Edition

One of the perks of living in a century old Edwardian home is having a front porch. We moved to this townhouse last year and never thought we would enjoy this space as much as we have been doing, especially since Covid and quarantine.  

It has been the place to start the day- a cup of coffee in hand while listening to the birds sing and taking in the beauty of a sunrise. In the evening, it becomes our place to unwind as we share a glass of bubbly and talk about our day. 

THE BEFORE

When we bought the house, the porch needed some TLC. To begin, the back wall and the ceiling were painted a very dated country yellow – definitely not our vibe. Steve gave them two coats of dark blue grey – a custom color mix that works beautifully with the red brick of our house. 

THE ESSENTIALS

I am one of those people who likes to decorate with the seasons. Hence, this Summer Edition look. These are the decorative elements we added to make our front porch inviting and livable for this season, but not overcrowded. 

AREA RUG

You need a good rug to anchor a space. Ours is an indoor/outdoor area rug that can withstand our Canadian winters. I debated about investing in a good sisal but then figured I would always be stressing about it since the weather can change quite drastically here in Toronto. This area rug is budget friendly and quite soft to the touch – ideal for Mushu who loves to stretch and sleep on it.

SEATING

The bench swing was an unexpected bonus. It was in good shape so we just cleaned it up and added some decorative cushions. We also added two dark grey chairs (not shown) to round up a good conversation area. Having a pouf in such a small space is a bonus: it is extra seating as well as a great surface to prop a book or a tray and it can be moved indoors when the winter hits.

ACCENT TABLE

Any good conversation area needs an accent or small side table where you or your guests can have a place to set your drinks down or use it for decorative accents. Ours is an old one that I had purchased at HomeSense many years ago but does the job quite well for now. 

ACCESSORIES

To make this space warm, inviting and stylish, the addition of decorative cushions and a throw was necessary. It is the easiest way to dress up existing porch furniture. Not only do they provide texture and pattern but also set the tone and style for our space. I plan to switch them out this September, so stay tuned for my Front Porch – Fall Edition. 

To add greenery, color and life to our little space, we added a potted palm tree.

Sources: Indoor/Outdoor Rug in ‘Dove’, White Faux Fur Cushions, Secret Celebrity Tie-Dye Coral Cushion, Seagrass Pouf, Accent Table, Cashmere Throw- Old, Sparkling Rosé Wine, Champagne Glasses

---

Do you have a front porch or patio? Share with us your decor tips and tricks in the comments below…

Thanks for stopping by!