Olioboard Inspiration: Preparing your Spring Porch for Enjoyment

 Entry #3338, March 14, 2014

Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Before you were inspired by – ‘Bringing Fresh Spring into your Kitchen Design‘ from Lisa Ketz Cross . Today, I feature Adele Baumann Healey Facebook Olioboard Fan Room group and she helps you get your spring porch ready for entertaining and enjoyment this season.

To see all the past Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration members on Pinterest click here.

Olioboard Inspiration #69

Olioboard Inspiration: Preparing your Spring Porch for Enjoyment –  Adele Baumann Healey

Now is the time of year to start thinking about preparing your porch for future pleasant days and evenings.  Thank goodness!  Not only is it important to plan your porch so it looks inviting and comfortable, but it can really boost the curb appeal of your home.

Get your front porch ready for spring

First, time to cut down and trim those bedraggled looking plants, and you might consider making a plan to add color to the front of your home by planting flowers, or adding bushes with different leaf colors.  Remember to somehow tie the landscape of you yard to the hardscape of your front porch – whether it be with color, style or a certain “personality”.   Does your porch need to be painted or stained?  Now is the time to do it BEFORE moving the furniture and potted plants to their designated spots.

Front door and lighting ideas

Consider splurging on a special front door, or for less cost, paint your door a color that will draw the eye to the front of the home and guide your guests to the entry.  Also, keep the path easy to maneuver by removing or trimming any overgrown bushes or plants.

Lighting is an important consideration for night time guests.  Whether it be lights along the sidewalk or a bright front door light, help them find their way easily and safely.

A small front porch can still offer opportunity to show your home’s personality by adding a small chair or table, a bright rug, some hanging plants, or my favorite – Morning Glories growing along the roof of the porch.  So easy and so striking!  Also, find a little special spot to share your love of art by highlighting your favorite outdoor piece.

And don’t forget to make sure your house numbers are easy to spot.  There are so many styles of numbers to choose from that it should be easy to find some that will compliment your home.

Create an inviting outdoor living area

If you have a large side or back porch, use that opportunity to create an outdoor living area for three of the four seasons.  Comfortable seating, tables, rugs, plenty of lighting and possibly even an outdoor fireplace or heater will give ample opportunity to use that often overlooked space.  Have fun designing an area where your friends and neighbors will want to join you and spend relaxing time with you.  Show your own personality through quirky or special touches.

Always consider the size of the area and the ability people will have to maneuver the space of the porch.  So, although you don’t want to crowd the area, an empty porch can make the home feel much less inviting or welcoming.

Time to pull out those photos of your dream porch and making it a reality, and before you know it, the weather will cooperate and it will be time to enjoy that dream.

About Adele Baumann Healey

I am a mother of two and a grandmother of 4. Our family was a member of the military for 21 years and lived all over the U.S and in Europe, moving 13 times in 19 years. While residing in Germany, we travelled constantly (my little kids in tow in our old V.W. camper) and I absorbed, through osmosis, the many historical attributes of architecture and design. Even in the U.S. it was a learning experience to see how the many people I met decorated and used their creative skills, each influenced by the environment in which they were living. Simply put, when you move so much and live in so many types of residences it was always a challenge to achieve a homey place for your family to grow and be nurtured. What was my biggest challenge to make into a home? An old TB ward of an empty, Army hospital building! Follow Adele as Redadie on her Olioboard profile and Facebook profiles.

For more Olioboard ideas on Stagetecture, click here.