Ready for small porch decorating ideas? No matter how palatial or tiny your porch is it should always be welcoming and happy and show off a bit of your personality! My little front porch is ready for summer and today I’m sharing decorating ideas to make your porch its best no matter what the season!
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Today I’m joining some of my blogging friends to participate in a PINTEREST CHALLENGE hosted by Cindy at Country Road 407. Thank you Cindy for including me! And if you are coming from Cindy’s beautiful porch, welcome! So glad you are here!
Here is the beautiful Pinterest image Cindy chose for us to put our own spin on! This is from Bria Hammel Interiors. Bria’s porch is country perfection!!!!
I’ve been so inspired by her porch that I wanted to create a pretty front porch space too! One big take away from this challenge is that no matter what the size of a front porch it can be a beautiful welcoming area of your home!
The Tanglewood house has a small front porch with really good bones! And to make it unique and welcoming it did not take much doing!
But my personal challenge was to add beauty, function, and my personality to a space that is quite small!
MY FRONT PORCH DECORATING MUSINGS
I have learned a lot by having a small porch. When we first moved here I thought there wasn’t a lot of fabulous small porch decorating ideas I could call on to make my tiny porch look amazing. But I was wrong.
I have learned that there are as many great ideas for decorating a small porch as a large one. You just need to keep a couple things in mind.
First you can love all the porch decorating ideas but you can’t use them all at the same time! Sorta self explainatory!
And second, scale and proportion is very important especially when it comes to decorating a small front porch!
Not bragging, but you can find my post with great explanations for SCALE AND PROPORTION and how to use them when you decorate. It takes one of the basic elements of design that can be quite confusing and simplifies it!
THE BEST SMALL PORCH DECORATING IDEAS BEGINS HERE!
Keeping a clean and well maintained front door and porch is probably the best thing you can do to make a positive impact on your porch no matter how big or small!
Keep a small (or large) front porch tidy!
I like to define “tidy” as
- clean
- no clutter
- nice paint
We live out in the country. And believe me we see it all! Fabulously maintained homes and some that are quite an eye sore! So when we are driving we often comment about how “tidy” a house looks. And that is a compliment! So tidy for us has come to be neat and nicely maintained!
One big advantage of having a small front porch is that is is so easy to keep looking clean!
ADD SOMETHING SPECTACULAR TO YOUR FRONT DOOR
Nothing makes an instant impact like something spectacular on your front door especially if you have a small front porch!
Our eyes will go right to the front door if there is a wreath or basket or some other focal point on it!
For summer our front door has a big French inspired basket filled with red and pink geraniums hanging on it. You just can’t miss it! I adore red and pink together!
No matter the size of your porch and the time of the year, make your front door the focal point!
This spring I also added a little “hello” to the door! It’s a cheery welcome for sure!
You can see this super easy diy and some cute things to add to your door by going to…
HOW TO APPLY A FRONT DOOR DECAL
ADD A PIECE OF FURNITURE
Adding something that can loosely be classified as furniture helps to add visual weight and interest to a porch. Even a small front porch!
I tried a few pieces of outdoor furniture here before we settled on this bench. First I added one of our rockers to the porch but it really did not fit into this space well. Then we tried a backless bench with a rattan seat. I could see we were headed in the right direction but I needed something (like the back of this bench) against the stone wall to give it more presence and visual weight.
It took months to find this little lattice back bench. Our specifications were very restricted. It had to be an outdoor bench even though we have a covered porch, and it had to be short and narrow. You can see it HERE.
It not only fills the space but adds a bit of practicality too! I can add a basket of flowers in the summer or a pumpkin and my Antique Buchanan wool throw in the fall! And my Amazon packages can be neatly stacked on it!
Adding an attractive piece of outdoor furniture is one of the best small porch decorating ideas I can give you because it will dramatically change the whole look of your porch!
Here are some other furniture or architectural ideas for a small front porch…
- stool with a pot of flowers on it
- backless bench
- chair
- rocker
- table
- planter
- crates
- swing
ADD A SHOUT OUT TO THE SEASON
Adding a nod to the season is an easy and so pretty way to decorate a porch!
Pumpkins in the fall. Evergreens at Christmas. Planters of blooming bulbs in the spring. And lots of pretty, colorful annuals in the summer!
For summer I added three planters of vibrant, colorful annuals. The tall architectural planter on the right side of the porch balances the bench on the left side and is filled with shade loving plants. The planter does not get any direct sun.
These fast growing annuals will fill this planter and spill over it in no time!
The large round self-watering planter gets sun until about 3:30 every day so it is filled with sun loving summer annuals! I’m thinking of this planter as my front porch cutting garden!
I added a big round architectural piece to this container. I’ve had this and other one like it for years. The rustier they get the more I like them! As the flowers get larger the ribs will help support the taller blooms.
The last nod to the summer season is a basket of annuals on the bench. This area like the tall pot on the porch does not get sun… at all! So I’ll rotate a few pots of red and pink geraniums to sit on the front porch bench.
PUT DOWN SOMETHING IN FRONT OF THE DOOR
I love the layered look of an indoor/outdoor rug on a porch with a doormat on top of it. If you can, give that a try! It’s a really pretty designer look!
You can find lots of ideas for layering a rug on your porch in the post DRESSING UP A DOORMAT.
For the Tanglewood’s small front porch a rug just was overkill! The brick porch has lots of interest and adding a rug over the brick was just too busy! And hid the pretty brick.
So for now, I’m opting to put a simple, yet “tidy” doormat! Sometimes less IS best!
Make sure to replace your front door mat when it shows signs of wear! Pretty decor is all about paying attention to the details!
ADD YOUR PERSONALITY TO YOUR SMALL PORCH DECOR
An amazing porch should begin and end with YOU! Decorating your porch with things you love and things that show off your personal style makes it a true extension of your home!
No matter the size of your front porch it should feel just right for you!
SAVING THE BEST SMALL PORCH DECORATING IDEA FOR LAST
Okay, now for those of you darling readers who have read this post to the very end I’d like to share my best of the best small porch decorating idea!
It’s all about knowing the style of your home’s exterior and complimenting it with decor.
Here’s what I mean…
While I was shopping for things to put on my front porch I fell in love with a tall galvanized planter that looked like a trough! Oh it was beautiful. But I knew since I no longer lived in a farmhouse in the middle of farmland the trough would look out of place in our classically styled home on a golf course. Even though our home is in the middle of Lancaster County farmland.
So I left it at the nursery! Boo-hoo! I must say I adore farmhouse things. But I am a smart enough decorator to know to “listen to my home”. It’s important to know your home’s style and decorate accordingly. You and your home will be happier! Much happier!
That does not mean that I can’t have a chippy farmhouse watering can on the porch or the rusty iron piece in my big planter. But here’s what it does mean…
- most of the decor on my porch is classic and compliments the style of our home
- the majority of my porch decor looks like it belongs to my home
- I’m not trying to make my home look like something it is not
- there’s a sense of order and beauty when styles work together and don’t fight each other
- when my home feels happy, I am happy
I hope you I have inspired you with lots of small porch decorating ideas today! Now, go get creative and decorate your porch!!!
Next on our tour is my friend Marty from A Stroll Thru Life! I’ve known and loved Marty for 10 years! And please visit all the porches below!
I adore everything in this post! Can you tell us where you found the basket for the door and the blue and white ribbon around it? Thank you!
Hi Maria, thanks so much! You can find all about the basket the the ribbon here:https://www.stonegableblog.com/pretty-and-easy-spring-door-basket-diy/
Very welcoming! I love the addition of the architectural piece to the planter and the front door basket. Are the geraniums in the basket faux? If so where did you get them? They look so pretty.
I love this post. So many inspiring ideas. A question if I may, do you have an issue with wasps or birds building nest in your basket of flowers or wreaths on your door? If so, How do you discourage them?
No wasps, thank goodness. However, the birds love the wreaths and baskets. Add a faux bird to the arrangement and that should take care of birds building their nests there.
Thanks, JoAnn! All the plants are real.
Love your front porch, Yvonne! I have a small front porch this go-around, too. Thank you for introducing me to your black bench. I did go check it out but it is out of stock (probably due to COVID-19 slowing transatlantic deliveries, is my guess). Wonderful ideas and yes, I did read to the very end (always do!). <3
Enjoy your porch and the pretty annuals you have there,
Barb 🙂
Thank you, Barbara! I love that small does not mean insignificant. It is just an opportunity to make that area gorgeous!
Your front porch looks stunning, Yvonne. I love the urn, and the basket wreath just evokes happiness. I’ll bet your neighbors do admire it. Glad to be on this hop with you again!
Hi Crissy! Thanks for stopping by! xo
Thanks, Yvonne, for sharing your tips for a small front porch! They were all great, but I especially liked your last wise tip. I had not thought of that at all! Your planters also gave me some ideas for a front porch refresh! Have a great week!
Hi Teresa, I’m so happy this little post has inspired you! You are a savvy decorator to pay attention to the last tip. Have a happy week too!
I have a front porch similar in size, maybe a foot more on the left. I never thought to put a bench there. I think I may do that this year. I also love the “hello”! Looks so welcoming.
Hi Pamela! We love our little bench. I think the porch would look empty without it!
Where did you get the large black planter on the right?
Hi Janis, the large planter came from Gardener’s Supply. We have two and I cannot say enough good about it! It is self watering and any plants I put in it tend to do so well. The planters are a bit pricy but ours have held up well!
Very eye appealing and welcoming front porch.
What is the paint color on your door and trim?
Hi Sue, I’m not sure! We moved into Tanglewood in October and we are trying to hunt it down. I’ll let you know when we know.
I love door baskets and yours is pretty filled with pink.
Cindy
Thank you Cindy. Many people think I don’t like color! Nothing could be further from the truth!
Of course, you are speaking my language with your small porch ideas, Yvonne! Love all you have done with your little area! I actually did layer the mat on my little porch, and I like how it works, for now! 😉
I really love the layered rug on your porch Julie. And blue with that natural jute is my favorite!
Beautiful door basket Yvonne! So colorfulI, happy and yes welcoming. I’m trying my green thumb this year with geraniums and so far they seem to like me. By the way love the door color and how great it look with the surrounding rock exterior.
HI Michelle, thank you, but we cannot take credit for the door color. Our home came with the door that color! We still don’t know what it is! LOL!
Yvonne your porch is so cute and I love everything about it! I have a small porch or stoop and I can’t
do much. But I could put a very small plant stand I think. I love the pink and red gerainiums together. I usually don’t like pink and red together but yours look sooo pretty!
All so pretty! Really love that architectural piece!! What a great addition!
Kristin, thank you so much!
Hi Yvonne – Thanks for this inspiration! We have a stoop, so we have a teeny-tiny front porch, but you have given me a ton of ideas! You may have already posted this, and I apologize if you have, but can you tell us the color of your front door. Each time I see it, I fall in love with it all over again!
Hi Kristy, you are asking a very popular question today! The answer is I wish I knew!!! We have have asked our neighbor who has the same color and he is trying to find it too! We will get to the bottom of this… I hope!
I really like your front porch the the added touch of the hello is wonderful. Do you know what font that is? Thanks,Sandra
I’m not sure of the font. Go to the link in the post about the “hello”. There is a source for the hello decal. Maybe it says the font in the description. Hope this helps, Sandra!
I have a small front porch too. I love the tips and I love the metal orb in the flower pot.
Looks amazing Yvonne.
laura
Thanks, Laura! LOVE the details on your pretty porch!
Beautiful, Yvonne! I love that front door basket. Such a versatile piece to span the seasons.
Hi Christy. Now that I have a small porch I needed something with a WOW factor on it! You are right I can fill it with seasonal organics!!!
Your front porch is lovely and does fit your home.I especially love the geraniums,I always use them in pots on my porch for a pop of color.
Geraniums do so well in this area and noting gives such a big and saturated pop of color! Thanks!
Fabulous ideas. I have a small porch too and I always feel left out of the decorating fun – especially during the fall. I love your orb in the planter and your bench. Beautiful.
Okay, Katie! We won’t feel left out anymore! Right! Small is beautiful too!
Yvonne I adore your front porch. I too have a very small porch. I love all your tips on creating a beautiful porch and will pin this for when I get ready to decorate my porch this summer. Thanks.
HI Terri, Thank you so much! And thanks so much for pinning!!!
Your Tanglewood House front porch looks gorgeous, Yvonne! I’ll bet that your neighbors are enjoying seeing how you’ve decorated it and admire it as they walk or drive past your home. The bench that you found fits perfectly and I love the two planters that you added to the other side of the front door.
You are so sweet, Paula! Thank you!
Yvonne I absolutely adore this post! I too have a small porch and your tips are brilliant. I love the wee HELLO on the door. Everything is charming.
Hi Laura! Coming from you I treasure your comment. You are an amazing decorator!
Love your front porch decorating. Can you tell me where you got your basket?
Hi JoAnn. YOu can see a link for it in this post:https://www.stonegableblog.com/pretty-and-easy-spring-door-basket-diy/
Thanks for stopping by!
This post is definitely joining my — relaxing, rocking, blooming, swinging, singing, drinking and talking porch board on Pinterest! Thanks for the inspiration!
How adorable Leslie! thanks for pinning! I love my pinners!
You’ve created such a pretty and inviting front porch at your new home. Love that bench and tall planter, they are such pretty pieces to add some architectural character to your porch. Great post with tons of tips to decorate any porch.
Thanks, friend! LOVE your pretty porch too!
Great tips Yvonne. I have just now started to learn to listen to my home and you are so right! We are both happier for it! Love each piece you chose for your porch. It shouts come on in and we’ll all be happier! Thank you so much for joining in. Pinned
THANKS, Cindy! You are an inspiration!!!