My Summer Porch Reveal

I couldn’t wait any longer! Since the weather was warming up it was time to get my porch ready for summer. More importantly, I want to discuss how, despite not being able to afford newer things, you can still have an attractive display in front of your home using hand-me-downs and old weathered decor. No, it doesn’t look outdated or old depending on how you use them. Scroll down to see how I reused all my old planters, pillows and furniture this year.

The key is finding classic items in multiple styles. Because of the design of my home I have a mix of gray, tans, black & white and creams. I didn’t want to commit to one so I spread it all over the porch so it looks balanced. For pops of color, think in odd numbers when spreading your hues around. I usually stick with 3 or 5 of the same color spread out (as long as your area isn’t too large).

This year, I went for a more comfortable, cheery, romantic vibe. It’s not full and lush yet. My plants still have some growing to do. To save on costs I bought smaller flowers and will Miracle Grow them so they get really full and lush. My flower colors are pink, violet and white. I brought in succulents because of their slate tones (similar to my front door) and violet tones.

I really like how these cooler tones stand out against the red brick.

I’ve had my doormats for 4 years. This might be their last summer! They are starting to fall apart from lots of kid traffic.

For the bottom mat, every year I flip it over so the pattern doesn’t fade as quickly. It used to have black pinstripes. Now, it’s more like tan pinstripes. That’s okay, because I think it still works.

The lanterns I’ve had for 7 years. I got them from Target. They are starting to rust, but for the price and how long they’ve lasted, I don’t mind it.

The wicker loveseat and table were hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law. They are 16 years old, if you can believe it. The little thin black stand next to it is 17 years old.

The pillows are a mix of DIY, old and new. To see how I made the lumbar pillows from a tea towel click here. I like to switch out my pillows from year to year so there’s a little variety.

The large black & white striped pillow I found at Home Goods 5 years ago. The other two black & white pillows I purchased from Target on sale last year.

Right after I was given the loveseat, I picked up these chairs from Ikea, spray painted them the same color as the loveseat so they’d coordinate.

The soft teal planters (7 years old) have been knocked over so many times from strong winds, I’m amazed they aren’t broken, yet (knock on wood). Maybe they’ll last a bit longer! 😉

The chairs are antiques that have been painted so many times, I think the layers of thick paint are stronger than the wood. I found those in the basement at our first house in Minneapolis. The house was built in 1896, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how old they might be.

The table and bench are 6 years old from Ikea.

If you aren’t able to buy more mature potted flowers you can always plant seeds indoors in your old egg cartons and then replant outside. We are doing that to save on costs for our landscaping. It takes longer, but it’s been really fun having our boys involved in the process. They’ve learned so much, and they’ve actually been a huge help.

If you can believe it, my 11 year old and 14 year old marked and dug up all the sod in this area by themselves. We just discovered they love landscaping. Jackpot! We love that they saved us a ton of work.

I LOVE gardens! My very favorite book is The Secret Garden. It’s been a goal of mine to create gardens around my home since before I was a homeowner. Since my visit to the gardens around Claude Monet’s home (Giverny, France) I have been obsessed with gardening even more. So, little by little, I plant and split and hope that one day my home will be that lush and romantic; my very own Secret Garden.

Because of the old items on my porch, it feels more traditional and shabby chic. That wasn’t my goal when I started, but I do enjoy where it’s at now!

I love mixing old with new. I love layering new plants and flowers. It’s slow going, but it’s a labor of love. It makes me appreciate what I have so much more. I so enjoy the journey.

What are your outdoor landscaping plans this year? Do you plant seedlings in egg cartons to save on gardening costs?

XO,

Melessa