Life is Better on the Porch: The Joys of Porch Life

Embrace the porch life by creating a relaxing outdoor living space to enjoy with family and friends.

We live in a home built in 1897 with a large front porch. My porch is one of the first things you see when you arrive at my house, so it is important to me that it looks pretty and feels welcoming.

A front porch is about more than just curb appeal. It serves as an extension of your living space, a place to relax at the end of a long day and socialize with family and friends.

For me, the joys of porch life include decorating my porch to make it beautiful and welcoming and enjoying it.

Living the Porch Life

One of our favorite things is to sit out on the porch while enjoying a glass of iced tea and chatting. I also enjoy sipping a cup of coffee in the morning on the porch and listening to the birds.

For centuries, porches have served as an outdoor living room where families could retire and spend time together at the end of a long day. At one time, porch sitting was viewed as a social status. Although mainly a casual activity today, porch life is a lifestyle to be taken seriously by some.

I love to think about how people have enjoyed our porch over the years. Since our home is 125 years old, I am sure there are some stories these walls could tell. I can imagine families and neighbors gathering on the porch to share meals. Maybe playing cards or just sitting around and chatting, much like we do today.

However, that was a different time, and I can’t help but feel that our ancestors’ lives were not as busy as ours are today. As a result, I sometimes find it hard to sit and relax. I always see something that needs work, plants that need watering, or weeds that need to be pulled.

I need to take a lesson from the past and learn to embrace the porch life better. To sit and smell the roses and enjoy the beauty around me more.

Decorating a Porch

One of the biggest joys of porch life is decorating my porch and making it a beautiful and welcoming space.

A front porch is the first thing guests see when they arrive at your home, and if appropriately designed, it can add grandeur and aesthetic value to your home.

Whether you have a front porch, back porch, or screen porch, there are so many ways you can make your outdoor living space cozy and relaxing.

I want to share a few of my favorite tips and pieces from my porch to give you some inspiration for decorating your own space.

Porch Furniture

I love to have fun and eclectic furniture on my porch.

This big black bench was once an old bed frame that a friend turned into a bench for me. The old headboard is at the back of the bench. The sides are the footboard cut in half.

You can see how to make one here: Easy DIY on Making a Bench Out of a Bed Headboard.

Also high on my list of necessities for a porch is a porch swing.

I currently have a wicker porch swing, but I am gearing up to make a bed swing like this:

Check these out!

My friend Rhonda from @Southernhomeandfarm sells these beautiful swings

And my friend Crystal from @sweetvalleyacres, She and her hubby made this swing. And can you believe her fantastic view?

And what porch would be complete without a classic rocking chair?

Porch Accessories

Once you have your porch furniture pieces selected, you can begin to add accessories to give your porch warmth and personality.

Bring a touch of nature to your porch by adding potted plants or other greenery. I used to be able to have live plants on the porch, but they caused too much damage. So now, I create beautiful planters with faux trees and greenery that I change out for each season.

I love to use lots of bright, colorful throw pillows that I change with the seasons.

Outdoor area rugs can also add color and make your outdoor space feel cozy.

Pillows and rugs help bring the concept of the porch life outdoor living area.

To make your porch feel welcoming to guests, select a fun doormat.

A wreath or basket of flowers hanging on your front door is also a lovely way to welcome your guests.

Some other suggestions to make your porch beautiful are lanterns, baskets, and statues.

Porch Life Through the Seasons

Like every other space in my home, I love to change my porch decorations seasonally.

I love bright colors, like these blues, yellows, and floral prints for spring and summer.

Another favorite summer look is this combination of red and green that reminds me of fresh watermelon. So bright and welcoming!

Fall is one of my favorite seasons to decorate the porch. You will find fall trees, corn stalks, and many pumpkins and gourds.

Christmas is also very festive on the porch with hints of traditional red poinsettias, a vintage sled, fun pillows, and twinkle lights.

It is one of my great joys to beautify spaces around me, and my front porch is no different. By creating a welcoming and relaxing outdoor living space on my front porch, I am learning the joys of porch life, even if I have to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the view sometimes!

If you enjoy porch lfie and beautiful gardens, you may also enjoy my ten tips to beautiful roses

Or how to make a very unusual fountain for your yard. .

And this fun tutorial on how to trandsform old vintage tools into planters

SHOP MY PORCH