The universal appeal to us. And how to create one
Porch living has long had universal appeal. Porches are a place to catch a breeze, socialize, and chat with a passing neighbor. These days, porches also have a nostalgic quality as we rush through our day. A porch is the space between the outside world and our inner home. It is the space where we show the world a bit of ourselves and our home’s style.
It is time to take back a bit of our day to pause and enjoy the moment. To design a porch or outdoor space that fits how we want to spend a quiet morning with a cup of coffee. Or plan for the family to have nightly dinners or pizza nights out there during the summer months. A porch could be the place for an afternoon of relaxing and reading. Or it could be a mix of all the above. You claim your space and activity; go on to enjoy the summer.
Porch Living Inspiration
Here are a few porch ideas I have seen around the web and why I liked them. Also, I share what makes them universally appealing and exciting.
City Balcony
A cute small balcony is ready for reading, morning coffee, and viewing the city lights. It is simple but very inviting. The seat is a storage box with cushions. The flooring, lights, and grid are from IKEA. A reclaimed wooden box set on its side becomes a table with a bookshelf. It all comes together with white, natural wood, and a few pops of pastel color.
It is a wonderful place to sleep on a hot night or nap on a Sunday afternoon. A pre-made hand railing is hung above the existing rail for privacy. A simple monochromatic color scheme with white, beige, and tan lends harmony to all the items on the porch. It has a soothing zen global quality.
Townhouse Deck
Here is a place to sit with a friend or children and chat. The textures in the bamboo chairs and side tables, jute rug and pouf, and wicker plant trellis and baskets provide balance and warmth to the glass railing and cement walls. These floor pillows and the cat make me smile, thinking the humans sit down on the floor while the cat suns itself.
This photo from Pinterest lead to nowhere, sorry
A Variety of Front Porches
This porch draws you in to swing and visit. I love how the homeowner painted the furniture a pretty barn red to coordinate the space. At the same time, the shades of red are repeated in the plants, rug trim, and cushions—not all exact matches of red, which brings interest to the space.
Photo by Bertrand Landscape Design
I love that this porch is deep enough for a gas fire pit. Above all, this space has all the furnishings of the interior living room with a twist. I can imagine stepping through the door from inside to relax on a chilly evening.
from Homeridian.com
A daybed hung as a swing – the idea of napping, reading, or journaling here draws me in. In addition, the white cushions and weathered wood are calming. The tint of blue on the ceiling adds to the serenity.
from Homeridian.com
Front Entrance Porches
A small entry porch, with the repetition of the color black, unifies it with the house and enlarges the space. The pops of yellow add interest and draw you to sit for a minute. Above all, it expresses the season of porch living.
from Homeridian.com
The modern farmhouse vibe, with its restrained use of color, calms the rush to the door to pause and enjoy the view. The coordinating galvanized flower pots are a visual element that ties the color to the front door. Overall, the beauty of this space is created by the simplicity of the details.
from Homeridian.com
A variety of rockers painted the same color adds harmony to the porch. Similarly, the cushions and pillows are similar in color, leading the eye down the length of the porch. Personal details like the Metro clock and birdhouses give us a glimpse of the porch owner’s personality.
from Homeridian.com
Secret Porch Hideaway
This porch uses a vine for privacy in place of curtains. Nature abounds on this porch. An interesting side note is that the chairs are faux bois (from the French for false wood), which refers to the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. The craft has roots in the Renaissance with trompe-l’œil. In short, I have to admit I like these chairs that look like handmade twig chairs. They are charming and yet will be sturdy for years to come.
from Homeridian.com
A Few Takeaways
In short, I would say one takeaway from these photos is to design and decorate your porch as you would any other room in your house.
- Add an outdoor rug
- Have a place to set your beverage
- Use cushions for comfort and pops of color
- Grow plants to bring the yard and garden closer to the house
- Repeat the colors, containers, and textures to bring interest to the setting
- Introduce lighting for way-finding and interest
The last thing I want to say is to enjoy this season of porches. Please take a moment to do so.
If you need more inspiration, I have a board on Pinterest and another blog on Designing Small Porch Spaces. I also have included a PDF of Porch Ideas. Please head over to our Facebook page’s Units Section to download. While you are there, please say hello and let us know your porch ideas.
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