Written by: Gary Zielinski, Georgia Front Porch Design Consultant

The front porch is an important focal point of your home. Whether large enough to serve as a gathering area with seating or a simpler, smaller entry to your home, your front porch can be an amazing centerpiece for your home. Decorating your porch is a fantastic way to improve the curb appeal of your home and reflect your personal style. Here are some tips and porch decorating ideas that will ensure your front porch looks its best in every season.

Spruce up your entry way.

Your front porch serves as the landing space to your home. Study this space carefully. Could your front door benefit from a replacement? Should you paint it a different, bolder color? Changing hardware, painting the door, replacing a worn out screen door, and updating your mailbox or house numbers, all can make a powerful impact on the appearance of your porch and a coat of paint can be a simple, affordable porch decorating idea.

Create a focal point.

When considering porch decorating ideas, you will want to think about decorations that draw the eye. Choose a few items that are large enough and colorful enough to be seen from the street without overpowering your space. Large, colorful all-weather pillows for seating areas or carefully arranged planters add to the function and style of your outdoor space.

Choose colors that complement your home’s exterior.

Using a bold color in your decorating choices makes a powerful impact on your home’s curb appeal. Choose colors that will stand out, yet complement your home’s color palette to prevent your carefully selected embellishments from blending into the background.

Change decorations seasonally.

We tend to use seasonal decorations on our front porches: flags in July, Santas in December, and scarecrows in October. Make sure you change these decorations in a timely manner; Santas and Christmas lights in February will draw attention to your home for the wrong reasons.

Consider year-round landscaping.

When considering front porch ideas, don’t forget landscaping – and especially remember that it should have something to offer year round. Choosing a mix of low maintenance perennials, small evergreen bushes and trees, and flowering bushes to surround your porch will ensure your home looks fabulous in every season.

Choose items meant for exterior use.

Even if your porch is covered, items you choose to embellish your front porch will be subjected to the elements: sun, wind, rain, and even snow or ice! Keep this in mind when weighing any front porch ideas. Using fabrics designed for outdoor use will ensure that they dry quickly preventing mildew. Use exterior paint on other items to ensure the sun doesn’t fade their color over time. Furniture, pillows, and decorative pieces should be heavy enough or fastened well enough to withstand high winds without ending up on your neighbor’s porch!

Choose decorations that reflect your personal style.

In the end, it’s important that front porch ideas  reflect your own personal style. A person who dislikes snowmen should not make them the centerpiece of their winter decorations. Likewise, a person who adores colorful fall mums should not design a space that omits the flower’s seasonal brilliance. Think about your favorite themes or pieces for each season and find ways to incorporate them as the time comes.

Add depth and texture to your decorating. Not all of your porch-enhancing elements need to be seen from the street. Consider adding a seasonal shelf by your front door for smaller, personal pieces. Different fabrics and textures will add visual interest to your outdoor space.