So excited to show you my newly re-decorated front porch today!
But first let’s revisit the before. Here was my front porch at the beginning of the spring.
You will remember that I painted the rails white again
and I re-stained the deck back in April. You can see more in this post.
I also refreshed my door mat a few weeks ago. I have had this door mat for 5-6 years (bought from Kohl’s) and I really liked it cause you could change out the center portion. Well, Kohl’s doesn’t carry those center pieces anymore but I have a few of them that are still in good condition so I can still use it.
But the black rubber part had gotten rather faded.
So of course, I grabbed my trusty can of SPRAY PAINT! 
(Seriously, spray paint is like magic in a can… I don’t think I have found anything that CAN’T be fixed, refreshed, or transformed with a little paint! I even used spray paint on some bridal shower decorations this weekend and they were amazing– but that is for a future post!)
A quick spray with some black gloss spray paint and my welcome mat is as good as new! 
Now back to the front porch. So this is what it looked like after some new paint and stain, after refreshing the door mat with some spray paint, and after adding my color-filled flower pots (which are pots I us e every year but I refill with flowers in the spring.)
Definitely not bad and much better than before.
Here’s the view from the driveway.
But I really wanted to give it a little makeover this spring. I had some yard sale profit burning a hole in my pocket and a plan…
I would love to have a front porch like this (from Southern Living) with room for a sitting area on the side.
Or like this (loving that yellow door!) from here
Or this Craftsman style house with a big front porch (I ADORE Craftsman style houses – that is my dream house style.)
But remember… I am learning to love where I live! So time for me to make the best of the front porch I have. I really wanted some seating out here for a few reasons. I thought it would help create that welcoming, Southern feel I was wanting PLUS I am spending much more time out there watching these little ones play in the driveway.
One downfall of my front porch is the door is all the way at the end. If it would have been at the beginning of the porch, I could have arranged a seating area maybe even put up a swing at the end. But that isn’t possible with the door all the way at the end.
So I started looking for benches – specifically narrow benches. I found the best deal at Home Depot but it was only available online (with FREE shipping!), so I ordered one and waited.
Then I had fun putting it together (it was a little damaged so I had to wait for a replacement part. I have big plans for the damaged part – super excited about that!). Then it was time to “decorate” my front porch!
Here is the AFTER!
Of course you saw my $3 spring green wreath in this post. The metal decorative wall hanging was something I had ordered from ABC distributing when I was still working and hadn’t found a place for it yet.
The little plant stand was something I have had for a while. The plant was 50% clearance at Wal-mart last week – $1.61. And I made the pillows!! First time making simple envelope pillow covers and I was amazed at how EASY they were to do! Full tutorial coming soon.
And beware new pillows are going to be popping up all over my house! The fabric was some 1 yard scraps I got at my favorite fabric store – Ohco. Each piece of fabric for the pillows probably cost $1.50-2.00 (they weigh by the pound so I don’t know exactly but it was cheap) and I already had the pillow forms. I added some little fabric rosettes (first time making those too and I need to work on my technique) on the striped pillow with some scraps from the flowered pillow.
The little glass table was actually in my yard sale pile (my mom had found 2 of them on the side of the road a few years ago) but when I was working on the porch I realized I could use it. The little bird statue cage thing was a yard sale find from last year. I have some ivy in it that I hope will grow larger and fill it up.
I am enjoying my front porch! No, it isn’t my dream HUGE front porch on a craftsman style house, but it is pretty and functional and is on the house God has given us for now.
Here’s a few more pictures…
And let’s compare:
Before…
After…
Oh, and I had a hard time deciding between using this metal star that I had (and spray painted burgundy) or the metal decorative piece on the end wall. I asked my husband and he said “They both look fine and it doesn’t matter cause you will change them next week!” LOL! Which one do you like better?
One more outdoor project crossed off my list! I still need to reveal our deck and finish my mailbox garden then my outdoor projects are done for a while and we will end our series!
What outdoor projects have you been working on? Do you dream of big front porch too?
{cj}
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So pretty – nice job!! I am totally with you on the Craftsman style – my fav too!!
Thanks, Nikki!
I love it!!! That is so funny what David said about the decoration being changed next week. That is usually Brian’s response too when I ask him which he prefers! I like the first one more than the star, but I like the star too! Help? ha ha! It looks gorgeous and very inviting! My front porch is on my list for the summer! Praying I find some good deals this weekend!
Molly Swaffer recently posted..Quirky bit o’ decor!
I didn’t think I was that bad! LOL! Usually once I FINALLY get things arranged they are staying for a while (except my mantel and table that change ever 6 weeks or so.) What are you looking for to add to your front porch? I have been looking for a bench forever! I was hoping to find a broken down one on the side of the road and just replace the boards but I never did so finally just bought one (but I have a secret – I might be getting my broken down one too – ha!)
I like the decorative item the best, it’s bigger and it shows up more! You have did a wonderful job on your porch, everything looks so pretty and I love the bench too!
Thanks so much, Rondell! I think I like the decorative object the best too. The star was originally blue but I didn’t want the porch to look all patriotic. I think the iron piece looks more upscale 🙂
Love the update – so warm and inviting. Hmmm. I can’t decide. The burgundy star has pop and matches the shutters, but the black scroll adds architectural interest and detail. I appreciate your philosophy of being thankful for what you have and making the best use of it. Black spray paint on an old door mat? Brilliant!
Donna Amis Davis recently posted..Talking About God, Talking With God
Thanks, Donna! I am leaving the metal piece for now 😉 I just think it looks a little more dressed up and not so “crafty” or “patriotic” to me. I could always use the star for 4th of July! 🙂
so do you have a door mat you can spray paint?? 🙂
Hi Christina, I just found your blog and LOVE it! While you are dreaming of a craftsman porch, I am dreaming about yours. I’ve always wanted a southern front porch but I do love the home we have. Spray paint a door mat???? Who would have ever thought of that?? Love those pillows and the fabric too. Great spruching up!
Donna
awww – that is so sweet, Donna! Isn’t funny that we always long for what we don’t have? 🙂
hang around, I will show you all kinds of things you can spray paint! 🙂
Love it! What a great redo!!!! Love the pillows and the door mat looks fab! I adore craftsman style too!!
Renee @ Living, Laughing, & Loving recently posted..Something {else} New
Thanks, Renee! Yay for craftsman style – not sure if I will ever get it but I do love it! 🙂
Your porch looks so pretty and fresh now! I like the decorative metal piece best cause it kind of mimics the metal scroll work on the back of your bench. You have inspired me to freshen up our mail box, so that is one of the projects that I will be doing this weekend among many others on our long to-do list. Almost 5 years ago we moved into a craftsman style home that was built in 1939. We started working on it the day of the closing and continue to do renovations. Fortunately my father-in-law is a contractor and taught my husband all sorts of handyman skills as he was growing up. It surely has saved us some money by doing it ourselves!! I have loved following your blog and look forward to future projects that you have to share 🙂
wow, sounds amazing! do you blog about your home renovations?
thanks for the comment and thanks for reading! hope your mailbox turns out good!
def the big iron decor. makes it pop! i for one love ur porch. mine is little little. won’t even fit a bench. but maybe i can find a hanging plant for as cheap as you did!!
Yep, I think the iron decor is staying 🙂
Check Lowe’s and Wal-mart for clearance plants! Both of them clearance out lots of plants each week and I have found some great deals 🙂
Love that Yellow door now that’s fresh!
Isn’t that pretty? Would love to have a house I could yellow on the door one day!
Looks all fresh and pretty! Too bad about that door placement because I was thinking that a swing would be great there. But now you can sit back and relax on your pretty pretty pillows (love the fabric) and watch as the kids play and frolic!
🙂
Linda
Linda @ it all started with paint recently posted..how to win $500: start dreaming, start pinning, and start winning
Yes, the door placement does make it hard. BUT I think I did the best I could with the way it is and we are all enjoying the new bench! 🙂 The kids too 🙂 Sat and ate popsicles on it today 🙂
What a beautiful front porch! I think I’d spend most of my time on it, if mine looked anywhere near as gorgeous as this. You’ve got great taste!
Katie B. recently posted..Recipe: Pasta With Fresh Puttanesca Sauce
Thank you, Katie! We do spend quite a bit of time out there now especially watching the kids play.
Beautiful transformation. I prefer the metal artwork to the star. You see the stars everywhere, but not that artwork.
Yep, the metal artwork is what is up there to stay! 😉 Thanks, Maureen!
Awwww….I love your porch spruce up! The bench with the pillows are just perfect. I thought I had done it all with spray paint but you showed me a new trick, thanks! Thanks for sharing. Visiting from Thrify Decor Chick
Shanee recently posted..Might as Well by Walking on the Sun
thanks, Shanee! We are enjoying it!
What a pretty porch! I like the black wrought iron piece best!
Thanks, Christina! 🙂 I am glad I found that piece at a yard sale – I really think it adds a lot.
Thank you for the inspiration! I too, love d-i-y projects. I have been trying to pull together enough decor for my porch since last spring. I have sort of lost hope looking for that amazing deal on a bench. I think the search begins again today! Also, I would love to know the name of the colors of your house paint. I think your house is stunning! Looks so inviting 🙂
I got my bench online at Home Depot, I think? After researching and looking at MANY benches. I looked for over a year for one at a yard sale or on the side of the road and never found it. so it was time to buy. Mine was less than $100. Our house is vinyl siding so I don’t really know the color. Sort of a creamy ivory.
How did you hang the metal scroll work on your vinyl siding?
You have a beautiful porch. Love everything about it. Where did you buy your iron scroll wall decoration?
How did you hang the wall decor on vinyl siding?