Front porch makeover

I'm so excited to share that I finally made over my front porch, or really I should say I decorated it for the first time. I've been in this house almost six years, and never really decorated the front porch. It gets some attention at Halloween and Christmas, but other than that it's been pretty bare.

Here's a little peak: (Stick with me, lots of pictures, but totally worth it.)

Now here's the very sad, and dirty before:

Eewwhhh!

You can see that I did try to add a little last year with the faux hydrangea arrangement, but that's as far as I got.

I got started this time by removing everything from the porch. Then I grabbed the hose and a sprayer filled with a diluted solution of Clorox and Dawn. The porch and all the furniture got sprayed and scrubbed. Those cushions got scrubbed with Dawn too and then placed back into the chairs with the reverse side showing. ( They have faded- maybe I'll get another year or two out of them this way).

Nice and clean now:

Next I added some planters with flowers by the door. I have failed miserably here with most of what I have planted in the ground, so I decided I'd try out container gardening.

I changed out the wreath on the door from the spring wreath to the summer flip flop wreath.

I also spruced up some old planters with paint and placed one in the corner and one on the side table.

 Then I went on a shopping spree. Actually I went on the shopping spree first, because the striped pillows from Bed, Bath, and Beyond were the inspiration for the color block planter. Sometimes "time is money" and "money is time". I found those outdoor pillows for $9.99 each and I could not have made them (counting my time) for much less so I purchased them. I did look for dish towels or placemats to make some with but wasn't finding anything in the colors or patterns I had in mind, so it wasn't worth the time spent to keep looking. I also went to Pier One and purchased some lanterns and citronella candles (20% off). I already had the little green lantern that I added to the side table. I got it last year from World Market.

I love how everything came together. Here are some before and after looks for you:

I'm lovin' it! Now if I can just keep the darn neighborhood cats away!

Sharing here:

Think Pink Sundays**Under the Table and Dreaming* Sundae Scoop*Creative Bloggers Party and Hop* Craftomaniac Monday*Make the Scene Monday*Making the World Cuter*Just Something I Whipped Up at TGC* Masterpiece Monday* Motivate Me Monday*Inspire Me Monday*Market Yourself Mondays at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff* Pink Hippo Party*More The Merrier Monday*Make it Great Monday* Twenty Minute Tuesdays*Take a Look Tuesday* Handmade Tuesdays* Tuesday Time Out* Tell Me Tuesday*Tuesday Talent Show*My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia* Tip Junkie*Get Your Craft On*From Dream to Reality*Whatever Goes Wednesday*Hooking Up with HOH*Blissful and Domestic* Handy Man, Crafty Woman* Tea Rose Home*Share the Wealth* Dragonfly Designs*My Girlish Whims*Wow Me Wednesday* Show and Share* Fireflies and Jellybeans* Someswhat Simple Strut Your Stuff*It’s Sew Stinkin Cute Craft Thursday*Thrifty Thursday*Creative Juice*Transformation Thursday* Handmade 52* A Crafty Soiree*Tidy Mom*Simply Sweet Home*Simply Designing*Chic on a Shoestring Flaunt It Friday*Fingerprints on the Fridge*BFF Open House at The Answer is Chocolate* Creation Corner* Sassy Sites FFA*Tatertots and Jello*Funky Junk’s Saturday Night Special*Be Different Act Normal* Delicately Constructed Fridays*Friday Frolic*UnCommonly Yours*Shine On* Sweet Saturday*Pomp Party*Overflowing with Creativity*Saturday Seven*Primp Your Stuff*Metamorphosis Monday