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"Create a beautiful and welcoming front porch"

We get asked often the question "What can I do to decorate my porch without a lot of effort?" Or, "I'm not a great decorator, what easy decorating ideas do you have that looks great?"

Front porch decorating is much like decorating any room of your home. Think four things: color, theme, focal point and purpose.

Color - Choose Your Decorating Color Scheme

You can do an amazing decorating job just by using color. Don't be afraid to use color. Not good with decorating color schemes? Neither am I; however I can pick out at least one color I like.

So how do you choose a color? Browse through decorating books, visit a department store home furnishings department or go to your paint store and pick out some paint strips that you like. Paint strips give you great ideas of complementary colors, too!

So once you've chosen a color you like, what do you do with it? Try painting the front door. The front door can serve as a focal point or it can be used to telegraph your decorating color scheme for the rest of the porch. So your first step is to go out on your porch or yard and determine a great color for your front door.

Depending on the overall statement you want, that is, bold, trendy, subtle, or somewhere in between, choose a color that will complement that look. Then you might choose another complementary or contrasting color to go with that.

Theme

Most of us have at least some type of look or style we'd like for our front porch: country, Victorian, Southern, contemporary, southwestern, Tuscan, eclectic or even a sports theme.

Or perhaps you want a seasonal look depending on the time of year - spring or fall decorating, for example. Some prefer, especially those along the coast, a nautical look. Others, like in the southwest, might prefer a western theme.

This will help determine the items you want to display on your porch. Look at garage sales, flea markets, your dollar store, or a thrift shop to find items like pictures for your wall, furniture, tables or other charming knick knacks to carry out your theme. Chances are you have some items in your home already that you can re-purpose for your porch.

Focal point

A focal point can be anything from the front door itself, a beautiful wreath on your front door or perhaps a wicker table, chairs, and colorful table cloth. Or, it could be beautiful hanging baskets, a work of art (painting or sculpture), or perhaps a favorite rocker or swing. Above all, make sure your "focal point" is obvious and it should be a great conversation starter.

Purpose

How will you use your porch the most? Will it be a gathering place for relaxing in the evening? Perhaps you want a place to listen to music or share an intimate glass of wine? Will you be entertaining on your porch?

Do you want to create a private nook for reading or writing? Knowing how you will use your porch will help you select the right furniture and accessories.

From country decorating ideas to contemporary decorating, just follow these four concepts and you will be surprised at what you can do.

Decorating on a dime is still possible today if you use your creativity and are resourceful in finding charming pieces for your porch at garage sales, flea markets or even your dollar store. Take your spouse, child or a friend and make it fun! See what you can create!

Dave R. Morris is a co-creator and co-founder of http://www.Front-Porch-Ideas-and-More.com, your portal for front porch ideas and designs. To learn much more about porch decorating, please visit http://www.Front-Porch-Ideas-and-More.com/porch-decorating.html Dave is a retired Air Force officer, teacher, logistics analyst, woodworker, remodeler, and niche e-business developer. A grandfather and lover of the outdoors, Dave lives in Nashville, TN. Take a break and enjoy your porch!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Decorating a Small Porch
by Dave R Morris

Small porch decorating is fun and challenging. Most homes today have small porches for a variety of reasons.Although they do not have a lot of decorating space you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you can do to create a huge visual impact, add storage, and even a few amenities.

Start with hardware

* Update your door knob, hinge plates, and door knocker. * Try to match the style and color to create a cohesive look. * If you do not have a door knocker; now is the time to consider one. They come in all styles and finishes and add a sophisticated touch to any front door. * Replace your door knob and hinge plates if they are worn or severely tarnished. Often times, a good cleaning will restore the original finish.

Another small porch decorating idea is replacing your door bell. Most need to be replaced periodically. They are easy to replace because they are low voltage; no need to turn off the power in most cases.

Consider replacing it with one that lights at night.Look up. Replace your porch ceiling fixture with one that fits your decorating style. You have so many options for lighting. If your porch ceiling is high enough you might choose a hanging light. As a minimum clean your light fixtures; most go untouched for years. The same goes for wall sconce lights if your porch has them.

Color selection is extremely important for small porch decorating. Make a dramatic impact by painting the front door a contrasting color. It's easy to do and can create immediate curb appeal.

You may want to get sample paint colors from your local building supply store so you can try a few different colors to find just the right look. We recommend you also invest in a very good paint brush to give your door a professional look.

Select a wreath that complements your door's new color. A beautiful wreath adds warmth to your front entrance and can easily be changed for the season or holiday.

Add outdoor art for small porch decorating. This can be in the form of a wall sculpture or outdoor painting. This will give your porch a focal point, another great decorating feature.

If you want to really show your decorating skills, select art that contains the color of your newly painted front door to create a cohesive look. Attach it firmly so that it will not blow in the wind. Hanging it on a hook like an indoor picture will not work.

Another way to create a focal point is to add a decorative flower container or sculpture. Select a piece that is proportional in size to your overall porch. It needs to be large enough to be a visual focal point but not too large as to overpower the porch or take up too much space.

Add a shelf. Not only does it provide a place to put packages while opening the door it can be painted to match you color scheme. No room for a shelf? Then perhaps a small bench will serve the same purpose.

Small porch decorating includes your porch columns. Often times, people overlook porch columns. Make sure they are in good repair and freshly painted. Consider changing the color or style.

Column wraps are available to turn square or rectangular columns into round ones for a different look. You can also add stone bases to give your porch a craftsman-style look.

Replace or purchase a new door mat. Because they come in all sizes, colors, textures, materials, and styles, you can use them as a decorative piece as well as being functional. Like your wreaths, you can change them out to suit the season or holiday.We cannot forget the porch flooring.

Consider using interlocking deck tiles to change the look of your porch floor. This is an easy do-it-yourself project and one that can add both appeal and potential value to your home. They also come in a variety of styles so you can create your own special look. They work on almost any existing surface, wood, concrete, stone, and composites. However, they are not recommended for steps.

Remember, your porch is the first space a person sees when visiting your home. Use it to create a lasting impression. Small porch decorating can be fun, inexpensive, and will create great curb appeal.

Dave R. Morris is a co-creator and co-founder of , http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com your portal for front porch ideas and designs.

To learn much more about small porch decorating and to be inspired by many small porch pictures, please visit http://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/small-porch.html.

Dave is a retired Air Force officer, teacher, logistics analyst, woodworker, remodeler, and niche e-business developer. A grandfather and lover of the outdoors, Dave lives in Nashville, TN. Take a break and enjoy your porch!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com