See The Affordable Makeover of Our Cozy Summer Porch

If you follow along here at CCH, you know I believe that outdoor spaces deserve the same attention as any room inside your house. A welcoming front porch, a covered balcony with a swing bed, the back patio overlooking the small pool— these are rooms that we actually use. They just happen to be surrounded by trees and chirping birds.

Today, I am joining friends, Annie, Cindy, Molly and Kim to share an outdoor space anyway they want. Their links are at the end of the post.

There are some affiliate links at no extra charge to you and I appreciate your support.

Affordable Porch Makeover

Recently, I gave our screened porch the refresh it needed for comfortable spillover with family (everyone’s coming here for the July Fourth holiday). This porch is upstairs in the front of the house and you can hear the ocean waves crashing.

The two wicker loveseats that were here before found a happy home on our son’s back porch (I love seeing our things getting a new life in our kid’s homes).

Let me tell you upfront: this was not a big designer-budget project. This was a Wayfair, Trader Joe’s, HomeGoods and Etsy kind of project.

The Starting Point

Our porch is screened on two sides with a tree canopy view — but we needed more seating. The goal was a space that would work equally well for a morning alone with my laptop and for an impromptu gathering of friends on a Friday evening.

The Wicker Set: Wayfair Does the Heavy Lifting

The anchor of the room is a wicker seating set from Wayfair, good quality for the price point. The set includes a sofa, two armchairs, and — this is the detail I love most — two ottomans for flexibility.

On a quiet evening, they pull up in front of the chairs as footrests. When friends come over, they can become extra seating.

The wicker finish is a warm brown and the cushions came in a gray/neutral linen tone. The cushions are vacuum packed so you need to let them expand overnight when they are out of the box.

Tip: When shopping for outdoor wicker on Wayfair, filter by “all-weather wicker” or “resin wicker” rather than natural rattan. It holds up dramatically better to humidity, which is non-negotiable here in Florida.

The Pillows: Pattern Mixing Is Your Friend

I ordered the outdoor pillow covers from Wayfair… a brown block print with a white paisley motif, a soft aqua stripe with a scalloped arch pattern, and a white botanical print with dusty blue and blush.

The pillow formula I use: one large-scale pattern, one small geometric or stripe, one more delicate pattern or solid.

The Rug: A Vintage Etsy Find

The washed vintage flat weave rug was purchased several years ago from Etsy. When we got our nice Persian rug for the living room…all the rugs rotated. This was the least expensive and found it’s way to this spot. And it’s doing really well out here. I vacuum it regularly and if it needs it, it can be hosed off and left to dry in the sun.

Etsy sellers who specialize in vintage and distressed rugs are a good source. Etsy search terms that work well: vintage outdoor rug, distressed flatweave rug, antique-inspired area rug. You’ll find options at a fraction of what you’d pay at a traditional rug retailer. But on our other porches, I’ve used indoor/outdoor area rugs like from Ruggable.

The Plants: Trader Joe’s to the Rescue

I always enjoy checking out Trader Joe’s plants. The greenery you see here comes mostly from TJ’s seasonal plant finds.

The Coffee Table Styling: Simple and Seasonal

The round coffee table from West Elm holds a large woven tray from HomeGoods layered with a pillar candle and a collection of shells and coral. This coffee table used to be on the back patio until we got the well-priced fire pit coffee table there (20% off now).

The Bonus Feature: A TV on Wheels

Rooms seem to have more functionality when there is a television involved.

Howard bought the rolling floor stand that lives on the porch during warmer months — but because it’s on wheels, it rolls easily into the adjacent home office when we need it there.

The Result: A Room We Actually Use

We use this porch much more now. Morning coffee, evening wine, weekend mornings with the paper, before dinner with friends, tv sports nights under the ceiling fan. We will move the grandkids’ toy kitchen out here when they come again (currently stored in the garage) for another place to play.

If your outdoor space has been waiting for attention, let this be your sign. Start with a flexible furniture plan, add pattern through pillows, anchor with a vintage-style rug, and let plants do the rest. The results will surprise you.

Questions about any of the specific pieces? Drop them in the comments. And if you’ve done an outdoor refresh recently, I’d love to see it. Tag me on Instagram.

Let’s see what my friends are up to with their outdoor spaces. Can’t wait!

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