Searching for front porch ideas that go beyond the ordinary? Look no further.

Whether you plan on chilling in a hammock or grilling up some fun for your and some friends, it’s time to get your porch ready for the season. If you are like most people, the porch is where you huddle while trying to get into the warm house as quickly as possible for most of the year, but summer is the time for your porch to shine. Don’t let your porch down, instead, give it the love it deserves and make the most of the warm weather months.

When considering how to decorate your porch, there are definitely some key marks you want to try and hit. They are: relax, sit, swing, eat, drink, entertain, plants, and lights. Of course, you want to think about how you plan on using your porch and make sure to decorate accordingly. If you don’t plan on entertaining much  then you may not worry about including that element in your porch plan.

Wondering just exactly how to decorate your porch? It’s certainly a personal thing, but we would like to offer some inspirational suggestions to get you started on setting up your porch to be the most desirable place in the world (or at least your house) this summer. Read on to get inspired by our picks for decorating your porch.

Front Porch Ideas

Cottage Image via Shutterstock

1. Relax – One key component when considering how to decorate your porch is color. One way to add color is with paint. If your porch is bland, or is in need of some tender loving care, give it a once over with some paint. You can also bring worn porch furniture back to life as well. We like Annie Sloan chalk paint for adding some color to both.
   

Image: Peak Season Store

2. Sit – Rocking chairs feel like a must have on the porch to us. If that’s your thing, consider adding a few rockers interspersed with outdoor poufs for the ultimate in porch living.

Image: Porchco

3. Swing – Much like rocking chairs, porch swings seem like a no-brainer when upgrading your porch. This porch bed swing looks like even more of a good idea!

Image: Terrain

4. Eat – Whether grabbing a snack or having a romantic dinner on the porch, a table is a nice addition. You don’t want something that’s going to take up tons of room, though. That’s where a marble accent table comes in handy.

Image: West Elm

5. Drink – Whether for a party or a lazy Sunday afternoon, something to stylishly serve the sangria in is a must. Just because you are outdoor living, doesn’t mean you need to rough it.

Image: Anthropologie

6. Plants – Adding plants and greenery to your porch is a great way to meld the outdoor with the indoor feel of porch living. Consider some funky planters like these sea creatures planters, or something else that suits your taste and serendipity level.

Image: Terrain

7. Lights – Whether you will be throwing a party or just watching the fireflies come out, adding porch lights is making form and function into one. They can add some great atmosphere and allow you to continue enjoying our porch even after the sun goes down.

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Beach Bungalow Image via Shutterstock

The post 7 Must-Have Front Porch Ideas That’ll Keep You Outside All Season appeared first on EcoSalon.

The warm season is upon us, so let the outdoor living commence!

Whether your home has a deck, porch, patio, backyard, or a balcony, it really doesn’t matter–they all work equally well for outdoor living.

Outdoor living is the art of spending your life outdoors as much as possible. When warm weather strikes who wants to be stuck inside? Outdoor living requires some foresight and planning, though. Just like living inside your home, you also need to make some decisions about how you want to use your outdoor spaces. Maybe you want a chill space for catching up on your relaxing? Or maybe you want a space for entertaining? Or both? Time’s a-wasting, though, so figure it out and get to work on creating the perfect outdoor living space!

Here are some must-do suggestions to mastering the art and science of outdoor living.

Image: Shop Terrain

10 Ways to Rock Outdoor Living Like a Boss

1. Outdoor Drink Station – Whether you build it yourself or buy an outdoor bar cart, an outdoor drink station is a must for magical outdoor living. And not just for entertaining, but just for any old lazy Sunday afternoon. Stock it with lemonade or with your favorite sangria, because who wants to have to keep running in the house for a refill?!
2. Swing – If you are lucky enough to have a porch, a porch swing is a necessity for some serious outdoor chillaxing. And if you don’t have a porch, try a good old-fashioned tree swing instead!
3. Hammock – Whether for one or two, a hammock is the easiest low-key way to relax outside, If you don’t have a tree handy, try a hammock and frame instead.
4. Warm Things Up – A chimera is the perfect way to warm up cooler evenings, keep the bugs at bay, and to add a little ambiance to your outdoor evenings.
5. Lighten Things Up – String up some lights, make your own mason jar lanterns, or add some outdoor lanterns to light up your nights outdoors.
6. Rocking Chairs – Rocking chairs may seem old-fashioned, but there’s not much else that’s better in this world than rocking the day away with a cold beverage in hand.
7. Cushions, Table, and Stools, Oh My! – To make any outdoor space more comfortable and versatile, add comfy cushions, stools, and folding tables for when guests arrive.
8. Outdoor Curtains – If you have an outdoor space with a roof, consider adding outdoor curtains to help shield you from the sun’s rays, nosy neighbors, and cooler breezes.
9. Outdoor Seating – To truly make the outdoors just like home, you must have comfortable seating. Whether you choose sofas, chairs, or lounges, choose outdoor furniture that suits your comfort needs.
10. Outdoor Dining – And finally, outdoor living must involve outdoor dining. Pick a dining set that will work for parties as well as work for any night of the week!

Related on EcoSalon

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Top Image: Woman Relaxing via Shutterstock

The post 10 Wonderful Ways to Master the Art of Outdoor Living appeared first on EcoSalon.

“˜Tis the season to entertain outdoors, and if I had a patio of my own, I’d be all over these solar lanterns from Bambeco ($39) (like moths to a flame, if you will).

Not only are the included solar panels eco-friendly, but they also eliminate the need for hanging ugly – and potentially dangerous – electrical wires. They also come equipped with two high-powered Amber LED lights, a AAA rechargeable battery, and stainless steel hardware so you can hang them from trees or perhaps a porch roof. And the hard-formed plastic is sturdy enough to withstand the elements. Genius!

The Soji Modern lanterns turn themselves on at dusk, adding instant romance to an outdoor space. Whether illuminating a summertime fête or lighting the way for you to return home after an evening out, the lanterns radiate a warm golden glow and ooze modern style.

They’re available in three patterns (pure white, pearl motif, and mineral motif), so you could mix and match with different textures to add more visual interest or cluster together several of the same pattern to create a more unified look.

Do you decorate your patio or porch? How do you create an inviting, yet eco-friendly space?

The post Green Crush: Soji Solar Lanterns appeared first on EcoSalon.