Give Your Porch a Facelift

You've probably already found yourself spending more time out on the front porch. Or perhaps you're selling your home and understand the importance of curb appeal. Whatever the reason, it's time to clean up your front porch and give it a fresh look for the season.

Start by removing all the shovels, hoses, garbage cans or other items that have collected up over the winter, and then proceed to give every inch of your porch a good cleaning. You many decide to use a pressure washer for the floor and walls. Otherwise mix up a gallon of warm water combined with 2 tbsp. of Dawn dish soap and give the windows, furniture and soffits a thorough wiping.

Repair any loose boards or balusters, touch up caulking, and check the railings and columns for signs of wear. If they are in need of repainting, now is the time to do it.

Replace any burnt out bulbs in your light fixtures and consider updating the lights entirely if they are dated. If it's not in your budget, just clean out all the cobwebs and make them shine.

Now the fun begins. The quickest way to add punch to a front porch is by adding color. Add some hanging planters with bright full blooms. Assess your lawn furniture - instead of replacing, maybe all it needs is a facelift. A new paint job and a set of colorful floral cushions will have an old set looking like new.

Visit your favorite garden center and replace your old doormat with a new one that shouts "spring".

The latest trend is to make your outdoor spaces an extension of the indoor spaces. Consider purchasing an outdoor area rug and arrange your furniture around it. Hang sheer curtains and gather them together, tieing them back at the posts or letting them hang free. It reinforces the living room look and can add a splash of color as well.

Assess your front door - touch up the paint if necessary and add a colorful spring garland or wreath.

When you're sitting outdoors, nature is your entertainment, so do what you can to build on it. Add some bird baths, small birdfeeders and a hummingbird feeder. Just the addition of some red flowers will probably attract those little guys. If you don't have the trees for hanging, add a decorative post or wrought iron hanger.

Consider adding plants especially suited for butterflies. They like sun, but require shelter from the wind, and a nearby mud puddle to drink from. Plants that provide good sources of nectar for butterflies include Aster, Dogbane, Mallow, Dogwood, Wild Rose, Butterfly Bush, Marigold, Sunflowers, and Purple Coneflower.

Consider adding a focal point to your front porch for added interest. This may include an unusual planter, urns, sculpture or trellis. If your porch is protected, there are some beautiful framed or mounted prints that look wonderful in an outdoor setting.

Finally, tidy the area around your porch by edge trimming, raking, sweeping or whatever is necessary to create an inviting walkway. Now poor a cool drink and sit down and enjoy this delightful space you've created.