Warmer weather equals more time outside with family and friends. Having a fabulous porch, terrace or deck that is welcoming and attractive is key to creating memories during lazy summer days.

I am excited to share 9 incredible ideas for porches and porch decor from talented bloggers all around the country. There is a wide range of styles, colors and suggestions with projects that are simple to a bit more challenging. And if you are anything like me, I love to see what others are doing with their homes and spaces. Today’s post has every home style imaginable~from mountain log cabin to farmhouse. A big hug and thank you to Rachel at The Pond’s Farmhouse for coordinating this porch roundup.

So let’s get started!

A Look at Our Back Terrace Refresh by Mary from Life at Bella Terra

If you are visiting Life at Bella Terra for the first time, thank you for stopping by and welcome! My name is Mary and we have a unique, historical property right in the middle of the Phoenix, Arizona. When most people think of the southwest, they think cactus and desert, but our property is lush and filled with gardens, an orchard and even chickens. I love to cook, paint, entertain, decorate, garden and have an occasional successful DIY! Today, I am happy to show you how we gave our back terrace an update and some love.

Here is a view of the entry to the back terrace through the rose garden. Our back terrace is a large, covered space with functional spaces that provide cooking, dining, and gathering. From lots of scrubbing to adding a new tile backsplash to the BBQ area, click here to see the detailed post on the complete back terrace update.

5 Summertime Porch Tips from Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse

My sweet friend, Rachel is the epitome of Southern warmth and charm. She is a talented, busy gal and has an eclectic decorating style, mixing old and new, rustic and modern. Not only does she share her curated style, DIY, thrifting/vintage shopping adventures, decorating and entertaining ideas, Rachel is one of those people who just makes you feel good by reading her blog. Here is her post on 5 Summertime Porch Tips, I am sure you will enjoy it!

The Prettiest Thrift Flip Idea for the Front Porch by Stacy Ling

Stacy Ling, from Bricks ‘n Blooms, is near and dear to my heart for many reasons. We both love to garden and I get to enjoy her beautiful New Jersey garden when mine is burnt to a crisp here in the summer. Stacy and her husband recently purchased a lovely home and it is so fun to watch Stacy work her magic on this unique property. She is energetic, creative and you will learn so much from this talented person. If you love a bargain and repurposing things, check out her post on The Prettiest Thrift Flip Idea for the Front Porch here.

Curb Appeal on a Budget ~ Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest

Robyn is a wife, mother and teacher to an incredibly talented and musical family. In spite of her busy schedule, she has time to write her blog, Robyn’s French Nest, which is filled with home decor, thrifting, Diy and design ideas. If you love a good before and after picture, you must see this post where she shares the budget friendly transformation of the front of her home. You will just want to sit here on a porch swing and visit with this talented blogger. See her post on this attractive sitting area here.

Life is Better on the Porch: The Joys of Porch Life by Wendy from WM Design House

I just discovered Wendy from WM Design House and her contagious smile makes you want to become friends. She is so innovative (can you turn an antique farm disc into a water feature?) and lives in an 1897 home. Her porch is full of colorful ideas and in this post, you can see how it looks through the seasons. And she has an adorable dog, so what’s not to like? I look forward to learning more from Wendy and you can too. See her beautiful home and welcoming front porch here.

Summer Porch Decor in Blue and White~Kristin from White Arrows Home

I first met Kristin in 2018 at a one day blogging conference and so admire everything she does. Kristin and her family (5 children) live in a gorgeous log cabin home on a lake in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. We all know how family life can keep you busy, but in addition to her blog, Kristin owns a store, hosts a podcast and a million other things. If you follow her, you can see all that she does and watch her home change from season to season. She is as genuine and as down to earth as can be. See her front porch and all its blue and white touches here.

Backyard Conversation Set and Fire Pit Patio Reveal by Dabbling and Decorating

Ann, from Dabbling and Decorating lives in Maine and therefore I feel like we are both New Englanders at heart (I was born and raised in Connecticut). I have fond memories of visiting Maine in the summer and just love this new addition to Ann’s gorgeous property. The view from this conversation area is just stunning. Ann owns both a home in Vermont and coastal Maine and I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed in her antique, vintage finds and DIY projects! Come and see this conversation area and fire pit here.

7 Simple Outdoor Summer Decorating Ideas by KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms

Perhaps the person most responsible for encouraging me to start a blog is KariAnne from Thistlewood Farms. KariAnne is so generous with her time, experience and guidance in helping other achieve their goals. Back in 2018, I attended a one-day blogging seminar at KariAnne’s beautiful old home in Dallas, Texas where I met so many wonderful people. Yes, I stood on this very porch! I left that day realizing how little I know about blogging, but have continued to be inspired to try to do my best. KariAnne is a powerhouse and here are her ideas on how to decorate outdoors for summer.

Beinvenue Summer Porch Tour ~ Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home

Amber owns an 1921 yellow brick home (hence her blog, Follow the Yellow Brick Home) so I feel like we are instantly connected by virtue of old home ownership. If you love a French Country Garden theme, then this is the place for you. Topiaries, vintage pots and lavender are all special elements on Amber’s front porch. Isn’t that hat just perfect for this time of year? An experienced music teacher and realtor, it would be such fun to sit and visit with Amber on her charming front porch. You can see it all here.

Thank you so much for joining me today and I hope you are inspired by everyone’s ideas and suggestions. How will you make your outdoor porch or terrace an extra special destination this summer?

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest!

House Projects

Back in March, during the lockdown, we created a list of home projects to tackle. As I was washing all the windows in the house, my husband started working on the back terrace. Like most projects, the work on the back terrace morphed into something bigger…..yet better. To see that post of lockdown projects, click here.

The back terrace or porch is a rather large space and has a cooking area (the BBQ), a dining section and a place to gather around a stone fireplace.

The Barbecue Area

At the north end of the terrace is the barbecue area. In addition to our gas grill and vent, there are 2 gas burners, a sink and storage areas below. The countertops are covered in slate, which match the stone intersections on the concrete floor.

The barbecue needed cleaning, especially the stucco wall behind the gas grill. Years of cooking = years of grease build-up. Due to the bumpy texture, which is an architectural feature of our historic home, it is impossible to clean.

Instead, we decide to add tile as the backsplash, which is much easier to maintain. After the tile installation, we seal the tile and grout with a protective coating. This prompts us to also seal the slate countertop. To learn more about the new backsplash installation, click here.

The Floors

Now that the countertops look so good, the floors paled in comparison. So if we sealed the backsplash and countertops, why not the floor too?

But before sealing the floor, they need a good cleaning. Pressure washing the concrete/slate floors significantly helps to remove the dirt and stains. My husband did this one half of the terrace at a time. We own the Subaru Pressure Washer which is a handy thing to have, but you can rent one too.

After the floors are clean and dry, sealer is applied to both the slate and the concrete. We tried a satin finish first and didn’t like it. So we decided on this Home Depot Behr Premium Wet-Look Sealer for $36.98 a gallon. If you don’t have a Home Depot nearby, you can find a similar product here on Amazon.

Using a long handled roller, the sealer spreads easily on the floor.

Here is one completed section and you can see how the appearance is vastly improved. As an added benefit, over time this sealer helps prevent stains and truly protects the concrete floor.

After half of the terrace dries, we moved the furniture and began the process on the other half.

The Rugs

The outdoor rugs have never been washed so this is a great opportunity to vacuum them and pressure wash to remove several years of dirt. Depending on your needs and budget, here is a link to wet dry vacuums. Ours is a heavy duty Shop Vac since we use it frequently. It is amazing how just a good, deep cleaning can improve your outdoor space.

Two 8′ x 10′ outdoor rugs were purchased from Rug Studio several years ago and are SO affordable. I just checked and they are still available online. Click here for the link. Prices are a bit higher, but not by much. I am so pleased with how these rugs are holding up outside all year long and especially in our hot summer heat and brutal sun.

Now the floors are cleaned and sealed, the barbecue area is complete, and well, the upholstered furniture looks like the ugly sibling. Truly, we have used this furniture outside for years. The cushions however, other than spot cleaning, have not been deeply cleaned….ever.

The Furniture

This Bissell Little Green is one of our best purchases. This little spot and stain cleaner is great for both upholstery and carpeting. If you have pets or families who spill, this is the toy for you! Being small and light weight, it is so easy to haul around. It’s approximately $125.00 and can be ordered online through Amazon. Click here for link.

All furniture cushions and decorative pillows are Sunbrella fabric and clean easily with the Bissell.

Even though the terrace is under roof, the furniture still gets dusty. But here in Phoenix, our outdoor spaces get used the least during the very hot summer months. But the rest of the year, the back terrace is the main destination where we gather with friends and family.

What a huge difference a little cleaning will do! The cushion look fresh and clean and all stains are gone.

The wood furniture was purchased from Crate and Barrel many years ago. It is not considered official outdoor furniture, but the wood is mahogany and has survived rather well on the covered terrace.

The Finished Product

Here is the finished terrace. It sparkles and even smells clean. The black weathered cabinet on the right side of the photo is a new addition. This piece used to be in the family room but will now store placemats, candlesticks, vases and other outdoor entertaining items.

I will at some point need to refinish the mahogany dining and coffee table, but not until the weather cools down a bit. The chandelier over the table needs replacing too. Also, I am still debating whether the outdoor rugs clash with the new tile backsplash. Unfortunately when I selected the tile, I didn’t even consider the rug design. Let me know what you think.

We are so pleased with how the sealed floor looks.

Custom covers are made for all the outdoor pieces and we will cover all the furniture before our dreaded summer dust storms arrive.

It feels SO good to get these projects checked off the list. Extra kudos to my husband for doing all the work on this space. We host so many gatherings here on the back terrace, from large sit down dinners to cozy evenings in front of the fire.

Thanks for stopping by today!

To see the actual restoration/construction project of the back terrace, click here.

Sometimes in my posts, I provide links to the products. Sometimes I get a stipend at no cost to you. Other times I don’t get anything but want to share my resource.

We have a lovely space outside of our master bedroom that has been sorely neglected.  The terrace is located on the second story so when outside, it feels like it we are up in the tree tops. It is very private and surrounded by lush foliage. There’s a wonderful view over to the pool house and is ideal for watching sunsets. Since this space is not in a main traffic area, it doesn’t receive the regular maintenance and love.

After a bit of research, it appears this outdoor furniture is made by Pompeii Furniture Industries in Miami, Florida. However, I don’t believe they are in business. When I googled them, their furniture was being sold in avenues such as Chairish and Live Auctioneers.com.

Assessing the Mess

The outdoor furniture is aluminum with a powder coat finish that is clearly faded from the sun. You can see where the finish has a reddish/purple cast. Not very attractive.

Since this is a lightly used deck, debris and dried plant material is collecting in the corners.

The entire terrace and fireplace were added during the massive restoration of the house (see that post here). Typically this space gets used during the non-summer months, when the weather is more appealing.

Do you have a place in your home that doesn’t get enough attention or remain unused most of the time? Naturally since this isn’t a very inviting space, we didn’t want to spend time here.

After purchasing 5 cans of Rust-Oleum spray paint in Metallic Oil-Rubbed Bronze, I am ready to tackle painting the furniture. If you have ever used a spray can for any length of time, you know how much stress it puts on your index finger.

I am very happy to find this tool. It is very inexpensive and well worth it. No more stiff index fingers. The handle clips onto the spray paint can and all you have to do is squeeze the handle. It is the best $6.00 you will spend.

Prepping the Site

I confess to being a messy DIYer. But when using spray paint, make sure you cover EVERYTHING in the surrounding area. Using drop cloths, I protect the terrace floor. I also did this project barefoot and thankfully I did not take pictures of the overspray on my feet. What was I thinking!

Also, wipe the furniture with a damp cloth to remove any dust or cobwebs.

In order to get paint coverage everywhere, tip the chairs over and on their sides. Spray while sweeping the area so the paint does not puddle. Allow the paint to dry, and then tip the chair again to make sure you don’t miss a spot.

With only one coat of paint, look at the transformation! It’s hard to believe that a simple can of spray paint can make your outdoor furniture look new again.

The table top has a stone insert that was not removable so I covered it with paper and used Scotch’s blue painters tape to protect the stone from overspray.

After the paint dries, remove any painter’s tape and do another once over to make sure no spots were missed.

The After Photos

And here is the AFTER. The cushions are covered with Sunbrella fabric and it is amazing how well they hold up being outside all the time.

The rug I ordered online through Rugs Direct.  I’ve had rather good luck with this company and have been very happy with their selection, their prices and the speed of their delivery.  This 8′ x 10′ Caspian (1005D) outdoor rug cost $199 (with free delivery) and it defines the space. I’m not sure they have it in stock any longer, but check out their selections for the rug, style and color you want. Oh! I just found this same rug on Amazon and you can find it here.

It’s all in the details.

The throw, pillows, lanterns and acrylic glasses and tray are from Pier One Imports.  Their retail shop closest to us is closed, but I found similar acrylic glasses on Amazon here.

Here is a similar green throw for $14.99, which is perfect for cooler spring and summer evenings.

Lanterns can be found at places like Home Depot or Lowe’s or even online. Pier One has such a nice selection of outdoor trays and dinnerware.  Look at this tray-the details are so pottery-like but unbreakable!

Now the terrace is a welcoming place to gather in the morning for a cup of coffee, or at the end of a long day to watch the stars.

Adding seasonal, playful pillows pumps up the color on the chair and chaise.

Transforming this terrace from a neglected one to this took a bit of work, but certainly worth the effort.

Some key learning experiences regarding this project:

1.  Wear gloves unless you want to scrub off your first layer of skin to get the paint off.
2.  Wear shoes or socks.  I was barefoot and yes, I had to scrub and scrub to get the paint off my feet.
3.  Make sure you put down an appropriate amount of protective sheets or drop cloths.  Mine were a bit small and yes, there was overspray.  Thankfully I was able to scrub that off the deck.  Lots of scrubbing after this project!
4. Check the paint color before you start.  I didn’t dislike this paint enough to stop and purchase more, but I do wish it was a bit lighter.

If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it on Pinterest.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Mondays #604

Each year I try to change things up a bit with the fall decor on the front porch. Our weather has definitely cooled down quite a bit (53 degrees here yesterday)and it finally feels right to put up all the autumn decorations. Since we have many planters by the front door, my inspiration for the Fall Front Porch decor came from this very affordable item.

The Inspiration

Perusing the garden center at Walmart (not something I do often), I find these 14″ woven round planters made from recycled resin for $12.97 (they may have even been less $$). The natural color and texture look almost real and I like the lightweight feel of them. You can find them here at Walmart online.

Initially the plan is to buy soil and plants, however, a stop at Whitfill Nursery provides a simple solution. Whitfill has a nice selection of hanging plants with coleus, ferns and fall flowers. I don’t recall how much I paid for this but I believe it is in the $39.99 range? All I need to do is to put a smaller pot inside the woven one and plop the hanging planter inside.

Removing the plastic hangers is easy and instantly I have two beautiful fall planters to add to the front porch.

Nestling these lightweight and easy to transport planters with those already existing on the porch, adds the touch of fall I am seeking.

Now add to that the pumpkin haul from our recent trip to the mountains, and the front porch is coming together.

Another Easy Fall Decor Item

Since it is now becoming biking weather here, I recently got out my blue beach cruiser and cleaned it up. The vintage wicker basket is the perfect place to put cinnamon-colored petunias (again from Whitfill). And just by chance, the bike frame sort of matches the front door color so it works.

Using Pumpkins and Gourds

Seasonal members of the Cucurbitaceae family are in abundance this time of year. Even though I felt like we purchased enough pumpkins and gourds, you can never have too many. At the end of the season, we share these squashes with our chickens and collect the seeds to eat or plant next year.

Here is a wider view of the front porch. Last year I purchased quite a few of these lanterns (on sale)from Home Depot and I like how they look scattered along the walkway. Amazon has a nice selection of outdoor lanterns here too.

The Bench

To the left of the front door, is a bench which I do like to decorate. Though I am still trying to find the perfect throw, I found a new pillow from Costco for $19.00. You can see it here.

Photos of Fall Front Porches of the Past

I don’t know about you but I forget what fall theme or decor I have used in the past. It is fun to go back and look at old photos. We tend to be later than most in getting huge containers of chrysanthemums here in Phoenix. I haven’t added any yet this year but will more than likely do so closer to Thanksgiving.

Here are the flowers in the bike back in 2018.

And look how different the front porch looks with a red door and my homemade autumn trees. You can see that DIY here.

With a wool blanket and an orange pillow, the bench in 2020 looks festive and fall-like. This year I do not want to put out a wool blanket since we have had a huge moth infestation here. Still looking for a plaid one that will complement my Gather pillow.

Just a reminder that many of the items I share in my posts are just resources for things I like. Occasionally (actually rarely), I may get a small stipend that doesn’t alter your cost. I like to share good products when I come across them and I will never support a product I haven’t used or tested.

Anyway, wishing you a Happy Wednesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Thanks for joining me today for our DIY Monthly Blog hop. This month our focus is something to do with seating. Over four years ago, I did a DIY project where I repainted our outdoor furniture. Fast forward to today, and the pieces look as new as ever! Here in the Arizona sun, our outdoor furniture takes a beating. It is rewarding to know that this technique is still producing gorgeous results. Let me share how easy it is to refinish outdoor furniture.

The Before

Here you can see the metal frame of the lounge chair in its oxidized condition. Instead of being a dark, rich brown, the finish almost looks purple.

The pieces that need work are a lounge chair, a regular chair, a large ottoman and a round table. All these pieces are on our deck outside the master bedroom. The seating is rubber straps that do not require any work.

Supplies

I purchase 5 cans of Metallic Oil-Rubbed Bronze spray paint from Rust-oleum. There is something about the depth of this color that I love for outdoor furniture. You can find it here

If you have ever done a lot of spray painting, you will know how challenging and tiring it is on your index finger. With this handy attachment, spraying is so much easier.

The Comfort Grip attaches to the top of the can and the handle helps to apply the paint evenly. It is so inexpensive and well worth it! You can find it here.

After wiping down the seating frames with a damp cloth, I am ready to paint. Using large drop cloths, I lay the furniture down and spray the bottom sections first. I tend to spray paint my feet (or socks) so be aware of where the paint is landing!

You can see in this photo the huge improvement from a new coat of paint.

Since the stone top of the table is not removable, I carefully tape the edges with painter’s tape and make sure not to overspray the top.

Allow to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Also make sure you look around the furniture for missed painting spots.

The After

Here is the furniture 4 years ago. Doesn’t it look clean and new?

Now here is the same furniture today. We did move the pieces to a different location on the covered portion of the deck. But even after 4 years of being outdoors in the Arizona weather, all the seating pieces still look good!

The spray paint did hold up beautifully. Actually, the only thing that has changed is the pillows are a bit faded now from the sun.

Outdoor furniture can be pricey but with a bit of maintenance they can last you a long time.

Now onto the DIY Blog Hop

Thanks for joining me today. Now onto the other bloggers who will share their seating projects!

Andrea from Design Morsels shows how to cover your office chair here. I need to check this out as my office chair is looking a bit skanky.

Allison from Darling and Dapper Life creates a DIY Farmhouse Bench here.

Chas from Chas Crazy Creations gives us a great tutorial on How to Clean a Sofa.

Tarah from my Grandmas House DIY has two favorite rocking chairs that she has updated. You can see it here.

If you enjoy this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #649.