Porch. What a wonderful word! It’s evocative of summer, Grandma, quiet conversation, lazy days. There doesn’t seem to be any down note about a porch…
Some lucky people have fabulous porches, with recliners and wicker and ferns and dappled sunlight.
Others have tiny porches that they make the most of. We’re all trying to find ways to enjoy our homes and safe spaces as much as possible these days.
If you can fit a chair on it, you can sit on the porch.
I was pondering how different the 4th of July will be for most of us this year.We usually count 20 at the cabin with BBQ’s and a beautiful fireworks display from our dock.
This year, we’ll happily be sitting on our porch listening to the distant pop-pop of firecrackers and catching an occasional fireworks explosion on the horizon.
But there is a knack to making a porch inviting. And I’m seeing hundreds of new products and ideas that make it very easy to create a porch that is also a good companion.
Let’s start with the most basic.
I loved the ideas in last week’s New York Magazine, “How to Make a Yard Out of Nothing.” They suggested creating a backrest out of plywood!
Another great idea – set out a picnic table on the stoop and encourage your neighbors to do the same – it’s an instant safe “get-together.”
House Beautiful Magazine was effusive about porches and the wonderful ways to dress them.
Indoor-outdoor fabrics are the key to the best cushions that can withstand rain and hot sun and keep bouncing back.
Kravet.com, Dedar.com, Sunbrella.com.
Look for the Sunbrella label if you’re purchasing, or head for an online resource if you’re sewing you own. Etsy has dozens of busy seamstresses making cushions and slip covers, or you can order Sunbrella yardage there.
If you have room for a rocker, there are so many styles to choose from. It’s a self-soothing gift to yourself…Get creative with the slipcovers or lumbar
pillows!
Repurpose an old blanket that has some wear on cushions or pillows…
And how about an inexpensive mosaic side table where you can rest your book.
Target.com, Walmart.com, Amazon.com
Outdoor rugs always add some pizzazz to a patio setting. Dozens of ideas here…
Rugs.com, Rugstudio.com, Potterybarn.com
I’m a fan of plastic woven rugs. I replace them every other year or so – and really like the exotic designs available from madmats.com.
Recently, the WSJ declared “The Social Front Yard Returns.” Whether neighbors are camped out in their driveways or creating small patio settings by the front steps, everyone wants to connect – with the world, their neighborhood AND their neighbors. And this is the safest way to do it.
Leaving the porch and socializing in the front yard “patio” allows you to watch the world go by while enjoying the benefits of a larger table and chairs, and possibly a fire pit or a kiddie pool, all while waving at friends and visiting at a distance.
Whether it’s on a porch or in the front yard, we can all take advantage of this pandemic summer by greeting the world in full-frontal friendliness!
Here’s to a safe and happy 4th of July!
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