Decorating the Summer Porch with Refreshed Vintage Finds
Decorating the summer porch can be fun when you use refreshed and repurposed vintage finds.
Summer is starting, so porch lazing can begin! For me, the most fun part of decorating the porch each year is getting to use all my new-found vintage finds! Before any of the pretty fluffing begins, I inevitably have a project or two I want to incorporate. Spring curbside junking was good to me this year {“Curbside Junking Vintage Finds (best ever)“} and the porch is the perfect place to use some of the new-to-me, refreshed pieces! Decorating the Summer Porch with Refreshed Vintage Finds is a great way to start out the summer!
Today’s post is part of our monthly Pinterest Challenge, hosted by Cindy at County Road 407. I love Cindy’s fresh, vintage farmhouse style! Every month Cindy picks out an inspirational photo and a group of creative bloggers design around it with their own flair. If you’re visiting from Art and Sand welcome! I’m sure you enjoyed seeing Carol’s beautiful, artistic, oceanside home! It’s like a mini vacation whenever I visit her blog!
This month we’re focusing on the Summer Porch and Patio! Our Inspiration is a lovely, serene front porch by Bria Hammel Interiors. Thanks, Bria, for letting us use your pic! (I was excited to see that she is a fellow Minnesotan;)
I like to start these challenges with analyzing the photo and noticing all the design elements used. Here’s the pic and what popped out to me:
Bria’s front porch is decorated with a romantic, classic style. She said she used the porches of Charleston, South Carolina as inspiration. Which is so fun, because I just visited there myself for the first time last summer!
We don’t necessarily need to imitate the whole look of our inspiration photo, but this challenge was a great excuse to get my back porch ready for summer! And this long, narrow space is very similar to our back porch, which really is our main entry. It’s the first impression for guests, but also a quiet retreat for us to gaze out over our beautiful yard. Here’s how I designed our porch with Bria’s porch as inspiration!
Decorating the Summer Porch with Refreshed Vintage Finds
For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission. There is no additional cost to you. My full privacy policy is here.
Summer Porches are the most comfortable spaces when you decorate them like a room, as you see in the inspiration photo. Comfy chairs and squishy pillows combine with fun accessories and lots of flowers and plants. We love to sit out on our porch when it’s raining; being outside but not getting wet. Having porch lights and a candle burning adds to the nighttime ambiance!
Start your Porch Decorating with Fun and Functional Furniture Pieces
My porch decorating started with some refreshed and repurposed vintage finds, which is pretty typical for me;) Along with our 2 most comfy vintage chairs, I recreated a curbside table and an old stovetop shelf. The shelf was created from inspiration from Bria’s herbs in clay pots on the wall of her porch. I love adding dimension to walls and having another canvas to build on!
Here are the makeovers that were my building blocks:
Once these projects were completed, I added the 2 chairs and a vintage serving cart I had painted a couple years back. A fun industrial metal stand was scored at a recent garage sale, so I added it to the mix, too. A couple vintage metal trays on the 3 shelves worked perfectly and added vertical interest.
Soft Textures Bring the Inside Comforts Outside on the Summer Porch
Furniture with comfortable cushions is always welcome, but adding squishy pillows, flowing tablecloths and even a fabric curtain takes your summer porch decor over the top. An old chenille bedspread blows gently in the wind on our outdoor table and indoor pillows are the perfect lap prop for a country magazine. The pillows can be stored in an old galvanized-lined icebox when not in use.
Let Your Summer Porch Color Palette Reflect it’s Surroundings
In Bria’s porch picture, you can see the beautiful Blue Spruce’s in the backdrop. Her palette of blues and greens is a perfect reflection of the setting. Our porch is wrapped in our back garden. At this beginning of summer time, our yard and gardens are filled with pinks, purples and touches of yellow. The crabapple tree just shed all it’s pink flower petals, the lilacs are blooming, and the peonies are just ready to pop! I start out with this more pastel palette and gradually increase the intensity of color throughout the summer to include more bright croquet colors.
Here’s what the porch looked like a day before I started decorating. I shared it on my Instagram. You can follow me HERE! Beautiful, but messy;)
Express Your Style with Plants and Flowers
Classic and romantic garden style comes alive with rounded-shaped flowers and foliage. Topiaries give classic structure and arching ferns add grace and movement. I’ve always loved topiaries and was thrilled to add them to our summer porch decor. Placing the lavendar topiaries in old galvanized buckets adds that farmhouse, country vibe. I snipped ferns from our yard and popped them in aqua blue ball jars. As summer progresses, the lilacs can be swapped out with hydrangea blossoms.
{For stencil on bucket, see HERE}
Add Fun Vintage Accessories to Your Summer Porch
To give your Summer Porch indoor room “status”, add your favorite vintage finds! I just scored a cute kid’s typewriter on FB marketplace and want to enjoy it. The repurposed stove top was another spot I had fun filling with clay pots and other garden accessories.
A hand-poured lilac candle, made by one of my IRL (in real life) friends provides wonderful fragrance that adds to the real-flowered version. We used to carry these candles in my former store. Lantern Hill Candles was just featured in Country Living! Definitely check them out, HERE! I also love her Fresh Cut Grass and Lily of the Valley!
Laze the Days Away on Your Summer Porch Decorated With Vintage Finds
I think I had way too much fun with this Pinterest Challenge; it’s fast becoming my favorite time of the month! I hope you feel inspired to decorate your summer porch or patio, too!
Here’s a final shot that hopefully looks similar to our inspiration pic, with my own vintage, junky, little-more-colorful look:
I’m actually out here right now, tapping away on my laptop! What a treat:)
For more Summer Porch and Patio inspiration, check out French Ethereal next; Barbara has wonderful, romantic style. Thanks for visiting! If you enjoyed my Summer Porch Decorating with Refreshed Vintage Finds, I think you’d love to become a Lora B Insider, down below!
Please Pin, Share, and Enjoy the Rest of the Inspiration!
Summer Porch and Patio Pinterest Challenge
Sharing at these lovely parties:
This turned out so great Lora! I had to stop and linger over each and every photo! I love the pillow in the old ice chest and the typewriter and the details! All so beyond wonderful!
Thanks, Kristin! Somehow it’s always more fun to style things outdoors;)
Lora, I love every detail of your charming porch! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!
Thanks, Cecilia!
Nailed it! As ALWAYS I walked away feeling inspired. Lora, your porch draws you in and says, come join me for a glass of lemonade. Love the vintage typewriter vignette too.
If you left inspired, I’m pleased as punch! This was a fun space to decorate with the new, repurposed projects! Thanks, friend!
Another home run! Love it! Thanks for sharing 😊
Thanks, Shelly!
Lora,
Your porch and exterior are just cottage perfection down to the blossoms on your trees! I could hang out here and never want to leave. Love that wall shelf!
Thanks, Christy!
Lora, your beautiful porch reminds me of the comfort and safety I felt sitting on my grandmother’s porch! Oh, what memories you brought back to me! I’m so impressed with your collection of vintage finds and how wonderfully you curate them into a one-of-a-kind look! Simply sublime!!! I wish I could be typing along with you on your porch!
So glad it brought back fond memories for you, Yvonne! Porches do have a way of creating memories; they’re a special place, indeed:)
I’d like to be typing on your porch, too, Lora! You know that show Wife Swap? I wish we could do Porch Swap and try on each other’s porches and patios for a weekend. I’d love to sit under that crabapple tree with its beautiful blossoms. Your vintage decor is so perfectly arranged, and you always manage to find great scores like that kid’s typewriter. Pinned!
Porch Swap…now there’s an idea for a new reality show, indeed, Crissy!I’d like to spend a day on each of the blog hopper’s porches and patios on this tour! So fun to see everyone’s different styles:) Thanks!
Your porch looks so pretty Lora!
Tania
Thanks, Tania!
Your porch looks amazing! So many beautiful details. Then the pink blossoms showering it–GORGEOUS!!
Thanks, Pamela! I only get a few days to capture the beauty!
Lora, your trash to treasure projects leave me wanting! Love every little vintage detail of your porch so much. Pinning of course!
It’s so fun to decorate with a new trash to treasure project, Michelle! Makes the whole vignette that much more fun;)
Lora,
Your porch looks like a picture. Love your lavender too, aren’t they fun?
I wanted to stencil my watering can but didn’t. Now that I saw yours I think it’s a must. I’m thinking a French one i have in my stash.
So many great pieces.
Cindy
Definitely do, Cindy! I just popped mine in, but think I’m going to plant them and add a filler down around the bottom. I’ve got to do some planting this weekend!I might need to go back and get more topiaries; love them!!
Your chest with the pillows flowing from it has inspired me, Lora… I was trying to figure out how to incorporate some pillows on my little porch, and now I have an idea! Thank you so much! Pinned!
Wonderful, Julie! That was kind of a last minute idea, too;)
Oh my word, what a fun and interesting patio. You have included so many wonderful antiques to create a one of a kind area. Love it.
Thanks, Marty! I had way too much fun with this one;)
When I saw your beautiful photo the other day on IG, I didn’t see a mess. All I saw was beauty! Now I feel for you! Does it get tracked into the house? Yikes. Maybe everyone that walks up the steps to visit can’t even get to the door for all of the vintage fabulousness they see beside them. That would be me for sure! Love every nook and cranny. Total magazine worthy! Thank you for joining in the challenge. Pinned!
Yes, Cindy, there are petals all through the house:( Kind of the gift that keeps on giving! Used the leaf blower to blow them all off the steps once they turned brown, now I need to vacuum the whole house. Such is my life; I make everything beautiful…and very messy! These Pinterest Challenges have become my favorite of the month though; thanks!
I love what you did with that shelf and metal cabinet, they are so cute. Your porch is a great place to sit and enjoy the day, have fun! Thanks Lora as always so much inspiration.
Thanks, Marlene! I got almost giddy when we added that garden fencing to the shelf; love how it turned out, too!
I love that shelf. So, so cute. Your styling is always a treat.
Thanks, Katie! That was a fun one:) Could hardly wait to get it up on the wall and style it!
You find the best vintage “stuff”. My favorite here is the taller stand nearest the door. I am going to keep my eye out for something like it.
Your crabapple tree is amazing!!!
Thanks, Carol! Just picked up that cutie for $3 at a random garage sale the other day; lady said she used it for plants. I scrubbed it up with a brillo pad and gave it a coat of poly to bring out all that beautiful rust. I love it’s industrial vibe.
Lora I love all the little vignettes you placed on your porch. The table trays you created are amazing. Love the colors and the view you have up on your porch. Very comfy. Enjoy your porch this summer.
Thanks, Terrie! These challenges are always a great excuse to get it done, so we can enjoy it!
I absolutely LOVE all your vintage pieces!! this is the perfect spot to sit and relax and maybe pop some fresh greenbeans for dinner! that robin’s egg blue kettle with lilacs is my fave!!
We do love our vintage finds, don’t we Debra:) I also got a blue and white splatter kettle at the same estate sale; spent way too much that day, but had so much fun! The lady was a former dealer and had great stuff! And yes…we love fresh green beans with our grilled meat!
OH MY…this is wonderful, Lora! You did a wonderful job making a welcoming, comfortable porch for summer! I love all the projects you used and the wonderful textures, and colors, too! Beautiful!
Thanks, Linda! I love decorating outdoor spaces; so much more opportunity than inside! Now for the peonies to pop;)
My vintage loving heart was singing with joy as I admired each of your pictures. You have created a beautiful spot for relaxing all summer long.
Being surrounded by flowers and vintage is a good thing, indeed, Paula!
Lora your creativity knows no bounds!!! Your vintage transformations are just incredible. Such a lovely and welcoming space.
Your comment reminds me how my hubs says I have enough project ideas for a harem of husbands, Laura;) Yep, the idea bank is always full; wish the hands (and body) could keep up! Thanks!
HI Lora, I love this porch! All of these porches and patios are inspiring me to change it up at my house. I need to create a space to work too!
Love it all, laura in Colorado
Yes, it’s wonderful to be able to sit outside and work on the porch, Laura! Highly recommend:)
Lora! Wow, your porch is fantastic with all the fun vintage pieces you’ve brought out on it. Love the typewriter and the lilacs in the yellow kettle!! I always have fun on these Pinterest Challenges because I enjoy seeing what everyone has created. Cheery!! And your crabapple petals are a carpet of beauty!!!
Thank you for a new idea for a porch wall hanging. Enjoy your patio and the peonies!!!
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Thanks, Barbara! So fun to decorate the outside!