Hey Ally! Painting out the window with a fresh coat of navy and a fresh coat of white on the window panes and the cinderblocks would add some nice detail. A pop of color with a mossy green door would be gorgeous! You could secure a white bench with metal brackets & screws to the side of the house to be sure it stays put, along with zip tying some corn stalks (for fall decor!) to the sides of the bench. If you are feeling super ambitious, a painted or stenciled pattern in the shape of a rug in front of the door or on the majority of the patio would absolutely dress it up. Good luck! http://velvetandgreen.com/services/

(stencil or stamp a large scale pattern to replicate a rug)

(corn stalks)

Install a motion detector spotlight up high on the front of the house to help deter theft. Carry the dark blue over the front under the porch so when it gets dirty you will not see it. If you do place a bench on the porch, do bolt it down & have fun dressing up a scarecrow to sit on the bench to keep watch for you & greet quests.

You know, with a little creativity, i bet you could get a little railing put across the front of that porch and that would cut down on your thefts. if you bring it around the sides with a squeeky gate where the steps are, that otta further deter them. I would also put a motion sensor in the light fixture or put other lights with motion sensors in, that should further deter them.

next, or maybe first, I would paint the bottom wall of the porch. You made it this lovely dark blue, but that white wall is so dirty, just paint it a dark gray something like that, maybe plant some bushes. Maybe cactus, that otta really attract their attention. tehehe.

I love dark blue, if you go through my books, you will find a ton, but you might wish to do something to make the door stand out. make the detail different, it is so lovely, or maybe paint a dark red?

Ok, so the BIL is handy with his hands, lets make a bench and bolt is down. make or buy something that gives you 2 c shapes these will be your end legs, bolt several thin metal rods or pipes across the top, then put punched metal on it for a bench top. put your decorations on here. let me know if you need further instruction. I will give some pics now.

these can be used as a fencing material and are very reasonable at amazon, you can use the taller garden stakes to attach them. or go to arcurio they make all types and surely have fixtures.

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halloween decs:

this is a bit over the top but a mix of mums and a pile of pumpkins can be cool

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So glad, I found you again, I forgot a really inexpensive, not worth stealing idea. Don't carve pumpkins, carve paper bags for luminaries! I get the designs off line put those on paper bags, cut them out, better if you can spray paint the bag, but at night it does not matter much. can do same for fall and christmas

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ps-let us see when you are done!

If money was no object, I would love to see the porch with a cover. Having Fun posted some nice ones.

You could have a built in bench that is screwed into the concrete. Can't steal that!

I would look into a motion sensor security light!

If money grew on trees....

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A security camera attached to the side of the house?

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You could add a permanent or retractable canvas awning over the lower window. Then a bench under the window.

First I would add some pretty fencing around the entire porch. Add a gate to be opened at the top of the stair. Lock the gate at night. Even a couple of "road blocks" can deter a thief!

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A good pressure washing or treating the green mold with "Wet and Forget" should help clean up the front without much effort. Plant dwarf azaleas in front of the porch and "wire" them with an electric fence to deter theft!!! I'm serious - you live in N.O. - been there and done that! We planted castor beans - very undesirable to steal - and they suited our planter's cottage. A new motion lantern would be a great investment. If you invest in a more permanent relationship with your BF and stay there, I'd invest in a pergola to cover the entire porch. Whatever you do, build it to last and attach it to something immovable.

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You could add planting of barberry around the porch and under windows. Those sharp spikes will keep them away!

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Thank you all! excellent ideas & suggestions! I hope to add a permanent cover to the porch, or perhaps connect the balconies on the sides of the house... In due time! I love the idea of the "natural" theft deterrents! I can't wait to put some of these suggestions into action!