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christie_gilmore

Simple porch organization/makeover?

5 years ago

how to make this porch look a little classier and less chaotic?? We are a family with young kids that like to play and swim (hence toys and towels) - none of us are good at remembering to clean up. maybe we get a porch storage ottoman /table thing? we might need a place to hang towels. but a towel rack on porch seems weird, maybe some pegs? brick hard to drill into though...

Would you recommend an outdoor rug to cover the ugly stained concrete? Any other tips so we can class up the place?





Comments (6)

  • 5 years ago

    You mentioned kids like to swim -- do you have a pool?

  • 5 years ago

    Its our community pool down the street

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Assuming back yard / back door: If possible, I'd have the kids drop or hang their towels at the back door or back yard. Similarly, maybe the picnic table could go in the back yard. Then the front porch just needs matching (by style or by color) furnishings. An outdoor rug would be nice, or I'm pretty sure you can paint concrete. And a couple of big colorful plants would complete the picture.

  • 5 years ago

    I recommend you purchase a small electric power washer. I had one for my first home and used it about once a year for my porch and sidewalks. You could use it on your stone paths. You can get one for under $150. They certainly don’t do the type of cleaning that a professional power washing company can do, but for simple jobs they do wonders for making a place look clean.

  • 5 years ago

    The other thing that I noticed is that your black metal furniture sort of fades into the brick background, whereas the white or light wood items jump out at you. If the furnishings will not be put back into 'place', then the black is probably the best choice. If the arrangement will be static, then a light or bright color would accentuate it.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Okay, I've got a list here:

    Not knowing if you have money to spend, I will just say that you can have a company that specializes in decorative work put an overlay on the porch floor - it can be patterned, and/or colored, or just plain. Barring that, yes, powerwash first, and if needed, there is paint especially made for painting cement floors. That solution will require repaint periodically (after some years.)

    I agree with trying to make your various porch furnitures more cohesive - either invest in more matching pieces, or paint everything the same color. Do you use the picnic table for meals? I would turn it so it's length is along the side wall.

    Buy a pretty freestanding towel rack - one that goes with your furniture as much as possible - and tuck that into the corner for the towels, if there is not an accessible back door area to use instead.

    I would get a larger light fixture ( I would favor black), ditch the too-small wreath, and hang a good sized wall decoration - like a metal one - on the side wall above the picnic table.

    Your house numbers are small also - can you relocate those to next to or above the garage?