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sheila_osullivan37

decorating front step

Looking for ideas to dress up my front step. Exposed to the elements and screen/storm door opens out. House is in a coastal location. I have added a door decoration already.

Comments (13)

  • last year

    Love the molding around your door! I wonder if tall planters on either side of your door would work since you have very limited space on the step. I might even lay a concrete paver under the planter to give a couple of inches of height and create a level platform for the planters.




  • last year

    I would want some kind of handrails and bannisters, especially since you seem to be in a snow area.

  • last year

    The door is rarely used for ingress and egress.

  • last year

    J from lakes country - I like the taller planter idea but although door is rarely used for entry it might be too narrow of an area for 2 planters. Possibly one might work

  • last year

    Can you take a photo from farther back?

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Sheila, I agree with you. I don't think there is room for any decor or planters on your steps. I think you will need to use the area to the sides of your step. I am looking at your door and step again and wondering if there is a large drop between your step and the entry to the door? This seems like a difficult transition - perhaps the reason the doorway is not used?


  • last year

    Here is a picture before I scaled back the overgrown bushes. We generally use a side door so this is mainly for aesthetics.

  • last year

    Just wondering if you could set planters on the ground against the house to the right and left of the concrete.

  • last year

    That is definitely possible. I like that idea.

  • last year

    I have a very similar situation. We rarely use our front door either. I would clean up the plantings in front of the home before decorating the step. I think my landing may be a bit deeper. I don't have railings. In the summer I put large clay pots with begonias (because it is north side and shady) on each corner of the landing, in the winter nothing. Door opens out so you need to measure for pot size. I would pull the evergreen out so the rhododendron can grow. Also cut the rhododendron below the window height. I wouldn't put large pots on the ground. Window boxes might be nice. I would paint the door & storm door a brighter color and also the shutters.

  • last year

    I would pressure wash your step and the walkway. A large, stylish doormat would look great. I see you put up new house numbers at some point. Has the porch light been upgraded recently? It's hard to see it in the photos.

    I'm not a huge fan of door wreaths (except Christmas) but I think one made mostly of greenery be totally appropriate for the style of your house.


  • last year

    I have a firstharborcompany.com rope wreath that I love. Pressure washing and new mat are definitely possible

  • last year

    Sheila, it looks like it could be tight with planters on the landing, but maybe not an issue if the door isn’t used. For planters on the ground, you can set a round or square paver under each planter depending on the size/shape of the planter base.