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her vlog, Starla from Life Full and Frugal talks about how to make a
midwestern porch into a tropical oasis.
One thing she does is buy tropical plants each year at area stores
or get a cutting from friends. Overgrown tropical plants can be
separated into several smaller plants. In the autumn, she puts the
plants down in the basement or the bedroom. These plants are hardy,
do great in the humidity and can even handle overwatering.
A beautiful front porch provides a great place to entertain, have a
devotional time or sit and listen to the birds. It can be a place of
refuge and make you feel like you are on vacation.
In May, Starla prepares the tropical plants to take to the porch
after they have been inside all winter. Everything looks a little
shabby, so she cleans up the porch and places the plants on it. To
make the plants look better, she trims dead leaves and branches.
By June, the plants are steadily growing and by
September, these plants have really bloomed. One reminder Starla
gives is to water the plants often and feed them weekly.
Making a
Midwestern Porch into a Tropical Oasis | Summertime Front Porch
Living Vlog
As her video shows all the different plants, Starla hopes to inspire
others. She says you should check out local greenhouses and big box
stores to see what is on sale. That way, you can make your porch a
place of refuge of beauty and nature that reflects the creator.
Plants are just one way to turn your porch into an outdoor oasis.
Another way is to add décor.
Jessica of Old Barn Design shows step by step instructions for
creating an outdoor oasis.
When designing and building a home, Jessica imagined an outdoor
space, picturing space she could sip coffee nicely and slowly each
morning. She hoped it would be a place where her electronic junkie
kids would want to unplug and unwind. Additionally, she pictured it
as a space where her friends and family who were visiting would feel
relaxed like they were on vacation.
Jessica wanted the space to be comfortable enough
that people would stay for hours, deep in conversation or playing
games or taking a nap. She thought about places where she felt
relaxed and noticed things in those spaces that helped her feel that
way.
In creating this relaxing space, the first step is to start with a
neutral base including a neutral rug, sofa and chair. Tan or beige
can keep things very calm.
Furniture can create a cozy conversation area where everyone in the
space can see and talk to one another.
When adding pops of color, Jessica went with navy and
white because she felt these colors gave the porch a calm lake vibe.
More vibrant colors can provide a more energetic feel. Choose colors
that go with the personality, look and style you are going for.
Be sure to add plants to give the space life and movement. Using
wildflowers and ferns gives Jessica’s porch a southern relaxed look.
If you are spending time in an area, providing an activity is a good
plan. Some activities Jessica says she uses include games, books or
cards. You might even want to set up pecans to be shelled. Making
smores is another fun outdoor activity.
Next, you should incorporate outdoor elements. Though the space is
outdoors, Jessica says it should feel comfortable no matter the
weather. Adding blankets, a ceiling fan or portable air conditioner
can make the space feel comfortable in various weather.
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The other way to make things comfortable is to make
the space casual enough a person can relax in it. Jessica says to
keep it nice and low key, not formal and stuffy.
Lighting can help create an inviting sense of warmth. Lanterns,
party lights or twinkle lights are all great ways to do that.
Finally, Jessica says you should make the space personal by adding
items that make you smile.
Porch Makeover
| How to create an outdoor oasis
To create a space that is inviting during the warm months, Wendy
Conklin shares ideas for creating an appealing summer porch.
One of the main things Conklin says you can do to spruce up your
front porch is bringing indoor furniture outside. A couple years
ago, Conklin found an inexpensive green coffee table and says the
color was perfect because it ties into nature. Adding a knob to the
front drawer helped add personality to the table. Similar tables can
be found on Craigslist, marketplace or garage sales and can be
painted green.
To decorate the table, Conklin bought a wooden box.
After cleaning the box, Conklin layered it with flowers, dishes and
cups to make the area inviting.
Adding potted flowers or ferns to the front porch brings in a little
bit of greenery.
Something else Conklin added to her front porch is an oversized
flag, which she had seen on many houses in Maine. Besides being
great for decoration, Conklin said the flag provides needed shade.
Another accessory Conklin says you should consider adding to your
porch is pillows, which are always inviting. With pillows, you can
change the look every year or even every season.
Conklin says adding these details can help create a fantastic summer
porch.
For ideas on
How to Create a Summer Porch see
These videos provide a sample of ways to create a front porch that
is comfortable and relaxing. Adding your own personal touches will
help make your porch an outdoor oasis where you will want to unwind
and spend time with friends and family.
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