Give Your Front Porch A Style Makeover!

Whether you are looking to sell your home or just think it’s time for a new look to improve your curb appeal, giving your front porch a makeover is an easy and inexpensive way to give your home’s exterior a fresh look. Here are a few simple ways to spruce up your front porch without taking a bite out of your wallet! 

Dress Up That Concrete Porch 

If your home has a simple concrete porch, there are a number of great ways to give it a more refined appearance that won’t involve replacing it. One option is using concrete paint. Available in many colors and textures, you can create the look of a more expensive stone porch at a fraction of the cost of replacing it. 

Plants And Flowers 

Adding plants and flowers to your front porch is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to add curb appeal to the exterior of your home. Choose plants that are appropriate to the light for your porch, and also choose plants in colors that complement the other colors in the exterior of your home. Select pots that accent the space, and consider quality hanging plants to add interest to windows. 

Final Touches 

One of the easiest ways to dress up your new porch is to choose interesting and complementary final touches. A new mailbox, a handmade or antique-looking street number sign, and a nice welcome mat can all make the space look more homey and finished. If you have the space, also consider adding a few chairs and a small table, or add the nostalgia of a porch swing. 

Creating curb appeal is of vital importance to making your home more appealing to potential buyers, and even if you are not selling your home, it is an easy way to give your home’s exterior a makeover without spending a fortune. And with spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to spruce up your porch, grab a glass of lemonade, and take a time out from your busy day! 

As always, I welcome your thoughts! 

Be well,

Rhonda

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Decorating With Plants

When choosing a style of furnishing, color scheme, or fabrics for your new home, or when redecorating a room, plants often do not immediately spring to mind when considering what you need to complete your space. Plants can be, however, an inexpensive and beautiful addition to any room, and there are a great number of options that can complement and even inspire any décor. 

Choosing Plants 

Leaf Shape: There is a huge variety of leaf shapes to choose from when considering which plants are right for your room. Broad leaves look great on mantles or as part of larger arrangements, and long leaves can draw the eye up to interesting architectural features. 

Leaf Texture: From spiky to glossy or fuzzy, you can get really creative when selecting a plant that has a texture that matches your space. A prickly cactus would really accent a room that has a southwestern themed décor, or the fuzzy texture of a dusty miller looks great in an entirely white room or as part of a holiday arrangement. 

Color: With plants and flowers available in virtually every color imaginable, this is one area where using plants as inspiration for your wall color or accent colors can truly create a space inspired by nature. 

Matching Plants To Your Space 

What Kind Of Light Does The Room Get? While the size, texture, and color of your selected plant may determine whether it will fit into your décor, taking care that it will get suitable light and is placed in the correct spot will ensure that it will remain a vibrant and lasting part of your space. For those of us who do not have a green thumb (present company included!), silk plants have come a long way and often it's difficult to tell that they are not real.  I've been in quite a few showings where I've had to get close and personal to check whether it was real or artificial. 

Size Of The Space: Whether it is a large open-concept home or a cozy bachelor apartment, choosing plants that fit with the size of the room they will call home can make or break the success of any space. For large rooms consider using an arrangement of plants, or include large indoor trees. In smaller spaces a few well-placed plants with interesting colors or textures can really add interest to your space without overwhelming it.

Pets: Just remember when choosing plants that there are many species that are toxic to pets. Here is a handy guide from the ASPCA to help steer you in the right direction to keep your pets safe from ingesting poisonous plants. 

Plant Care: There are some innovative products available to assist in the care of your houseplants. Check out these 9  handy tools to make caring for you plants super easy! 

Whether you are choosing plants that match your décor or using them as inspiration to reinvent your space, plants can be a beautiful, cheerful, and inexpensive addition to any home. 

So what is your favorite way to use houseplants to embellish your home? 

As always, I welcome your thoughts! 

Be well,

Rhonda

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