Imagine walking up to the porch of a quaint cottage in the woods on a warm spring day. Beams of sunlight are streaming through the branches and leaves of ancient oak trees. The cottage porch is surrounded by rail boxes filled with brilliant pink petunias and snow-white sweet alyssum. The soft blades of new spring grass are painted with purple and white crocus blooms. Birds are pleasantly chirping from behind the cover of the leaves, and squirrels scamper up and down the trees while gathering acorns. It is an inviting place that many people would love to have, just beyond of the confines of their home. With or without the trees, it is something that anyone with property can own and enjoy.
My grandmother had a welcoming cottage style porch. She chose to decorate and furnish it in ways that enhanced the charm and inherent appeal of the property. It had an enchanted ambiance because of the natural surroundings, but her personal touches made it special. She used creative methods to furnish and decorate her outdoor space, and I would love to recreate it when I own another home.
Begin With Color Above and Below
When looking for creative ways to decorate and furnish a cottage style porch, begin with a protective coating of color. My grandmother painted the floor of her beautiful wooden deck deep midnight blue. The surrounding latticework, posts and balusters were lily white. The deep blue and contrasting white gave her cottage style porch a relaxing and welcoming appearance, and it was a place where we sat and enjoyed cool drinks and pleasant conversations.
Decorate your cottage style deck with color rather than staining it brown or painting it solid white or gray. If it is a covered deck with an overhang, consider giving the ceiling a touch of vibrancy. Paint it to match the lightest shade of blue found in sky on a breezy spring day. A sky-blue overhang is absolutely beautiful, and it is something that I would add if I had a cottage style porch with an overhang.
Add Comfy Cottage Style Furnishings
My grandmother chose to furnish and decorate her cottage style porch with comfy indoor/outdoor furnishings. It was outfitted with a woven wicker table and chair set. The chairs had thick water-resistant cushions that were incredibly comfortable. Her table did not require an umbrella since the deck had a gabled roof. The porch was similar to a gazebo, but it had four sides and was not screened-in. However, it was just as charming and quaint because of the way she chose to furnish and decorate it.
Furnish your porch with comfortable high-quality items. Do not choose anything of lesser quality than what you would bring into your home. Whether the furnishings are made from natural materials or composites, they should be able to stand up to inclement weather and years of use.
Decorate and Furnish Your Cottage Style Porch With Flowers and More
In any case, be sure to incorporate flowers and plants into the design of your cottage style porch. Decorate the rails with hanging boxes of beautiful blooming flowers combined with trailing vines. If the area offers plenty of shade, hang ferns in pretty lined baskets. They will lend natural beauty to a porch with cottage style, and they will last many seasons when brought in for the winter.
Source: Personal and Professional Home Decorating and Design Experience