Welcome to my back porch! This little room is truly all mine. No one in my family ever had any interest in spending time here…even when there was a TV. So over the years I have changed the fabrics and accessories to reflect whatever decorating phase I was in at the moment. It’s been black and white toile, Lilly Pulitzer-inspired pink and green, and recently blue and white. It’s only been in the past five or six years that I have truly figured out my personal style. Outdoor decor is a great place to start if you want to experiment with personalizing your space. Begin with a neutral background and see what works…and what doesn’t.
My personal style is a mixed bag of classic, vintage and farmhouse. Inside I have formal, dark wood pieces that live with inexpensive items from IKEA. Vintage ironstone and enamelware are used alongside heirloom silver. If I love something, I make it work in my space. So naturally, these same things are reflected in the outdoor decor of my back porch.
The combination of blue and white is one of the most widely-used and loved color schemes. I have always had blue in my home. The very first sofa we purchased was navy blue with tiny little red dots. I adored it. Even though my main pieces are now mostly neutral, I still love a punch of color somewhere. For my porch, I got that from these incredible rugs from Oriental Weavers.
Click to shop: Oriental Weavers Caspian Outdoor Rug
This room is long and narrow so I used two 5 x 8 rugs and laid them end to end. The minute I had them in place I knew I absolutely LOVED them!
With the rugs down, I was able to use most of the existing accessories to put the porch together. The only changes I made were the new white valances and I recovered the wicker sofa cushions with vintage white matelasse.
One question that is asked quite often is what I do when it rains and the honest answer is that I don’t worry about it. Yes…things get wet. They also quickly dry out and I’ve never had anything ruined. A ceiling fan is really helpful to dry out the fabrics after a rain. For years I put up with a noisy, rusted fan with wonky blades. Thankfully that fan is long gone and in it’s place is this beauty from Minka Aire.
Click to shop! Minka Aire White Ceiling Fan
In all my rooms, including my outdoor spaces, fabric plays a major roll. For this look (and it may change any minute!) I’ve used inexpensive IKEA pillow covers, vintage grain sack and chevron. What makes it work is the color scheme. Everything is blue and white. I may add a pop of green but for now this is it.
Of course we all have our own special way of decorating a space. Your personal style should be reflected in your decor, both inside and out. Finding that style is as simple as collecting what you love and adding it to your decor. Every so often when I post my decor here on the blog my daughter will say “It’s very you.” To me, that is the best compliment ever.
You might also like: Summer Porch Decor (Back Porch 2014)
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