Small Front Porch Ideas for Summer

Use these small front porch ideas to make your outdoor space cozy & comfortable. Budget-friendly small porch ideas add curb appeal & style!

No one knows better than me how challenging it can be to make a tired, old space seem new and fresh. No place is that more true than our front porch. Over the years, we’ve done small, easy projects to update the door area and it’s come a long way since we bought the house. In addition to all the things we did around the door, we added a white porch railing. Once the porch background was finished, I was able to concentrate on accessories and the process of seasonal updates became much easier.

{Affiliate links included. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.}

small front porch blue door white railing

These small porch ideas will work for any size porch. Of course, if you have a bigger space, you can add more if there is room in your budget. A bigger seating area, more planters, maybe even a rug.

small front porch ideas white rocker blue striped pillow

Small Porch Ideas

Depending on your budget, you can swap out just one or two things, or give the entire porch a seasonal update. I don’t re-invent the wheel each time because that would just be too hard and very expensive. Here are the things I change with each new season:

  • the door wreath
  • seasonal flowers or greenery in the planters
  • the doormat
  • soft furnishings on the rockers
  • accessories and plants in the sitting area

small porch ideas rockers flowers pillows

Small Front Porch Ideas: A Few Tips

  • Recycle and reuse. Keep your doormats and use them over again. If they are in good shape, there is no reason not to keep them. I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I actually have quite a collection of doormats. (Call me crazy!) I don’t always buy a new one…many times I use what I have. The same goes for your soft furnishings (if you use them on your porch.) If you have some pillows that you’ve used inside for a few years, take them outside. I guarantee they will feel new again!

small front porch ideas bicycle doormat

  • Use inexpensive annuals for your pots with a little fresh potting soil. It’s not necessary to change all of the potting soil each time you switch the plants. For an added boost, water the annuals with Jack’s All Purpose Plant Food.

small front porch white rockers impatiens lanterns



  • Go for something unexpected. For example, if you have an electrical outlet, add a lamp. I had a lamp on my porch for years until I switched to the lanterns. It weathered very well and never blew over. Another idea is a sign that says “welcome” or “gather.” Anything that adds your signature style is always perfect.

Now that you’ve seen my latest small front porch ideas, here’s a look back at previous years. Some things change, but most things remain the same.

Summer Front Porch 2017

small front porch white rocker blue gingham pillow

Spring into Summer Front Porch 2016

Spring into Summer Porch Refresh | Easy touches of spring that will go right into summer. Ideas and inspiration for your outdoor space.

Easy Spring Porch Refresh 2015

Easy Spring Porch Refresh | Ideas for taking what you already have and making it look new. Budget friendly ways to refresh your outdoor space!

Most items on our
front porch can be seen
in my Amazon Shop.

Additional sources:
Blue striped pillows
Lanterns
16 inch. Mayne black planter

On Sutton Place Amazon Influencer Shop

Pictured in this post:

Shade Plants for Containers
Summer’s Eve Grapevine Wreath
My Blue Front Door

outdoor extravanga plants flowers

I hope you have time to visit some of the inspirational links below. It’s all about outdoor decorating & entertaining. Enjoy!

outdoor decorating entertaining

Satori Design for Living | Craftberry Bush | Finding Silver Pennies | So Much Better with Age

outdoor decorating entertaining

Zevy Joy | Amber Tysl | Postcards from the Ridge | The Happy Housie

outdoor decorating entertaining

Casa Watkins Living | City Farmhouse | Clean and Scentsible | Vinyet Etc.

outdoor decorating entertaining

Maison de Pax | A Pretty Life | Life on Virginia Street | On Sutton Place | The DIY Mommy

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34 Comments

  1. Hi! Where did you get the stripes baskets from? Thanks!

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Krystle…that came from T.J. Maxx so there’s no link or source. I wish I could be more help!

  2. Ann,
    Your porch is always beautiful and welcoming. I just moved and am looking for front porch rockers to hold up to Ohio winters as they will have to stay outside during the winter. Any suggestions? Thank you.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Marianne…I got the my rockers several years ago from Amazon. They have a hard finish on them that has held up really well. I leave them on the porch year round. Here is an affiliate link to something very similar: https://amzn.to/2TZKNTL. My daughter is building a house and I am buying her two of these as a housewarming gift. You could also check Cracker Barrel. They have lovely rockers.

  3. Love your website! Thought I may be the only person with a deck and front porch rug collection! Can’t part with some of them, but like you..buy new ones occasionally, too..bought an adorable small gray one that says HOME in black lettering from THE DOLLAR TREE!

  4. Ann Herford says:

    Your Porch is always Beautiful, but this one is my all time favorite…

  5. Janice Boucher says:

    Your porch always looks gorgeous! Wish I had a porch. I only have 3 front steps to our front door. Only room for a flower pot on each step. I can only dream and enjoy seeing yours.

  6. Your porch always look beautiful. I LOVE all your tips.

  7. Barb Shannon says:

    Ann, I love your porch with sll the blue and white. Those are my fsvourite colours together. I even have dishes similar to your teacup!
    You always are an inspiration, and so down to earth in an over the top age!
    Thank you for sharing, Barb

  8. Stephanie @ Casa Watkins Living says:

    What a great way to spend a summer day, rocking away and enjoying the view. Beautiful porch and love the special summery touches.

  9. Oh my gosh, I love seeing your porch with that same photo taken each year! How smart of you, Ann! Your porch is beautiful and I love the way you’ve styled it every year.
    Hugs, Jamie

  10. Lovely porch!What do you have in your beautiful planters? Lobelias? Thank you!

  11. Laurie @ Vinyet Etc says:

    Your porch is fresh and so beautiful, I adore how crisp and clean it is… then there is my porch! Such a beautiful space in desperate need of a reno! Fingers are crossed we get to that this year! I love everything you do on your porch – I can totally imagine sitting and relaxing in this beautiful space!

  12. Liz Bender says:

    Hi Anne – this is what I think! Everything you do is ‘spectacular’ – I just love your site …. God Bless!

  13. God willing I will have a wonderful front porch. Just the kind that I have dreamed of. First things first I get are The rockers. I have the cute table and even the lantern.
    I had the house with 3 acres that I liked but this other house is homey with flowers and a nice rose bush. Back yard is dirt and the possibility’s are running rampant.

  14. Little changes make such a difference year over year, don’t they?! We’re planning on making over our porch this summer. It’s been years and definitely needs a little refresh!

  15. SUCH a beautiful front porch, Ann! One day I dream of a long porch like this to decorate for the seasons… and sit and relax a little, on!

  16. Shirley Graham says:

    Love your porch! I have a deck & it is open to above but have table & chairs & flowers! Enjoy every morning as can listen to birds & sit in the sunshine. Would like to know where you found the rug with the bikes on it. Also love your pillows. Thanks!

  17. I don’t know why I torture myself pouring over your porch ideas. I don’t have a porch but would love one.
    Your porch decor is always so fresh and beautiful. We do have a back covered patio so maybe I can use some of your porch ideas out there. There now, I feel a little bit better. I would still love a front porch though.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Believe it or not I know how you feel! I torture myself on Instagram all the time looking at other people’s amazing kitchens. :) You can definitely use most of these ideas on a back patio…expecially if it’s covered. Good luck!

  18. Your style is so elegant yet simple. Love it.

  19. Barbara Redwine says:

    Ann, This isn’t front porch related but I wanted to let you know I tried your easy chicken noodle casserole last night and it was so good I went back for seconds. I was too lazy to go to the store for a rotisserie chicken so I cooked some chicken breasts I had on hand. Next time I’ll use a rotisserie chicken. It was quick to assemble and will definitely be in my rotation now. Thanks for the great recipes.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Yay! You are welcome and thank you so much for letting me know. :)

  20. I have a concrete front porch with wicker chairs,a small round table,a fern and hibiscus plant.I would like to embellish the porch a bit more but it’s difficult to have anything decorative, the deer eat the flowers and the dampness ruins anything fabric or metal.I do get a lot of inspiration from you, love your porch especially the planters.

  21. I love porches. If I were to build a house I would have the house made small but porches all around.

    You are a blessing Anne..
    Thanks

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Perfectly excellent idea!

  22. This might be your best front porch year yet! Wow, is it ever clean! I cant keep the spiders etc away. Thanks for inspiring e – I’ headed out with the broom again.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Nancy…I use a small, cordless blower to keep the porch clean. We have spiders too but I use a basic spider spray from Lowe’s and it really does help.

  23. Thank you for your great porch ideas. You inspired me to add larger rugs at my front door. I bought on sale a gray and yellow print, 4×6 machine washable rug from Target and used it for spring on our covered front porch. I moved a wicker rocker from the guest room ancestral wrapped a yellow tablecloth around the cushion. I added a bunny pillow on clearance from Kohls, and it all looked great. Now I have repeated the look for summer with a red, white and blue theme and another Target rug. I would not have done it without you. Next step, add some lanterns and ferns. That is another super idea. I love your blog. P.S. I also live in the Midwest, central Illinois.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Sounds lovely Janet…enjoy your porch!

  24. Your front porch always looks beautiful . WHere did you get the blue and white striped cover with the white impatiens in it?

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Bev! That’s from T.J. Maxx. I looked and looked for a source but couldn’t find one. It was the only one they had or I would have gotten more!

  25. Thanks for the photos – shows what has remained the same and what has changed over time. Helpful