Porches

When we purchased our home in 1989 it wasn't the recent updated new floor tiles in the foyer, kitchen and bathrooms, the ceramic counter tops or the spacious recreation room that I fell in love with.  Nor was it the walnut kitchen cabinets or the built in vacuum system.  Not so desirable today because you see everything eventually gets outdated.  But there is one thing in my house that I was smitten by and that I will never find out dated and that is my front porch. I love sitting along with my hubby in the Adirondack chairs he surprised me with on our wedding anniversary a few years ago.  Many times we have sat in those chairs on our porch during a summer evening sipping iced tea in a mason jar.  (tea seems to taste better in a mason jar) I read an article that said in the late 1800's, front porches of all sizes graced the majority of houses built in the U.S.  Don't see as many today.  Porches are so charming aren't they?  Southern hospitable, inviting. welcoming are words that come to mind.  It's the first thing a guest will see when walking up to your door and makes the first impression about your home.  When we walk up to a clean and inviting porch or front door area it can be so uplifting.

At the start of every new year my porch is always in need of a good cleaning and sprucing up.  How is your porch or front door area looking?  It only takes about 15 minutes to tidy up your porch and make it more welcoming.  Step outside with me and lets survey our porches to see what we need to do to tidy them up and make them more inviting.  Here's a list of things we can do:
1. sweep porch
2. clean cobwebs
3. clean door and windows
4. prune back bushes and plants.  pinch off any dead leaves or flowers in potted plants.  Replace if needed.
5. clean porch light and touch up with paint if needed.
6. wipe down hand rails
7. wipe down furniture,  tables and chairs
8. remove cobwebs off door wreath
9. sweep off door mat
10. remove any items that don't belong

If you need to make your porch more welcoming maybe you could add a wreath on the door, a new welcome mat, buy a new porch light or place a potted plant or flowers next to the door.  Just a little effort can make a huge difference, it can make something ordinary into something extraordinary!