Front Porch Decorating Ideas With Lanterns

Easy and affordable front porch ideas

(If you are only here to find the plaid rug (don't worry, I won't judge you) you can find it here. I linked other options below in case it sells out again.) Links to everything on my front porch (or links to similar items) are listed at the bottom of this post.

Back to your regular scheduled programming…

(This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. You can see my full disclosure policy here)

One day it felt like winter and the next day it was 85 degrees and nasty humid out. I am currently drenched in sweat and on a mad dash trying to get my front porch ready for summer. Mother Nature gave me absolutely no time to get this porch cleaned and ready for porch season.

I've had a mini Christmas tree on my front porch from when I decorated the front porch for Christmas until just a few weeks ago. Sadly, it never looked out of place with this crazy weather we had this year.

Decor Ideas For Your Front Porch

Now it's time to break out the good stuff again…like my pillows. I had them stored in the basement and safe from mean ol' Mr. Winter. I couldn't wait to get them back out.

They are the same from last year and are holding up great. I purchased mine from Walmart and I do not think they have them again this year. I just found a very similar version on Amazon and they come in multiple colors.

Outdoor Decorating Ideas Front Porch Decor

Layer your doormat

My plaid rug is still kicking it out here too. It's hands down the number one thing I get asked about on my porch. ~~Sadly, it's out of stock.~~ (Update-It's restocked!!! You can find it here.)

And it's out of stock again (ugh!). There are others so don't you worry. I've linked a few other options below.

This rug (and this)would be a great replacement and has great reviews. This striped rug would be cute too. I've also had a few people ask where I found my coir rug. I purchased mine at Walmart and they might still carry them. You can find a similar one here and here. This one is hilarious and I am so tempted to get it.

Front Porch Decorating Ideas

Paint your front door

Another popular question about this porch is my door color. It's Nature's Reflection by Behr. I've painted all my exterior doors this color as well as a few interior doors. You can see how I paint my doors here. Painting your front door can be one of easiest things you can do to transform your front porch.

Front Porch Decor

Front Porch Decorating Ideas

Decorate your front door

I've been constantly fighting with my wreath too. As you can see she no longer lives on my front door. I lost the battle. I gave her a little update recently and not even one week after I had her up on my door, birds started stealing my eucalyptus to make a nest.

I took that as a sign. I installed a door knocker in it's place. Any by "installed" I really mean I used command strips to secure that bad boy on the door. Let's see those birds try to take my door knocker and make a nest with it. Jokes on them.

Front Porch Decor Ideas

Create an outdoor sitting area

My Aldi rocking chairs are still doing just fine. We do not sit out here as much as we should but when we do, I will have to say our bums are comfy despite the fact that these rockers were not my first pick…well, they weren't my pick at all.

I always get nervous when the big guy takes my minivan anywhere. You never know what he'll come home with.

New affordable outdoor planters

My favorite change to my front porch this year (since there wasn't a whole lot that needed changed) is the switcheroo of my planters. The black urns we've had here we're falling apart and crumbling.

I was on a mission to find new ones and it came to a screeching halt when I saw these bad boys at Walmart.

Outdoor Decorating Ideas

I feel in love instantly. They are legit planters…as in, they weigh 652 pounds. I had to have the big guy go back and get them for me. It wasn't as easy as I wished. These planters were slim pickings at our local Walmart stores.

A few had chips or cracks. For a few weeks I went on a Walmart planter hunt until I found two perfect ones. I've been trying to find them online for you guys but I am coming up with nothing.

I'll report back if I can find them online. I would have driven to another state to get these planters if I had to. It might sound ridiculous but they are that good. (Totally off subject, Walmart has been kicking butt lately in the outdoor decor department. If you don't believe me…go check it out…and maybe pick up a planter.)

I'm not entirely sure what I planted in these planters either. I think it'll grow up to be a bush so we'll see how this goes. It's supposed to grow to 3 feet tall. I'm sure I will kill it long before that. I kind of did a eenie meenie miney mo at the nursery.

Plants are still so foreign to me. I can rock a faux plant like no one's business but put roots on it and I'm done.

I also "thinned out" the area by our front door. I had a giant black planter by the door and it just seemed confused. It was so big I never planted anything in it and it was throwing off the symmetry. I moved it to the one corner of the front porch so it can just sit there confused now.

I made the little planter using a trash can and it turned out pretty cute. I threw in some fresh flowers from the store and my yard. A few lanterns never hurt anyone either.

Front Porch Decorating Ideas On A Budget

I did a little cleaning out here too and need to do more. Birds really do love my front porch and you can tell. They like to leave all kinds of presents for me. I need to hose it down…again. It was a pretty easy refresh. You can see all I originally did to the front porch last year here.

A few changes made a big ol difference out here. Sunshine helps too. I am really going to try to sit out here this year. I loved a good front porch in college. It was the perfect place to ~~have a party~~ study and drink lemonade. Maybe I should channel my inner college student.

Inexpensive front porch decorating ideas. How to make your front porch more inviting by using paint to transform your front porch.

Most of my front porch decor is from last year but I'll try to link up some similar items:

~Pillows : I bought mine at Walmart last year and they have other nice ones out this year. I can't say enough about the Better Homes and Gardens line at Walmart. Like I said above (if you were paying attention) I found these on Amazon that are very similar to the ones I have now.

~Rockers : These bad boys came from Aldi last year. It looks like they might be bringing them back this year. That price though!!! I couldn't say no. And they are seriously holding up great. Nothing to complain about. I will not lie though, I secretly would have loved to have these lining my porch. Or these. Swoon…

~Planters : I cannot for the life of me find mine online and I have a master's degree in internet stalking. I'm really having a hard time finding any large planters online. I found these and these online that are cute. I've seen alot of nice ones at all kinds of places…even Aldi had some nice ones. Big Lot and Home Goods had cute ones too. (I recently did a whole blog post about outdoor planter ideas where you can find some more planters)

~Rug : My rug is hard to find anymore online. There are a few left on Amazon. This one though is so good and the price is great. If stripes are your jam this rug is cute. This one is cute as well.

~Lanterns: I purchased my lanterns years ago but these are very cute

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Front Porch Decor Ideas