We are just coming off of our Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada and have been enjoying the most beautiful weather. While there still may technically be one month left of spring, that glorious summer vibe has arrived! Yes, my friends, it’s time to fire up the BBQs, relax on the patio, and breathe in that fresh air!
Today I am joining 14 other amazing bloggers to bring you some beautiful outside inspiration. We are all sharing one of our favorite summer outdoor spaces or project ideas, so be sure to check out all of the links towards the end of the post. For even more inspiration, we would love to have you join in our summer link party and show us what you have been working on in your outdoor areas. And for those of you that would still like to spruce up your spaces, we are also offering a $300 PayPal cash giveaway to one lucky reader!
Whew! Did you get all that? 😉
Before we get to all of the other goodies though, I wanted to start off by showing you our front porch decor. We have been working hard on the yard for this month’s Household Organization Diet, and while we still have lots of work to do out back, the front yard is now done!
We started on things a few weekends ago with gutter cleaning {yuck!} and a good power washing of the driveway and front walkway. Power washing is one of those tasks that actually starts out kind of fun, but by the time you are hitting your 6th hour, the fun has definitely worn off. It did make a huge difference though, so I would say that it was worth it in the end.
Next we repainted the porch and gave the ceiling a coat of black as well. I wasn’t quite sure if I liked it when we first finished, but it really does make the curved ceiling pop. One of my awesome readers over on Instagram suggested adding a little chunkier molding to the doorway and I really love that idea. We just need to get all of the regular yardwork done and then I think I will look into that more. 😉
Once all that was done, all that was left was the fun part – decorating! I headed down to Home Depot to pick up some flowers for my planters {I used some petunias, a geranium, and a dracaena for each} and a couple of hanging baskets. I usually do a lot of reds with my flowers, but stuck more with a pink and purple color scheme this year.
For the past few years I have purchased these wooden hanging baskets – they look beautiful as the season progresses and the flowers start to trail down. Once the summer is over, I re-purpose the baskets for some fall and winter baskets {and I’m also currently working on one other project with them!}
For all of the final touches, I made a trip down to Home Sense and picked up a pretty door mat and these colorful pink gum boots!
I used the Fleurs box as a planter last year but the flowers didn’t do very well in there so I decided to use it more as a little gardening caddy this year. I think it adds a little fun touch!
And lastly, I made a 5 minute wreath for the door. I already had the wreath form from a previous project and just purchased a couple of stems of the paper flowers {also from Home Sense}. All I had to do was cut the flowers off and hot glue them to the wreath and I was done.
And there you have it! One front porch all ready for summer!
So are you ready for some more outdoor inspiration? Be sure to check out all of these other amazing decorating ideas and outdoor projects! They should give you just the motivation you need to get going on your yard! 😉
Setting for Four / Sand and Sisal / Domestically Speaking
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia / Cupcakes and Crinoline / DIY Show Off
At the Picket Fence / StoneGable / Debbie Doos
Redhead Can Decorate / On Sutton Place / Clean and Scentsible
Yesterday on Tuesday / Top This Top That / Town and Country Living
For those of you that have already been working away on your outdoor spaces {or would like to share some of their favorite projects from previous years}, just add your link below! We would love to see what you have been up to!
[inlinkz_linkup id=527259 mode=1]
And finally, it is GIVEAWAY TIME!!! To celebrate the start of summer we have an awesome Sensational Spaces Summer Outdoor Spaces cash giveaway! Just follow the prompts on the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win $300 USD in PAYPAL CASH!!!
Good Luck! xo
love the idea of the wooden planter boxes. do you have to put drainage holes in them? I love the black. it makes such a statement. you are so right about pressure cleaning. my arms vibrate for days.
lol! For the wooden planter bloxes, you don’t need to add any drain holes as it can seep out the sides. 😉
Love decorating my deck with flowers
My deck, it’s like another room for us!
I love decorating my patio!
I absolutely love this look, wish I could do it.
Thanks!
Hi Jenn, I love that arch you have on the front porch!!! sper cute!! Thanks for hosting. I added the party link at the bottom of my posts! xoxoxo Christine from LIttle Brags
Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Your summer space is so pretty, Jenn, and I love those hanging wooden baskets. They add such a nice distinct element to the area.
I’m so happy to be partying with you!
hugs, mb
Thanks Mary Beth! Always love partying with you too! 😉
I love following your page… I just love your porch space. I do agree that the black on the curved ceiling really brings it to life 🙂
Thanks so much Summer!
Love all the inspiration from this blog post. WOW!@ Got my gardening clothes on and am ready to add some new inspiration in our back yard and in the house. Your front door is gorgeous. Love all your plants, too. Thanks again for all the inspiration
lol! Have fun gardening!
I’d love to decorate our patio!
This is our 2nd summer in our house and we are focusing outdoors this year….the front porch spruced up will make such a difference!
I love to decorate my front porch but this year we are renovating an old backyard garden shed so I am looking forward to decorating it with comfy furnishings that we can relax and enjoy the outdoors in the evening 🙂
Oh that sounds amazing!! What a fun project!
I love to decorate my back patio. Its where I sit and relax and watch the kids play on the swing set.
I love to decorate my back patio. It’s where we all hangout.
Our deck gets the most attention as entryway is not suited to changes because of layout.
Love the black; really does emphasize the curve. Love the wooden box for boots, too cute!
Nice to have the warmth back with fresh air (in western Canada)!
Thanks for the inspiration. Let’s all take time to stop and smell the flowers and have a cool one.
Yes, let’s all have a cool one! 😉 The weather has been so nice this past week – I am hoping it is not just a teaser and will last throughout the summer!
I love the black! We have cement paint for our front porch and have yet to use it 🙁 I won’t say how long we’ve had it. Maybe with cooler weather here tomorrow I’ll find the time to get it started!
Everything is so pretty! Love the black with the pops of green! Pinned
I always have to spruce up my screened porch after the Spring pollen fest is done… that’s where my family hangs out all summer. Thanks for the chance to win some cash to get started!
I love that curved ceiling – wow!
Thanks for great inspiration
I really love your front porch – the black curved ceiling, porch and door trim is so dramatic and makes the whole area special. I do have to admit, though, that the off-center lantern really distracts. Any way that it could be wired to hang from the center? With that done, your porch would look like something out of a magazine. You have a great eye for décor ….
Funny – I never really thought much about that. The hook was already there when we moved in, but you’re right, it probably would look much better centered. Of course, I wouldn’t actually be able to reach it with our regular step ladder but might be one more thing to add to my hubby’s list! 😉
I thought it a porch light – it certainly looks like one – and would fool the eye for sure if it was centered and hanging on a chain. Just a thought ….
I love drama!!! Not in my life, but in my decor. And your porch is a drama queen! I adore it and your style! I say BRAVO!!!!
I decorate my front porch first because you can see my front porch from the street. This year I planted deep pink hydrangea with trailing ivy in large French urns placed by the front door. I added a sandwich chalkboard for notes to welcome guests. New pillows on our setee and a solar lantern. So pretty!
Oh that sounds gorgeous!! There is nothing more welcoming than a pretty entry!
I love the way you’ve maximized the impact of this space! I would NEVER have thought of painting the ceiling black, but oh my goodness it looks fabulous! Your entry looks so welcoming, so ready for the warm weather. Beautiful!
Thanks so much for hosting this link-up! I’m so glad to be able to participate and appreciate the chance to share my own front porch. 🙂
Thanks so much and I look forward to seeing your front porch as I go through all of the links. Happy Summer!
Your front porch is so pretty and I just love the pops of color!!
We recently bought a house. Still doing landscaping in our backyard and need all these ideas for decoration.
So pretty! Love the black with the pops of summer color!!
Jenn I LOVE your black porch… it just draws you in to all your beautiful flowers!
The flower’s colors really pop with all the black on the porch. Very pretty!
Thanks Kim!
How lovely! The black paint really sets everything off!
Thanks Bettsi!
Thanks for the chance.
The wooden planter boxes are fantastic-it’s time for me to get back in the workshop and start building again. Thanks for the inspiration.
Carole
Wow, it looks so pretty I love the flower planters and the bright colours, looks amazing. Thank you for sharing and joining our Oh My Heartsie Girl Wordless Wednesday Link Party.. Have a great day, co-host Evija @Fromevijawithlove
I love your decorating inspiration. I am going to be redoing my front porch soon and love these ideas to help me get started and know where to go with it. Thank you so much for sharing your creativity at Motivational Monday link party. Have a great weekend!
Bethany from The Southern Couture
Absolutely gorgeous!! I need to work on our front porch, it’s looking boring. You’ve inspired me; my poor husband. 🙂
XOXO
p.s Thanks for sharing with us at Mommy Monday!
What a great front porch! I love seeing how everyone else decorates for summer and I especially love the bin for your gardening tools and boots. Thanks for sharing at Motivational Monday! I hope you’ll join us again this week 🙂
We have a very small front porch but this gave me a great idea to put a hanging plant in the area – it would be perfect!
Glad it was helpful! 🙂
My front porch needs some serious TLC. Thanks for all the great decor ideas & for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty 🙂