on your porch, but if they’re sleek white it’s cool,” says Teich.
KICK THE KITSCH
Seasonal decorating often turns extravagant when porches are involved. Homeowners can get a little decorating-obsessed when showing off all their seasonal adornments. A giant inflatable Santa may be fun for the neighborhood kids, but it doesn’t have a place on an elegantly decorated porch. Trade the junky stuff for reclaimed furniture, antique lanterns and other grown-up pieces that would be appropriate throughout the year. And the less kitschy stuff you purchase, the more money you can put toward better products for your porch, says Sara Jenkins-Sutton, vice president of Topiarus. “Be careful what you buy,” she says. “A lot of holiday decor is made with inexpensive materials and can fall apart fast. We recommend avoiding anything that is inflatable Use winter greenery in your porch decor or plastic, no matter how colorful and fun it looks. We would much rather see consumers invest in quality and purchase less.” Step back from your porch and take in the overall scene. If it’s too overwhelming, just remove or rearrange a few pieces to create some balance. The “less is more” mantra definitely applies in this situation.
CREATE A HOMEY FEEL
Spread holiday spirit with your porch
As the year winds down, people become a little more nostalgic, craving the comforts of home. It’s no wonder why – November and December in particular are months that remind people of good times spent with close friends and family. Decorate your porch with these feelings of warmth and cheer in mind. Give visitors to your home a friendly welcome with a homemade wreath. One simple option is to wrap twigs or leaves with a delicate piece of ribbon, suggests Dawn Newkirk, director of fashion merchandising for Gorman’s Home Furnishings & Interior Design. Or,
Ho m e Bu ilde r s A s s oci ati on of T ri - C i t i e s , W A
you can shake up the traditional pine cone-and-evergreen wreath with materials like brightly colored feathers, Teich says. Don’t stop at the door – decorate your porch as if it were another room in your home. All you have to do is bring the outside in, says Kate Campbell of HGTV’s “Decked Out” and “Deck Wars.” Simply incorporate decorative outdoor rugs and weather-resistant cushions, pillows and throw blankets into the seating area of your porch. No hammock or swing to lounge in? No problem, says Newkirk. Simply pick up some weathered wooden chairs from an antique or thrift store for an instantly cozy feel. “One of my favorite things to do with an outdoor space is to create a ‘comfort zone,’ such as a hammock area or a conversation nook with built-in lounges – somewhere cozy with lots of pillows and blankets where you can curl up with a good book or a good friend, and stay Continued on page 31
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