Southern State of Mind Blog by Heather

Our Back Porch is (finally) Ready for Summer

in Inspiration on

I was finally able to get the back porch finished over the weekend! Between the rain and pollen (oh yeah, and an almost-two-year old running around non-stop), this space came together in 15 minute increments over the past couple weeks.
10 minutes here after work, 15 minutes there on the weekends…


Here is the new and improved beach house inspired back porch.
She is open and ready for summer entertaining! Come on over, y’all!


THE AFTER

 

As a reminder, after the winter months,
the back porch was a hot mess and in need of some serious lovin’!


THE BEFORE

 

Now the porch is a little more inviting and comfortable.
I look forward to summer nights relaxing in this space!
Oh yeah, did I mention it doesn’t have to cost much either? We are fortunate that the bigger, more expensive pieces were already purchased, so to give this space some personality cost less than $100.
First thing I tackled was the DIY Ballard Inspired Striped Rug-
click here for all of the details on how this was made for $20.
The plants are kind of magical. I don’t know what they are actually called, but my family refers to them as “eye-poker-plants” due to their leaves. When winter comes, I literally pull them down into our storage in the basement- zero water, zero sun. Then pull them back out in the summer- and they require zero watering all summer. I have been doing this for 4 years and they just keep on keepin’ on. #thosearemykindofplants

 

The coral Sunbrella cushions were a bit mildewed so I threw them in the wash and they came out good as new. Added some outdoor throw pillows to the seating areas to add some pattern and extra comfort.

The plastic Adirondacks were $2 each at a garage sale a few years back. When I got them, they were green, nothing a little brown spray paint can’t fix. Those  pillows were old faded outdoor pillows that I covered with an old beach towel. I’ll be back later to show you how I did those!

 

The shutters were at my parents basement just waiting to find a home!
I painted them with leftover navy spray paint from the rug. I think it gives the space the lake-house feel I was after.
Mr. Koi came from Pier 1 and will make a great citronella candle holder on the dining table to help keep the bugs away.
Mr. Hen is content growing a sweet potato vine.

 

 

The string of lights was one of the first projects we did when we moved in. We just nailed in some 2×2’s to the railing to give them something to hook to on the opposite side of the house. Shockingly, the lights and the boards have lasted over 3 years and still make great extra lighting at night!

 

 

 

I think the deck will make a great spot for pouring blowing bubbles this summer, don’t you?

 

And watching Georgia moonlight through the pines (name that tune!)

 

Bella approves too!

 

Sources/Costs:

 

Striped Rug: DIY $20
Green Ikat Outdoor Pillows: Big Lots/ $10 each
Navy Trellis Outdoor Pillows: Target (had, last season)
Small teak table: Thrifted/ $4
Orange tin Lantern: Thrifted/ $3
Blue tin buckets: Target dollar spot (last year)
Navy Striped Outdoor Pillows: DIY/ Free (will be back with a tutorial!)
Navy & Blue Hen Planter: Thrifted/ $10
Blue & White Tablecloth: My big splurge from Hobby Lobby/ $16
Koi Fish: Another splurge! Pier One- $15
Multi-Colored Striped Pillow: Pottery Barn but thrifted for me/ $3
Shutters: Free! (from my Mom)

Related posts:

Fall on the Porch Back Porch Dreaming Back Porch Deck-orating Ferns & Flags- A Southern Summer Front Porch

Comments

  3. Hi! Saw you over at the Outdoor Extravaganza… love your lake theme. Our deck is on a lake and looks like we have some similar ideas for it! I love the lights you added, I am thinking that would be fun at our house as well… What a fun looking place to spend your time outdoors! Great job:)
    Krista

    Reply

    • Thanks so much! I just checked out your house- um- seriously- that living room wall mural is perfection. I love that you are actually ON a lake, I will live vicariously through you as I sit on my porch and look at my backyard and driveway! 🙂

      Reply

  5. I am so envious! You have done such a fabulous job! I am impressed you can use your patio over the summer, when I used to live in Virginia, the bugs were sooo bad! Thanks for linking up!

    Reply

  10. Hi, I just saw your patio on the Outdoor Extravaganza Party. I love all of the thrifty ideas you had for improvements like the painted rug and beach towel pillows. I especially love your lights. Where does a person find lights like those? I see them in pictures and on TV, but I've never seen them in a store, I would love some on my patio. Great job!

    Reply

    • Hi! I found the lights at target a couple years ago. We used two strands for our porch and they have held up for over three years! I am not sure if they still carry them though. Good luck and thanks so much for your note!

      Reply

  11. Very inviting and pretty! Just wondering though why you have the couch facing the house as opposed to the back of the couch placed under the window so you can look out onto your yard?

    Reply

    • That is a great suggestion, I honestly had never thought to do that. I will be doing some rearranging to see how it works! Thanks for the suggestion!

      Reply

  12. I love your porch furniture and all of the patterns you've used – they look great together. My next house WILL have string lights (we're renting right now and I don't think our landlord would appreciate us nailing anything to the exterior).

    Reply

    • Seriously, I bought a couple hanging baskets and they are already drooping and it's not even June!?!?!? I really should just stick with these kind of plants!!! Thanks for stopping in! 🙂

      Reply

  15. Your deck was not such a hot mess before — a perfect blank canvas, actually!

    But I think you accessorized very well and now it's very lovely and inviting. Good job!

    Reply

  17. Hi I was just wondering if you knew the name for these plants I love the modern look of them and the low maintence of them as well! Beautiful porch by the way!

    Reply

  18. What a beautiful deck! I love all the bright, summery colors and the lights you have strung up. Enjoy your time out there! PS – I found you through your link on Savvy Southern Style. I hope that you will come over to my blog and visit me, too. 🙂

    Reply

  19. Such a welcoming outdoor room! I love the colour choices and the way you've laid out the furniture in different zones. Great job 🙂
    Iv just knocked out a window to create a dooryway that will go onto a deck …. but the deck hasnt been built yet! When it is Ill be coming back here for some inspiration on how to furnish and decorate it 🙂

    Reply

  22. Really nice ! It's definitely the kind of place you want to hang out in, with a glass of wine and Serrano ham … I love the string lights, and the combination of patterns is perfect. Thanks for sharing this !

    Reply

  23. What a gorgeous transformation! I am working on a little coastal/lake side style on my front porch and am inspired by some of your patterns/colors. I have some green, some orange…thinking I need some navy!
    Beautiful!
    Anne @ circusberry.wordpress.com

    Reply

  24. Hello @Southern State of Mind! I love love love your hanging lights and would love to get some for our deck. Do yours have to be plugged in? I'm just curious if you have ideas for electricity if there isn't an electrical outlet.

    Thanks so much!

    Reply

  26. Hello, On you post " Our Back Porch is (finally) Ready for Summer" Can you tell me how those wood posts that are standing straight up are attached to your deck? Are they secured there year around or do you just put them up in the summer. I'm trying to do bulb lights as you did, but I do not have anything to attach them to. Many thanks.

    Reply

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