5 Inexpensive Spring Updates for your Porch & Patio

It may be a little too early to plant all your window boxes or add annuals to your landscaping, but it's not too early to brighten up your porch or patio for the spring.

Here are 5 quick and relatively inexpensive ways to add some bang to your porch without breaking the bank. 

1. Spray Paint Tired Planters.
No need to buy new when you can spray paint your pots back to life. Here are some planters with pattern, color and texture that pop!  

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In addition to painting your pots, think about using plants that will look good the entire year. I use small boxwoods in my large porch planters that stay outside all year long. If your planter is large enough, they should stay mostly green all year - even in the harshest of winters. We got 80" of snow this winter but these babies stayed green all year! Here are my pots "before" their makeover. 

2. Use Moss.
Dress window boxes and smaller planters with moss until you can plant flowers or foliage. This stuff grows anywhere and it looks much better than a box of dirt. 

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Moss will also transition from season to season. In the spring with bulbs to the winter with bare branches. 

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3.  Hang A Wreath.
You can DIY or buy a simple wreath with some color just to brighten the space. Here is a DIY wreath made of painted, leaf shaped paper. 

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4. Update Outdoor Pillows. 
You don't have to buy expensive outdoor pillows to spruce up your patio or deck. These are made of inexpensive burlap and fabric paint. 

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And for those of you who don't sew on a regular basis, Ashley fom The Handmade Home recommends the ease of a hand held sewing machine. It is great for quick sewing jobs like making pillows, adding detail to curtains and hemming pants. 

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Here are two indoor/outdoor fabrics I found on Fabric.com for under $10/yard!

For those who have a sewing machine, here is a great tutorial on  how to make outdoor pillows with a zipper.

5. Paint A Rug. 
You can DIY your own outdoor rug with painter's tape, porch & deck paint, and a canvas drop cloth. Simply sew the edges of a canvas drop cloth to your desired size and create a design using painter's tape. You can sew a rug gripper to the back of the drop cloth for added weight if you want. 

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Or skip the tape and use a stencil on a sisal rug to create your design. 

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And for the bold and daring, paint a rug right onto your concrete using a stencil. For a complete tutorial, click here.

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I will be incorporating some of these ideas in my own front porch later this week. . . that is, after the snow melts!

Happy Creating! {Erin}