I don’t know about you all, but every year after I’ve cleared away all the Christmas decorations I go through a period of readjusting to how bare everything looks. It’s the time of the year when I’m most in the mood to deep clean, rearrange rooms, and add in color just to breathe new life into the spaces of my home that suddenly look a little lackluster. And the front porch tends to be one of the hardest hit areas in this way. So I’ve put together a post full of pictures for anyone needing some inspiration to jump into project planning mode for the new year!

It’s no secret that Charleston does both outdoor living and hospitality well. The combination of the two means that this is one of the best places in the South to find inspiration for front porch living. Until I moved here, I didn’t realize that the front porch is basically viewed as an exterior “room” of the home. It’s not just a place to wipe your feet and walk through the door; it’s a place for living – like an outdoor family room that you’ve opened to the public. I love how inviting that philosophy is!

And even if you’re not considering making any changes to your own porch this year, you can still enjoy scrolling through some pretty images of Charleston porches! Enjoy!

Update #1: Change out your front door…or give it a fresh coat of paint!

Paint is a simple and cheap way to add a quick facelift to the front of your home. Charleston goes all in on front door color and effortlessly achieves that bright, coastal vibe this way. I love driving through the neighborhoods here and seeing all the pops of color. If you’re wanting a bigger change, switching out your painted door for a wood-stained option can always add big charm.

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Update #2: Plants, Plants, Plants

Again, this is a relatively cheap addition to your front porch and steps. I like placing planters with some height next to the front door and tend to use the three-part approach to filling them: something with height, something to fill, and something to spill over the edge and cascade down the container. Smaller potted plants along the porch steps can easily be changed out to hold seasonal florals throughout most of the year. Hanging baskets are also a popular choice in the south. Ferns do extremely well in hanging baskets here and when watered regularly can grow to be very big and lush.

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Update #3: Add some cozy seating.

Given that the southern front porch is a place for spending time with your family and your neighbors, it’s important to have comfy seating options. Most front porches here have rocking chairs, benches, porch swings, couches, or a mixture of the above. And all of these options also offer the opportunity to add a pop of color or seasonal decor by adding accent pillows or throws. Pull it all together with an outdoor rug and you’ve got a front porch that you’ll love spending time on.