Good morning! It’s a beautiful day here in the Mitten and I’m starting my day on the porch with a nice cup of hot tea. Yes, I still drink “hot” tea in the summer. Speaking of the porch, today my friend Pasha from Pasha Is Home, is hosting myself and seven of my blogging buddies and we are bringing you scenes from our summer porches. I am going to share some easy decor for a small cottage porch.
I say easy because it’s the summer decor that takes very little time and really works for me on my small porches.
Make your front porch a part of your home, and it will make you a part of the world.
– John Sarris
If this is your first time at my Cottage in the Mitten, welcome! I’m Kim and I am a native Michigander. You will find me sharing my home, DIY’s, my family which I treasure, and a fun lifestyle with my readers. I would love for you to join me here!
Speaking of joining me…if you are joining me from Jessica from The Old Barn, didn’t she share the best tips for making your porch look it’s best? So good!
Affiliate links are used in this post. Read my full disclosure here.
My Cottage Porches
My home is fairly new construction. It was built to replicate one of the old cottages often seen up north in the Mitten. What are some characteristics of these type of cottages you ask? Well let me tell you. Small porches, gable roofs, fun exterior color, and a cupola are just a few of the traits.
My home has three porches and like the characteristics I just told you about, they are not very big. I’m a firm believer that your porch doesn’t have to be big to be charming!
Don’t you agree?
Two of my three porches can be seen from the front of the house. There is the traditional front door with a small porch and a long narrow porch on the side of the house.
The third porch is at the back door which leads out to our patio. If you are new to my blog, you can see my Bright Cottage in the Mitten Summer Patio, that I recently shared.
You may be wondering how to make your small porch more inviting. Let me share with you some of my faorite ideas.
- Add flowers
- Match plants to coordinate each porch and outdoor space
- Scale down the furniture
- Include pillows
- Limit accessories
Adding a pop of color works great in small spaces. The color becomes the focal point and not the size of the space. You can achieve this with flowers, wreaths, pillows and other accessories.
Wreaths
The first thing I add is a wreath to all three doors. Wreaths are the perfect option and I have quite the stockpile from years past. A little tip if you are looking to add to your wreath collection, this is a great time of year to buy summer wreaths on clearance.
This year, two of the three wreaths were some we used at my daughter-in-laws baby shower a few years ago. They have pink peonies with lemons on them and are perfect for summer!
I’ve also had the wreath I chose for my front door for quite some time. It’s ok to shop your home and use what you already have. There is no rule that says you need to purchase new every year.
It’s really important that your wreaths match your flowers. As you might see, the colors are a little different between the wreaths, but from the street and with the colors of flowers I chose, they coordinate and look great!
Flowers, Flowers and More Flowers
Are you a flower person?
I am definitely a flower person and love having them anytime of the year.
I think they are extra special during the warm days of summer.
There’s something so spectacular about all those beautiful colors dancing around together.
I added pots of flowers to all three of my porches. Some I planted myself and some I purchased already potted. Having the flowers on the front two porches coordinate was important to me because both porches can be seen at the same time. I’m not suggesting they be matchy-matchy, just enough alike that it flows.
Having this many pots can be time consuming but, I absolutely love it! It’s like therapy for me!
If you’re looking to save some money, planting your own pots is your best bet. When planting my own, I always add a larger flower to the center and smaller accent flowers around. As a result, it will give you a fuller looking plant. You can see how I did it in my post How To Create An Easy Patriotic Flower Pot.
Another tip, add a colorful pot to the mix.
The Finishing Touches
In the fall, I love to use crates, signs, buckets etc., on my porches. You can see what I mean in my post The Best Fall Home Tour. In the summer, it’s typical for me to have many flowers and those flowers tend to get really big. That’s why I keep the extra accessories to a minimum.
This season, I used some white metal retro chairs on my side and back porches. Adding a pop of color with a pink and white buffalo checked pillow was all I needed.
Easy Decor For A Small Cottage Porch
There you have it! My easy decor for a small cottage porch. Simple steps, full of pops of color!
Remember, bigger isn’t always better. You can make a beautiful entrance to your home with simple steps, full of pops of color!
Next on the tour, is my friend Pasha from Pasha Is Home. She is going to be sharing Three Simple Ideas for a Welcoming Midsummer Front Porch. You won’t want to miss it and make sure you tell her I said hello!
I’m so grateful you stopped by today!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest!
Summer Porch Ideas from 8 Amazing Bloggers
5 Front Porch Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make // Old Barn Company
Easy Decor For A Small Cottage Porch // Cottage in the Mitten
Three Simple Ideas for a Welcoming Midsummer Front Porch // Pasha is Home
Summer Ice Cream Party on the Porch // White Arrows Home
Mid Summer Deck Tour // A Life Unfolding
Inexpensive Porch Makeover // The Glitzy Pear
7 Summer Porch Ideas // Trueman’s Treasures
Backyard Porch Ideas with Planters That Keep Bugs Away // Bricks ‘n Blooms
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Kim that gorgeous container is truly amazing!!!! love your porch!
Thank you, Stacy!
Love those ideas, I have an old wooden rocker that has seen its last days and ready for something new. I love the retro white porch chair with that Buffalo check pillow! Didn’t do flower pots due to a hectic spring, but planning on it for the fall! Thx for the inspiration!
So happy I could inspire you! xoxo
I definitely love flowers and look forward to summer every year! Yours are very colorful, thanks for sharing. I love the quote about the porch! So true!
Thank you Karen!
Stunning containers, Kim. I love that your house has three porches. My favorite wreath is the hot pink peonies and lemons. Those colors together makes my heart sing. I would have hot tea on your porch with you too.
I love that wreath, too! Come on over…I’ll have that pot of tea waiting!
I absolutely love all the flowers! Your porch is beautiful!
Thank you, Kylie!
Kim, your porch and planters look beautiful!
Thank you, Jessica!
Oh my!
Everything is so pretty my friend! I love all the beautiful colors. 🙂
Thank you so much, Libbie!!
Glad I’m not the only one with a wreath addiction!! I love all the flowers and those super cute white metal chairs!! It all came together so perfectly ;)!
Haha!! Maybe we can form a throw pillow support group!! Thanks so much for hosting Pasha!
Love your porches Kim! Your pots have turned out beautiful. I still have to change my wreath though since it doesn’t match my flowers this year.
Thank you, MaryKay!
All three of your porches look beautiful! You’ve given me some great ideas! Your planters look beautiful as well!
Thank you, Mary Anne!
Everything is so beautiful Kim! I love the bright colors and I LOVE the pics of you! SO beautiful!
You are so kind, Kristin! I finally had new pictures made and I am so happy with them!
I love all your colorful flowers, Kim! And wow, those pots with the petunias are truly spectacular! Your home sounds so charming with all the porches!
My petunia planters have absolutely loved our weather this year! They just keep getting bigger and bigger! Thanks for stopping by, Molly!
Your porch is beautiful. Your flower pots are bursting with color. I’ll have a pour here and patio at my new house and love your colored pots with beautiful colorful trailing to the ground.
Thanks so much Tina! They have been a gift this summer! xo
I have a teeny-tiny porch, so I love your ideas, Kim. Everything looks so beautiful, and I love those fun retro chairs! I look forward to seeing what you do in the fall!
Thanks Jen! The fall is my favorite time to decorate my porches!
I love all of your creative ideas for porch decorating!
Thank you, Kim!
I love all the bright colors of your wreaths and potted plants! You are doing a fabulous job with your flowers! I am in awe of their beauty and how large they have grown! You have so many special outdoor spaces, and I can tell you are enjoying them this summer!
Thanks so very much! My flowers are the biggest they have ever been. I feel so blessed with all my outdoor spaces! Thanks for stopping by!
Those flowers are just amazing! Both the potted and the beautiful wreaths!
Thanks! I’ve had great luck this year with my pots! Happy summer!
I absolutely agree that a porch doesn’t need to be big to have impact. I love what you did.
Small can be grand! Thanks Carol! Hope you are well! 🙂
What beautiful flowers and porches! And I love seeing your smiling face in those photos! Great post, friend.
Awe, thank you Leslie!!
Kim!! I love your porch!! So beautiful for summer!!
Thanks friend!!
Lovely ideas! Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
Kim- Your flowers look AMAZING! So beautiful! I love your About Me picture! It’s great!
Thanks so much, Mona! I just had some new pictures made a few weeks ago!
I don’t have a real porch, only an enclosed entryway. But I’d love to make some seasonal wreaths to add some colour. You’ve motivated me!
Awe, I am so glad I inspired you! Thanks for visiting!
Kim this is such a happy and beautiful post! Such an inspiration! pinned.
Thank you, Sue! I appreciate that!
Kim you look so pretty in between those bunches of flowers! I love that your home was modeled after old homes in the area. Happy summer!
You are so kind! Thank you, Marie!
Just gorgeous. All of the bright colors just adds to the happiness factor of your porch. I want to visit.
Come on over anytime, Rosemary!
Kim, your porches are so pretty! I just had to share it so I’m excited to tell you this post will be featured in this week’s Tuesday Turn About Link Party! Hope to see you at the party this week!
Oh my! Thanks so much, Cindy! I feel blessed! xo