Our front porch has come a long way since we moved in just over 2 years ago. About a year ago I got sick of the tan door and painted it black and added a “welcome” vinyl to the door.
It was a great improvement over the boring tan but the porch still seemed to lack in character. I kept seeing cute front porches on Pinterest and it was starting to make me crazy that I hadn’t done anything to mine yet! So… I created this design board and got to work.
The first project I completed, and the one I was the most excited about, was my Stenciled Piano Bench. This project only cost me about $5, the price of a can of spray paint!
The next thing I did was to scour the Goodwill store and Tuesday Mornings, looking for inexpensive pots. I found a few cute ones and a few that had potential so I was happy about that! I think my favorite find was this huge silver “pot” that I painted our address on. I also love my little chalkboard terracotta pot, it literally took me less then 5 minutes to make.
I was also excited about the wooden CD case that was only $2 at the Goodwill store. To make it a planter I cut a black trash bag to fit the inside, filled it with dirt and add the flowers, super easy! Also do you like my new rug? I think it’s a huge improvement over the {who knows how old it was} welcome mat from the previous owners!
Here are some more of my “new” pots, filled with more greenery. That was one thing my porch was definitely missing before! I think plants and flowers make a front porch so welcoming! 
My next project was to paint all the trim around the door black. The front door was already black but I thought painting all the trim around it to match, would be more dramatic. When I got to this part of the door I started wondering how many different colors this door frame had seen in the past. I think I see blue, yellow and tan, there might even be a little white in there… 
Next on the list was a new light fixture. Our other light fixture was terrible!
Not only was is SO not my style, but the actual amount of light it put out was terrible! I found this great new fixture at OSH for only $53.00 so I was pretty excited about that! Lighting can be so expensive, it’s crazy! The one I fell in love with online was $200! Insane!
I also asked my husband to add a trim”header” above the door trim, just to make it a little more fancy. You can see the nice trim work in this picture with the light. I love the way it turned out, it’s just that little extra touch that makes a huge difference!
Are you ready to see the whole thing put together? Before I show you the pictures, let’s take a look at what it used to look like, way back when… when it was ugly!
And here’s what it looks like now!
Do you like it? I think it’s so much more welcoming than it was before! To me this front porch says, “I’m beautiful, but just wait until you get inside, it’s even better!”
Now onto my next project… the entryway!
Looks fantastic! I love the new light fixture – that is definitely something our front porch needs.
Thank you! Yeah I think the light makes a big difference!
It looks so awesome Anna! You totally transformed it and I’m loving all of your clever details. Just beautiful my friend! 🙂
Vanessa
Thank you Vanessa!
That looks fantastic! Great, great job. I need to do inspiration boards more often I think.
Thank you! Yeah inspiration boards really help to motivate me and get me working on a project.
LOVE IT! My favorite part is the message chalkboard! What a fun idea!
Thanks Sara! It’s been fun having people leave us notes. 😉
Anna, it’s gorgeous! I love everything, but especially the light fixture, chalkboard, and silver pot.
Thanks Kim! 🙂
So inviting – love your porch!
Thank you! I think it’s MUCH more inviting now. 🙂
Much much better now! Lov the black door, so much drama!
Ooo, “drama”, I love it! That’s exactly what I was going for! 🙂
I love it!!! The door looks amazing, the new light, plants, rug, everything! You did a great job! 🙂
Hi Anna, Love the front porch. turned out wonderful. Great incentive for me. I hope you don’t mind but I thought I would mention a difficulty with your new website format. I subscribe via Google Reader. When I click over to read your posts, it is difficult to know which one is the newest one. The top banner slips by so qui ckly and the ones below that are static, aren’t always the new ones. I hope this makes sense. I mention it only in case someone else is having the difficulty. Of course, there is always the distinct possibly I am techno-challenged! LOL – thanks for all the great tips!
That rug really is too good to be a thrift find? Where did you get it. Love the makeover. I have a black front door and I’m not sure how to style with it and you have given me some great inspiration. I came over from atthepicketfence and I’m definitely a new follwer
Awesome, thank you so much for following Carissa! I got that rug on Overstock.com, it was super cheap and it feels like it’s good quality. I was so happy with it I ended up ordering two other rugs for my entryway makeover! 🙂
Beautiful job, I’ve just recently decided that I want to paint my front door black.
I’ve just found your blog and I love so many of your ideas, I’ve just started my own blog too.
Anna,
Love what you did to the front door! The Black paint, Stencil and Light are my FAV!!! Fab job 🙂
Thank you Beckie! Thank you for stopping by my blog too. 🙂
I was thinking of painting our door white, but now I want it black. Yes! Thanks for sharing! Now I need black paint. My front porch is a work in process.
Awesome! I’m glad I could help you decide. 🙂 I love my black front door, I think it’s very sleek looking!
I Love, love love your porch. I have a big front porch that I have decorated too. I have a table on it that I might have to steal your bench stencil idea! I also love your pot. I have an old rusty milkcan that I wanted to repaint. Putting the address on it would be perfect. Thanks for the great ideas!
Awesome! Glad I could give you a little inspiration. 🙂
I’m always so proud when I see your posts. Love that you share my name….with the Moseley spelled “right.”
Haha, thank you. 🙂 Yes, 2 e’s is definitely the “right way”. 🙂
Is that a little ‘shoe rack’?? I think that is darling but I didn’t see it described in the post or did I just miss it??
Yes, it’s a little shoe rack. I didn’t talk about it in the post because I’ve had it forever, it’s the ONLY cute thing that was on my porch before the makeover. 🙂 I bought it at a local boutique a couple years ago.
Love your style!!!
I really like the slate on the porch floor. Did you do that? Is it possible to put slate tile over concrete? I have been wondering how to dress up the concrete on our porch
We didn’t do it, the previous owners did it but yes you can put slate over concrete, it would make a nice flat surface.
I absolutely love the porch. Mine is about the same size. Awesome ideas
Just curious what font you used to the Welcome Vinyl?? Love it so much!
To be honest, it’s been so many years since I did that stencil that I’m not sure what font it was. 🙁 I looked through all of the fonts on my computer though and a very similar one (which would also look good on a front door) is Zapfino. I hope that helps. 🙂