“Old Fashioned” seems to be the recurring theme throughout our home this year.
And that theme seemed to make it’s way to the front porch, too. From the flannel plaid cushion covers to the fresh, natural greens – our front porch took on more of an understated design than year’s past. One of the things I am so excited about sharing are the simple swing and rocker cushions I created. After I had a major case of sticker shock at the fabric store, I had a genius idea I will share. So come sit down with me out on our Old Fashioned Christmas Front Porch.
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This year, the front porch was the last thing we decorated. That isn’t usually how it works. I usually decorate it near the beginning of the Fa-La-La Season. But with me getting sick with “Ye’ Ole’ Kidney Stone” this year, it was a bit delayed. It’s definitely a bit more scaled back from most years, but I think the new porch swing called for simple decor such as flannel plaid cushions, fur pillows and yards of real greenery which smell amazing when you walk up to the front door.
To give the real greenery garland a little more “umph” – I first hung a layer of faux garland before adding the real green garlands on top. You’d never know the faux layer was underneath, but it gave the appearance of a much thicker real garland, don’t you think? I draped the garland all the way around the front door and added simple white lights.
I applied the same technique to the front door wreath. The basic wreath has a faux greenery base, but adding ample branches of two kinds of cedars made it take on a look of being completely real. A plaid bow with long streamers adds a pop of color.
A pretty burlap-lined basket of birch logs and a small, wrapped package sit by the front door.
Remember I told you I made plaid flannel covers for the swing cushion?
I priced some flannel at the fabric store and wowzers! That stuff is expensive. :-O Then I remembered seeing some flannel blankets at Dollar General for $10 and the lightbulbs in my head went off. Blankets = yards of fabric. For cheap! So, I left the fabric store and headed right to Dollar General and bought three blankets total.
I sewed a basic cover for the porch swing. The swing already had a cushion with a red-patterned design, but it didn’t fit in with the Old Fashioned Christmas I envisioned. Okay, it’s confession time. I didn’t “sew” a single stitch, although I am a decent seamstress. Nope. I duct-taped it. Yep, “old fashioned” duct tape. (Goes along with the theme quite nicely. Ha!) I folded the fabric in the back “package” style and used several lengths of duct tape to hold it together. It has worked beautifully. Are you ashamed of me now? 😀
Then, I added a fur pillow cover (also duct taped and made from the 2d Dollar General blanket), a pretty Santa pillow and a pillow I designed myself with Christmas and Winter sayings. You can buy this pillow covers in either red or blue by clicking here.
Finally, I used the third Dollar General blanket to “sew” cushion covers for the two porch rockers.
I made a few extra white fur covers and added them to the rockers, as well, along with a pretty velvet snowflake pillows I have had for years.
#affiliatelink
If you love the “Pardon the Mess” pillow above, you can buy it HERE.
I added lots of cute wrapped gifts of all shapes and sizes to the front porch, as well as, inside of our home.
In a vintage Bread Box, I placed a small, live Christmas tree between the rockers, and used some of the leftover fur blanket as a “tree skirt.”
I couldn’t find a doormat I really liked, so I used a standard indoor rug instead. The covered porch gives it plenty of protection.
So there you go…
Our Old Fashioned Christmas Front Porch. Our porch isn’t the dream porch I have always wanted. The kind that wraps around your house and goes on forever. I say that this is the “Little Porch that Could.” It may be small – but it has a ton of heart.
The addition of the front porch swing has greatly increased the amount of usage it gets now. When the weather permits, I love to go out in the afternoons and wait for our almost daily visitors to come through the yard near dusk – a red fox and a family of deer I feed regularly. We also have a black bear in the neighborhood but I am hoping he does not pay us a visit. :-O
There is one visitor that you can find out on the porch almost every day, and she is just loving the new plaid flannel cushions.
Bitty Kitty says the flannel cushions can stay year round. Also, this is HER chair, by the front door, where she can greet any guests which come up the walk. 🙂
I made a Live Facebook Video showing what our front porch and the front of our home looks like at night when all lit up. I was given two Star Night Lasers to try out. You know the one’s I am talking about? You shine them on the front of your home and it looks like little dancing fairies all over your home. I didn’t shine them on our home, but we did shine them in an unexpected place and I am THRILLED about them. They are totally mesmerizing to me.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO OF OUR HOME AT NIGHT!
If you are interested in getting some of these lights of your own, here is my #affiliatelink – you can order them by clicking HERE.
Thanks for letting me share our Old Fashioned Christmas Front Porch. I wish we could spend a few hours out there together with hot coffee and homemade cookies. Oh, we could just chat up a storm couldn’t we? Hope you’re having a beautiful week, and you’re able to….
“…find joy in the everyday!”
xxoo, Barb
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Here are some of the Christmas front porches from year’s past…
Click Here for Our 2012 Front Porch
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Our 2015 Christmas Front Porch (and Home Tour)
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” …find joy in the everyday! “
Vanessa says
I love your porch Barbara. It’s so beautiful and the plaid is lovely.
View Commentmichele gaydos says
love your porch….plaid is a favorite!!! i wish i had a covered porch to decorate, here in northern new jersey it’s a must for pillow decorating! thanks again for sharing!
View CommentSarah says
Your home is beautiful
View CommentJudy Roberson says
Your porch is beautiful. What a fantastic idea , to use the plaid blankets.. I had to laugh at the duck tape.. ha I have never done that, but I am known to fold the fabric on the swing cushion and safety pin the underside.. [EASY to take off and wash.
View CommentMerry CHristmas.
MARY-ANN (FROM CANADA!) says
Barb, what a beautiful job you have done on your front porch — and with all your decorating inside! Just love the way you decorate! I am new to your post and am really enjoying it! I, too, am a real “country” gal and just love everything plaid and vintage.
Have a blessed day!
View CommentBarb says
Mary-Ann!!!! You are the lucky winner of the “I LOVE US” pillow! My grandson’s drew your name from the hat. If you can email me your snail mail address I will get it mailed out to you as soon as I can. My email is: barbgarrettnc@yahoo.com Congrats!!!
View CommentBetty SS says
LOVE The Front Porch and that sign is AWESOME?❤️?
View CommentBarb says
I had it made locally by Tara Parker with Trendy Transformations. 🙂 Thank you sweet lady!
View CommentDebra says
All of your porch designs are great, especially the Old Fashioned Porch. I never thought of adding fresh greenery to a fake garland – it’s an awesome idea. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful ideas. I love to accumulate decorating tips and yours are at the top of my list to steal. ?
View CommentNorma Rolader says
Oh my you are one of my favorite decorators … All of your porches are inspirations
View CommentSusan Gruss says
Very cozy and welcoming! Love it!
View CommentKathleen says
Your porch is beautiful! It’s such a warm welcome to your home.
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