Inspiration for a Relaxing Retreat Porch

Hey friends! It has finally been warm enough here to say that spring has officially arrived. We did have one last snowstorm here in Pennsylvania recently, but I think it’s safe to say that was the last of the snow. This past weekend was beautiful! We had clear skies and temperatures in the mid 70s.

Ben and I are both looking forward to the spring and summer this year. Last year we were just finishing up on the construction of the house and were in packing mode. Most of our spring and summer consisted of cleaning, organizing, and moving. Needless to say, we didn’t really get to enjoy most of nice weather last year. This year, we are determined to spend lots of time outside and enjoying every moment of spring and summer.

Ever since we moved into the house our porch has been basically empty. We bought a grill when we got the rest of our appliances and had a couple of folding chairs sitting out there, but that was really it. Now that spring is finally here and summer is just around the corner, we’re going to be utilizing our porch space a lot more. I want to create a relaxing retreat-like space where we can sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather together. Today I’m going to share with you some of my ideas and inspiration for transforming this space from nothing to an outdoor retreat.

Table and Chairs

The most important aspect of this outdoor space is functionality, so the key pieces will be a table and some chairs. This awesome bar height table from Lowe’s is too great to pass up. Not only is it a perfect table for the porch, but it also has a little fire pit in the center. How cool is that? The base of the table conceals the propane tank and a knob on the side lets you adjust the flame.

I loved having a campfire pit in my backyard growing up, so this is the perfect alternative for a townhome porch and limited yard space. When the fire pit is not in use, the ring can be removed. The table actually comes with a cover for the center that is flush with the rest of the table. Once the cover is on, the table can be used like any other normal table.

Also, what good is a table without some chairs? These outdoor chairs from Lowe’s are simple but super comfortable. They are perfect for this space and can be dressed up with some pillows or seat cushions.

Shade

Our porch does not have an awning or any sort of shade cover, so I thought an umbrella would be the best solution. The only problem is our porch is somewhat narrow. It is only about 4 feet wide so a full-size umbrella is out of the question. Luckily, half-umbrellas are actually a “thing” and they even come in cute patterns just like their full-sized counterparts. I am obsessed with this café stripe umbrella from World Market. It’s so cute and I think it will look great for summer!

Rug

A great way to make a space feel cozy is to add a rug. This is especially true in an outdoor space, and can really make it feel like another room in your home. For our porch, I think something neutral will work the best because of the limited width. I really love this subtly striped rug from Target. It will bring so much texture into the space without being overwhelming.

Plants

One of my favorite parts about spring is all of the flowers and plants. I want to include a small garden space on our porch and this planter box from Lowe’s (or something similar) will work wonderfully. Not only do I love the look of these raised boxes, but also it allows me to enjoy some of nature above the ground level.

Decoration

The last aspect of my inspiration is what will really pull the whole space together – the decorations. This gold throw pillow and this orange throw pillow, both from Target, will add a great pop of color to the porch and also add to that cozy feeling that I want for the space. I am a big fan of geometric decorations, so I would love to have this terrarium from Target sitting on the table. Maybe with a few succulents planted inside or even with just a simple candle.

Our porch also has some wall space, so this galvanized clock from Target would look great as an anchor to the space. Ben and I both love being outside on warm summer nights so these string lights from Target would be great hanging throughout the porch. They would provide the perfect glow as we relax by the fire in our new retreat.

So there you have it, my inspiration for our porch! I can’t wait to get started making this space into a place we can use all summer long. Be sure to stop back later this spring to see everything finished in our relaxing retreat.