Summer is made for porch sitting. That’s why I couldn’t be more excited to share my Modern Colonial Porch Styling with you today. I hope you enjoy this peek around my space and that it inspires you in styling your own outdoor oasis.
This post is sponsored by Bed Bath & Beyond. As always, all opinions are my own.
Yes, my dear, patient friends, I am starting to make progress at the new house. I’ve been pondering the stylistic direction I want to take in this new adventure and trying to balance that with my urge to “just have fun and decorate.” Today, I’ve combined both approaches and created an outdoor space I’m loving.
For this Modern Colonial Porch Styling, I teamed up with my friends at Bed Bath & Beyond. Now, I know exactly what you’re thinking: “Bed Bath & Beyond doesn’t have outdoor furniture.” Well, you’re right, but you’re also wrong. (And don’t feel bad. I thought the same thing.) Although the brick-and-mortar stores don’t carry loads of outdoor furnishings, their huge online selection is amazing. It’s really a fabulous place to shop for unique, seasonal products, home decor, and furniture.
They offer hundreds of options on their website, and I couldn’t be more excited to show you what I chose to style my space.
In furnishing my side porch, I first had to figure out how I wanted to use it. Since I also have a deck, I decided to reserve the porch for lounging by myself or relaxing with friends. This meant I needed a conversation set rather than a dining set.
I ended up choosing pieces from the Modway Marina Collection. I was attracted to this furniture for several reasons. First of all, the aesthetic is transitional. The shape and materials keep it classic while the bright white cushions and sleek lines make it modern.
I also love that most of the pieces can be rearranged. The sofa is made up of three sections so should I want a longer piece or a sectional down the road, I can add to it or rearrange the parts.
My porch is covered which meant that choosing furniture with cushions was a no-brainer. I can have comfort without worrying about removing the cushions every time it rains. Even if the all-weather cushions get wet, they will resist most of the water.
From there I styled things with a few pillows and a throw for added comfort. You can find the pillows I used here, here, here, and here.
For the color story, I decided to play in the blue and purple family. It’s a scheme that wouldn’t work in my previous home so I was excited to try it here.
I also needed places to set drinks, a book, or my laptop.
So in between the two armchairs (or in this case armless chairs), I went with something unique and modern – this sleek glossy black table. It’s unexpected in the best possible way and ties in the existing black features of the home. I’m aware it isn’t designed for outdoor use but tucked against the wall, it’s rarely touched by the sun or rain.
For the coffee table, I opted to use two of these round teak end tables. The porch is a bit narrow, so a large coffee table just wouldn’t have worked. What I like about these two drum tables is that they can function as a coffee table or be moved off to the sides of the sofas as end tables.
To ground all of this and define the conversation area, I added a rug. It makes things feel homey and inviting. Even better: it hides some of the imperfections of the 70-year-old concrete slab.
Of course, plants were a must in this exterior space. In a nod to the past, I chose classic concrete planters. (This one and this one.) And because this porch is on the west side of the house where there are a lot of trees, I went with shade-loving plants.
I also used these pots in the planting bed just outside the porch. My landscaping is struggling a bit, and while I will address this in the future, the potted plants are a great interim source of life and color.
Speaking of plants, I also dotted lots of baby Pilea plants around. They are my latest favorite! I purchased a Pilea this spring, and it produced a ton of little offshoots. I transplanted them into terra cotta pots, and they have been doing amazingly well!
From there, I added in a few more accessories to up the style and function of the space. The candles in these beautiful modern lanterns will give an evening glow and sparkle.
I even pulled in a few entertaining essentials: outdoor glasses and pitcher, navy buffalo check napkins, plates, and a bottle caddy for fresh flowers. I can already see myself serving drinks and snacks to my guests.
And you might have noticed these vintage Bingo cards I’m using as coasters. I found them at a local sale and thought they were the perfect touch of whimsy for my porch.
All-in-all, I think this space with its Modern Colonial Porch Styling is ready for its big debut.
I hope you enjoyed this look around my porch and found a few ideas and new products for adding a dose of happy to your own outdoor rooms.
Happy Decorating, Everyone!
