Spring Porch Decor Ideas

Extreme heat and cold, as well as drought and rain can be hard on your outdoor spaces like decks and porches. If it's been more than a year since you've cleaned your deck, then now is the perfect time. Most decks need cleaning and maintenance at least once a year.

A pressure washer is the best tool to get your patio or deck looking new again. But before you blast away, take time to scrape away loose finish and scrub with a deck cleaner product.

How to use deck cleaner:

• Prepare the deck by clearing furniture and plants and sweeping debris.
• Apply cleaner according to package directions using a pump sprayer.
• Scrub the deck using a deck brush or bristle brush.
• Rinse the deck thoroughly with a spray nozzle attached to a garden hose.
• Now you're ready to pressure wash the deck. If you're staining your deck, let it dry for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.

If it’s been awhile since the deck was sealed, and water no longer beads up on the surface, it may also be time to reapply
deck sealer. And while you're using the pressure washer, give your home's exterior a thorough cleaning, too.

You can rent pressure washers and more equipment from The Tool Rental Center.

Tip: Always use protective gear like safety glasses when using tools like pressure washers.

Make your entryway more inviting with high-quality doormats. They keep your floors clean by removing dirt and debris from shoes before it's brought inside. Doormats absorb water to minimize chances of slips and falls on rainy days.

Look for doormats made from wood, natural fibers like coir, rubber, synthetics and grasses like jute. Refresh your spring porch with a jaunty doormat in bright spring colors.

Outdoor rugs are easy to care for and, just like indoor rugs, unify your furniture with color and style. If last year's rug needs a refresh, place it on a surface like a driveway and scrub it with a solution of liquid dish soap and water. Rinse it with a garden hose until the water runs clear. Dry the rug in sunlight – over a porch railing is perfect – to prevent dirt and mold from settling in.

Steps to clean your outdoor rug:

• Move the rug to a patio or driveway where you can clean it.
• Mix a cleaning solution using mild dish soap. You can also use household vinegar and baking soda. (Test a small area of the rug to make sure it doesn't affect the color.)
• Wet the rug using a garden hose.
• Use a soft bristle brush to gently scrub the rug.
• Rinse with a garden hose.
• Let rug dry in the sun.

Enhance your patio decor by bringing the garden closer. As the weather warms and more plants come into the Garden Center, you can add colorful shrubs like hydrangeas, in-ground or in containers.

In full-on spring, fill flower pots with brightly colored impatiens (look for new disease-resistant varieties like Beacon), coleus, geraniums, begonias, as well as sweet potato vine and other greenery that will spill over the sides. Pretty planters and container gardens can transform any area and let you bring more color to your decor.

Check out these beautiful annual bloomers in the Garden Center in spring:

• Begonia
• Dianthus
• Geranium
• Marigold
• Pansy
• Petunia

For an easy hanging basket, just scoop in some potting mix, plant your favorite annual or perennial flowers and give it a drink of water.

Look to these annuals for your best hanging baskets this season:

• Begonia
• Calibrachoa
• Coleus
• Fuchsia
• Geranium (pelargonium)
• Morning glory
• Persian shield
• Petunia
• Pansy
• Portulaca (moss rose)
• Sweet alyssum (lobularia)
• Sweet potato vine
• Verbena

And remember that strawberries perform great in hanging baskets. Just be sure to keep them watered.

Don’t stop the makeover at the porch. You can extend curb appeal from your doorway to driveway and down to the actual curb.

For example, install a lighted pathway along your front walkway to safely illuminate the way to the front door. While you’re at it, bring more personality to your space by installing a new porch light, which could also bring a new layer of security, especially if they’re motion-sensing lights.

If your outdoor furniture needs a refresh, look at accessorizing with bright new outdoor pillows and decorative lanterns to cozy up the space. Colorful garden stools pull double duty as side tables or extra seating.