How do I decorate my front porch?

Carrie Johnson
by Carrie Johnson

I am looking for ideas to DIY inexpensive tall containers to be used as outdoor pots for flowers/plants between the posts on my front porch. In addition, I am trying to determine what flowers to plant for blooms at this time of the year. Here is a photo of the front porch. The porch gets morning sun with afternoon shade and I live in Stanislaus County, California. As with other areas in the country, my front porch is susceptible to thieves so secured items are ideal. Does anyone have suggestions??



  14 answers
  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Feb 12, 2020

    I would not use pots I would plant trees in the ground that are native in your area.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Feb 12, 2020

    I would both look at what is growing on my neighbors’ porches & call my County Extension Office for their advice on plants.


    Re: pots or urns- whatever you buy, make them so that you can anchor them into the concrete of your front porch.

    This will require a masonry drill bit that’s about 1/8” bigger than the threaded steel dowels or bolts you’ll epoxy into the porch holes & then through the hole in the bottom of the pot, then a big flat washer & a nut.

    Then put a plastic bag over the bolt/nut hold-downs and then fill the bottom with blocks of used styrofoam and put the plant in an old bucket and cover it all with sphagnum mods.

    This is so that when you want to unbolt then pot, you’re not digging through 12” of mud and roots.


    For seasonal decorations, go to the Dollar Store & if it’s stolen, it’s ok.

  • Jeanette Jeanette on Feb 12, 2020

    Heavy cement pots or urns?

  • Nan W. Nan W. on Feb 12, 2020

    Carrie: such a nice house!


    Why not use concrete planters? (maybe with caladiums -- for that afternoon shade). I also agree with another Hometalker... trees. Or...maybe you could make planter boxes at your windows! ...maybe this will help!


    https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/structures/how-to-build-a-window-box-planter

  • Cheryl A Cheryl A on Feb 12, 2020

    you could buy large urns or pots from most any nursery or stores like Home Depot. If you fill the bottom with rocks it would be really heavy to move or steal- the rocks are for drainage and then add dirt and your plants. You could change out the plants for seasonal plants.

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Feb 12, 2020

    Hello. Wreath and planters. Potentially more shutters. Maybe window boxes? Love your flag.

  • Mogie Mogie on Feb 12, 2020

    I would add several pops of color. Perhaps thru the use of plants, some colorful house numbers and/or repainting the front door. Have you checked out the kinetic yard art of amazon.com? I think it is my new obsession.

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Feb 12, 2020

    Hand you thought of window boxes and a raised planter below your front windows?

  • Paint your front door a bright color. Add shutters to the other windows and add some chairs to the porch area.

  • E m E m on Feb 15, 2020

    You can use metal outdoor garbage cans spray painted the color of your choice, holes drilled in for drainage and rocks in the bottom for weight.

  • Holly Lengner - Lost Mom Holly Lengner - Lost Mom on Feb 16, 2020

    There are lots of great ideas here on outdoor containers/planters:

    https://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=outdoor%20planters

  • Rymea Rymea on Feb 16, 2020

    I would make a flower bed in front of the house on both sides of the walk. Start with some low bushes then you can gradually expand it outward.

  • Laurie S Laurie S on Feb 22, 2020

    I'd plant perennials all along your cute fence! Maybe some Hosta plants along the front of your home (in front of the rock) with a mix of Bleeding Hearts, Astilbe, all shade loving plants that enjoy some sunshine...