Create a Faux Front Porch Rug to Welcome Your Guests in Style
My porch has been looking a little worse for wear lately, so I knew I needed to give it a makeover spooner, rather than later. I decided not only to give it a fresh coat of paint, but to use some of my stencils as well to create a new bright porch for the sunny summer months. I used two paint colors and some stencils to create a faux Victorian carpet effect. This welcomes my guests in style, and leads the way straight to my front door! Want to do it yourself? Follow my step-by-step tutorial below to get started!
Tools and Materials:
- Electric sander
- Facemask
- Dixie Belle chalk paint
- Paint brushes (these will get a bit beat up so it’s best to use an old one)
- Paint rollers (use older ones here as well)
- Stencil
- Painter’s tape
I had a bunch of flaking paint that I needed to remove before I could get started painting. If you don’t remove the old paint, anything you paint on top runs the risk of lifting up as the old paint continues to flake off.
I gave the entire porch and the top of the wall a good sanding. Don’t worry about any paint that is still stuck to the deck, that won’t be going anywhere and you can paint over it no problem. Once you’ve sanded, make sure to give the deck a good cleaning to get rid of any sawdust left behind.
I started off by painting the edges of the boards. Make sure to use an older paint brush, as it will get quite beat up during this step.
Once I had painted all of the cracks and crevices with a paint brush, I switched to a paint roller and got a good coat on the tops of the boards. If you’re working with a newer porch, you might be able to get away with just one coat. My house is quite old so I had to lay down two coats of paint to get the coverage I was looking for.
After letting my porch dry overnight, I was ready to add my stencil. I stuck to my neutral pallet, but did pick out some nice contrasting colors for my stencil. I don’t want this to look too crisp or perfect, so I’m not going to be super careful while painting. We’ll be working with two colors simultaneously, so make sure to have two paint rollers ready to go.
I taped down my stencil and picked up a bit of blue paint with my paint roller. I gently rolled the paint over the stencil, getting a good light coat. Don’t fret about it being perfect, remember that we’re going for imperfect on this project.
Then I added a touch here and there of the light yellow color to create some visual interest. I didn’t stress about getting complete coverage, I want this to look like it’s been here for years.
Once I had painted on my stencil, I added a soft edge to the “carpet” look I had created to complete the look.
Now I have a welcoming rug leading guests up the stairs and onto my front porch. This paint will stand up to the elements, even a Canadian winter, and last for years to come! How have you updated your front porch? Let me know in the comments below!
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Living a Real Life on Dec 16, 2020
Oh wow! This looks amazing.
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
You mentioned this paint will hold up ... I have a 30 year old front porch made of treated wood. The porch is, for the most part, protected by the overhang of the house. However, we have dogs, live in the country ... front porch gets A LOT of wear and tear. Do you think the paint you used would hold up in those conditions? Also, did you clear coat your final project?
What colors did you use?
I love it I’ve only thought of painting my whole entryway but love the stencil, will it work just as well on cement?