adding color to the back porch

This post first ran in 2009, and unfortunately the cute boots shown below bit the dust in 2010. However, I still like looking at the bright pink! For more spring decorating ideas, check out the Outdoor Ideas Party at Centsational Girl. Check out how she spruced up an outdoor dining area starting with such a vibrant fabric.

Our back porch is lacking – color, finishing – you name it. However, we won’t be addressing these issues this year or next.

In the meantime, I’m looking for cheap, clever ways to add color, character, and life, and to cover up the plywood you can see in the picture on the left.

I keep a metal bucket on the front porch and the back porch year round and fill it with silk flowers and branches according to the season. (Maybe I’ll spray paint the buckets this year.) Next to the back porch bucket, I put a pair of puddle jumpers that I bought for myself at a Swarthmore College sale about three years ago for a few dollars and used once. One of the boots has a small rip in the foot, but they add lots of color and character to our plain Jane back porch. I bought the forsythia at Michael’s this year for half price – $1.50 each.

I have some more hanging metal buckets that I will be putting on the back porch filled with more spring silk flowers. I usually like to take advantage of the clearance flowers at the end of the season, but I don’t have many spring ones in stock. However, if I stick to cheaper ones like the forsythia, I should be able to stretch my small budget.