Turn Your Front Porch into an Inviting and Relaxing Spot

Front porches used to be one of the most popular features of a home. It was the gathering place for family, friends and neighbors, especially during those warm summer afternoons and evenings. Being out on the front porch was an open invitation for whoever was passing by to stop and chat a spell. Kids played games on the front porch or swung in the porch swing for hours. Many young girls got their first kiss on the front porch swing. The front porch was a place to relax and just enjoy the moment.

In today's busy world, we need a place like that. But with the advent of computers and the internet and video games, what spare time we have seems to be spent with our eyes glued to some type of screen. Old fashioned conversations have become a thing of the past. Now we do our chatting online or by texting.

So if you are lucky enough to have a front porch in a neighborhood where people actually know their neighbors' names, then count yourself as blessed. And if you want to turn that front porch into a welcoming and relaxing spot for everyone to enjoy, just follow these simple suggestions. It's not hard and it doesn't cost a lot of money.

I'm sure if you asked your parents or grandparents what they remember the most about their front porch, it would be the swing. Swings were such a common fixture, it was a rarity to see a porch without one. The swing was where everyone wanted to sit when on the front porch. There's just something soothing and relaxing about the gentle motion of a swing. It's the perfect spot to lull a fussy baby to sleep or curl up with a good book.

So go out and buy yourself a porch swing. Swings come in all different price ranges and in different styles and materials. A wood or wicker swing can be painted about any color you'd like. Add a padded cushion in whatever color or design scheme you like for hours of comfortable swinging. Just make sure the ceiling will support the swing and a few occupants.

If your ceiling will not support a swing, or you just don't want to go to the trouble of putting the swing up, try a glider instead. While it doesn't have quite the charm of a porch swing, it will give you a similar motion.

Add a couple of rocking chairs and place them close enough to the swing or glider so that a conversation can be carried on.

You will need a low table to hold drinks, magazines or to play games on. Make sure the top is something that can takes spills or scratches.

To add some fun to the area, try making a checkers or chess table out of an old end table. Simply paint the top in a checkerboard pattern and add the checkers. Place the table between the two rocking chairs for easy access. You will be surprised how many people will actually play when the board is right there between them. I actually made a checkers table for my Mother using two inch squares of green and white ceramic cut from wall tiles. I cut the checkers out of a dowel rod about the size of a silver dollar. I then painted the checkers green and white. This table sat on my Mother's porch until she died. She would often challenge people to a game and usually won. She was a pretty good checker player.

A small storage cabinet with both open shelves and doors makes a great place to keep other games, such as jacks, monopoly, and maybe a deck of cards. Keep a few miniature toy cars or even paper dolls, if you can find them, for the very young kids to play with. A few kindergarten type mats are handy to throw down on the floor for kids to sit on around the game table and can be hidden behind the doors of the cabinet when not in use. You should also keep a couple of cheap blanket throws in the cabinet for those chilly nights.

You will also need a fan to help keep the breeze moving. If you have an overhead light, replace it with a ceiling fan. If the only light is from a wall sconce, simply purchase a stand up oscillating fan.

Add plants, potted flowers and pretty cushions for color.

Then hang up a big "Welcome, Friends! Come on in!" sign up and start inviting friends and neighbors to stop and chat for a moment.