Perk up your Outdoor Space

A Playful Porch

Image: Bella Tucker

Dana from Bella Tucker wasn’t fond of her dowdy front porch with a cold cement floor. Several coats of fresh paint later, she says she “grins like a goofball” each time she turns into her driveway.

Her statement-making painted floor is the showstopper in this porch makeover.  How did she create the Moroccan-inspired pattern? She used a stencil to create a repeating pattern. Dana shares the process behind the eye-popping design here.

Tip: Practical features can be pretty, too. Dana also updated the porch’s lighting, added a clearly visible house number, and replaced the front door’s hardware.

A Charming Garage Door

Image: A Pinterest Addict

How do you add character to a builder-grade garage door? Eliesa from A Pinterest Addict created the illusion of a carriage door using paint and hardware. The faux windows and the fleur-de-lis accents cost her less than $40. How did she pull this look off? She used tape. She shares how she created the windowpanes in detail here.

Tip: What’s the secret to creating clean, crisp paint lines? Frog tape. Eliesa said it’s better at stopping color bleed than conventional painter’s tape.

Step Up Your Steps

Image: The 2 Seasons

When Jordan from the mother and daughter blog The 2 Seasons moved into her 1928 Craftsman-style house, she had to spring for a new roof and landscape.  That didn’t leave enough coin to replace a major eyesore — her front steps. So she freshened them up with paint.

But instead of painting them one solid color, Jordan pumped up her curb appeal by creating a faux runner. She explains the entire process from start to finish here.

Tip: Jordan’s steps not only look better, they’re also safer. Before adding the final coat, she added sand to the paint mixture. The added grit makes them slip proof when it rains.