15 Balcony and Front Porch Design Ideas We Want to Steal

This porch is as carefully considered as a living room – key when decorating the outdoors. Kay Volmar of Once Upon a 1912 positioned the rattan set to encourage conversation – or to lounge on the couch with a book. String lights, a rattan chandelier, gauzy curtains and potted plants add texture and ambience.

Trendy lightweight Acapulco chairs inject colour (they’re available in vivid rainbow hues) and personality onto your front porch or balcony. Steal this look by using a wicker stool as a table. To anchor the vignette, throw down a boho rug. Done.

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Tiny balconies still offer plenty of decor possibilities. Hang a motley of potted plants. The more the merrier. Pro tip: mix up the colours and pots – there are no rules!

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Janna, the designer behind Yellow Prairie Interior Design, went with a relaxed, layered approach and the results are gorgeous! The trick here is to mix it up. Bring out the pillows, throw in a blanket, a birdhouse (why not?), potted flowers – anything that catches your fancy. And who says the door mat should be restricted to the front door? Also, hanging up a chalkboard is totally clever – get the kids to change up the sign.

You know how some potted plants look ho-hum and others fabulous? It’s all about intention, as this sophisticated porch by designer Chrissie Haim illustrates. When shopping for vases, think symmetry, which is always pleasing to the eye. Keep your plants healthy and well cared for. To create drama, play around with your plants’ height. Layer in other decorating accessories, such as a mat – or two! And adorable dog statues are always a good idea.

Two things you can do right now to warm up your balcony: lay down flooring, add stools. We like this rope-seated one from IKEA that’s made of Acacia wood.

Transform your porch from basic to bold with paint, like the Scott’s Vacation House Rules team did here. Blue is a dramatic choice that works especially well with dark furniture. The eye is drawn to dark colours, so be sure to add an array of appealing potted flowers.

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While we’re loving this petite rattan sofa set from Wayfair, the beautiful bird-patterned rug brings another dimension to this porch.

Oooh, so you can lay down a mat, a rug and a jaunty plant and you’ve reached porch nirvana? Cool. But seriously, this welcoming entryway works because the decking is well maintained and that door and siding are spiffy. Hint: do a thorough spring clean before accessorizing. Both the lovely cotton summer rug and cheeky mat are from Urban Barn.

A defining piece of furniture is a great way to approach porch (or balcony) decorating. This space-saving bistro set in a modern charcoal colour is actually one piece. The unusual linear design makes it slim enough for the snuggest balcony.

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A petunia on its own is nice and everything, but with company it’s absolutely divine. This dazzling explosion care of Robbie over at Home Hydrangea showcases blooms in technicolor splendour. The pink petunias are joined by sweet broom (the flowers with the yellow petals to the left) and those fellows in the foreground are Euryops. Hello spring.

Don’t discard those basic chairs just yet. Adorn them with faux sheepskin and pillows for extra coziness on cooler nights, like the Love It or List It Vacation Homes team did here.

A neon coral door and a pair of Acapulco chairs, plus cedar decking for privacy is oh-so cool and inviting on this mid-mod home.

This small apartment balcony packs some serious punch with these graphic outdoor rugs. Paired with simple string lights and wood patio furniture, this is the perfect spot for an afternoon cocktail. See how this homeowner furnished and decorated her entire Toronto apartment for under $2,500.