12 Elegant and Effortlessly Livable Back Porch Ideas That Will Raise Your Outdoor Entertaining Game This Season
Rediger Design was featured alongside nationally recognized designers in Homes & Gardens' roundup of back porch styling ideas. Founder Brittany Rediger contributed expert guidance on layered outdoor styling and the accessorizing mistakes that keep porches from feeling finished. The feature draws from her own covered porch in Portland, which she has styled and restyled as ongoing content for the brand.
Bring in Floral Arrangements at Varying Heights For a Layered Look
When it comes to adding blooms to your back porch (especially if you are decorating a bit later in the season), Brittany Rediger, founder and principal of Rediger Design, suggests this cheat: 'Buy pre-assembled arrangements from a nursery or grocery store, as the plants have already matured and grown together into a cohesive composition.'
'Some of my favorites that do well in morning sun and afternoon shade, and that you'll commonly find in pre-assembled arrangements, are begonias, impatiens, geraniums, calibrachoa, ipomoea, and petunias. And don't overlook hanging baskets, a fuchsia or a fern adds a whole other layer to the space.'
Brittany also recommends displaying them at varying heights to create interest. 'Nothing should sit at the same level. Mix taller planters with lower ones, use small wooden risers to lift arrangements off the ground, and hang baskets overhead. That range of levels gives a porch a layered, considered feel.'
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Not Accessorizing Enough
'Most people buy patio furniture as a set and leave it as is,' says Brittany Rediger. 'But outdoor furniture tends to be minimal by design, partly because weather-resistant materials just don't come in the same range of colors, patterns, and textures that indoor fabrics do.' While this is practical for exposed parts of your backyard, it can restrict the look you create.
'If you have a covered porch, you have more flexibility than you think,' says Brittany. 'Lean into it. Keep your furniture neutral and let your plants carry the color, then layer in pattern and texture through throw pillows and textiles. That way the florals stay the star of the show, and you can swap them out each season without rethinking your whole setup.'
'You don't have to spend a lot on outdoor furniture to make a porch feel well-designed and inviting. My black bistro table is from IKEA, and my rocking chairs are from Wayfair, and they still look new after three years of living outside on the porch. Where it's worth investing a little more is in the cushions and accessories. The cushions that came with my chairs were too thin, so I upgraded them to weather-resistant cushions with more padding, which made the biggest difference in both comfort and appearance.'
