Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

I realize that the calendar says it’s fall, but, man, it is HOT here! I spent the weekend at the soccer field and we scorched in 90+ degree heat.

Fall schmall. Not so much yet here in Georgia.

But the weather-people are saying that, by the end of the week, we will have fall-like temperatures. I can’t wait. Then I can spend time on my back porch again, without fear of melting.

In anticipation of getting to spend some time on my favorite place in the house, I gave our back porch a little makeover this summer. I first shared it on Today’s Creative Life, and now I want to share it here!

In the spring and fall – once the heat and humidity are gone – we live out on our back porch.

I start by cleaning off the porch and fixing any holes in the screens.

Then I put out some bright, sunny decor. This year, I decided to freshen up the porch with some new pillows and accessories.

Of course, being a budget shopper, I didn’t break the bank. I found most of the new accessories on the clearance racks at big box stores. Their summer decor is on clearance now to make way for fall and Halloween stuff!

I hung the black and white chairs on nails to store them. They are great for extra seating when we eat outside or have guests and, when hung, are almost like art! I bought them at a yard sale for $10.

I found these branches in our yard. They somehow, over time, grew and stuck together. To me, it looks like a sculpture. I’m planning to clean it, gently, and clear coat the branches in a matte polyurethane to protect it (the branches are brittle).

We love to eat out on the porch.

I moved my old farm table out to the porch, along with the metal chairs that used to be in our breakfast room. They’re durable enough to be outside, and I prefer the wood dining chairs in our breakfast room.

In addition to the galvanized serving tray and blue pitcher I already had, I added some new colorful plates and bowls. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns – just keep them in the same or coordinating colors.

The table runner was also a clearance find at a big box store – I love its bright colors and nubby texture.

These hydrangeas came from our yard. The vintage-style tool box is the same one I used for my farmhouse herb garden. I also added some hydrangeas to some vintage mason jars I picked up at an estate sale.

Refreshing your porch – or any space – doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg!

Has fall already come to your neck of the woods? I am really, really ready for cooler temperatures here!