5 Porch Upgrades You'll Love

These homeowners know that great lighting makes a difference in an outdoor space. Simple deck lights on the stairway provide a safe and attractive path. A black matte light over the back door gives farmhouse vibes and recessed lighting along the back of the house creates a warm ambience.

We also recommend solar post caps on the stairs and fence line. They come in various colors to match your existing fence. It's an easy project that can be done in a weekend.

Other outdoor lighting enhancements that you can make include:

• Recessed lighting on a covered deck or porch. 
  
• Adding disk solar lights in planters to cast a warm light on plants and flowers.
  
• Updating dated wall sconces or overhead lights with new modern ones.
  
• Adding flood lights to wash a wall with light or spot lights to focus on a tree, water or decorative feature. 
  
• Placing a battery-operated light on your patio umbrella to illuminate your dining or conversation area.

Images courtesy of Trex (@trexcompany).

You don't have to go through a major renovation to make improvements to your outdoor space. Aisha (@aishapatelstyle) refreshed her patio after one quick trip to Lowe's. She spotted this ebony steel and woven resin patio bench at her local store. Then she added coordinating throw pillows in geometric patterns and small black planters.

Here are some other easy updates that you can make in a weekend.

• Add an outdoor rug that coordinates with your other decor. 
  
• Use solar or battery-operated decorative lanterns to line stairs or place on end tables. 
  
• Update your patio cushions with a different color or pattern. 
  
• Hang a feeder or install a bird bath nearby. 
  
• Add an outdoor fountain for a calming effect on your porch or patio.
  

This beautiful deck on the lake is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of life. The homeowners used Trex (@trexcompany) to make a bold and attractive update to their railing system. The bottom and top rails come in a classic white composite with round aluminum balusters in charcoal black. Composite rails are highly durable and designed to last for years to come.

The patio conversation set is made of all-weather PE wicker to withstand the elements. The thick seat and back cushions provide a comfortable landing spot for hours of lounging.

Fill coordinating planters with small trees, plants and flowers to bring some green to the space. Battery-operated LED lanterns cast a warm glow as the sun goes down.

Amanda Trouba (@amandatrouba) created a bold, yet relaxing outdoor oasis. On her spacious deck, she created a dining spot and a conversation corner.
In the dining area, she updated the space with a new patio set. A modern wood and aluminum dining table works well with the all-weather wicker armchairs. A black patio umbrella and a geometric black and white outdoor rug tie the whole look together.

Then Amanda moved over to the conversation area where she styled a built-in bench with black and white striped pillows. She used the same outdoor rug in the conversation space to tie the two areas together. A black metal firepit keeps friends and family warm as they converse. Railing planters and string lights are the perfect finishing touches.

The Lotus Building Group (@lotusbuildinggroup) tore down an old, dilapidated deck and built a beautiful screened-in porch in its place. Instead of using lumber, they replaced the flooring with composite deck boards in a warm wood color.

These composite deck boards are eco-friendly and made of 95% reclaimed wood and recycled plastic film. They're a low-maintenance solution because they won't splinter, rot or warp.

To keep things cool and breezy throughout the warm and humid summer months, they installed a ceiling fan and several wall-mounted fans. We also recommend adding outdoor heating to extend your time on your porch into the cooler months. Our outdoor heaters come in freestanding, wall-mount and hanging versions.