Back Porch Makeover

IT WAS PAST TIME FOR A BACK PORCH MAKEOVER AND I HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME DIGGING UP OLD JUNK FROM MY YARD AND GARDEN SHED TO DECORATE WITH.

I’m so excited to tell you that this post is done in collaboration with six of my blogging/YouTube friends. They have all posted a special spring post today also, so be sure and check out their links at the bottom of this post.

Before: Back porch makeover

You should all be so proud of me! I finally remembered to take a ‘before’ picture! You see, I’m a doer and a creator. I dive right in and get creating and get the work done. No time for photos. But, not this time. This is the one ‘before’ photo I grabbed so you could see how truly drab and neglected my back porch was.

Back Porch Makeover before photo — BEFORE: A very neglected look. It really isn’t my porch, rather more of the back step area. Our back porch is actually an enclosed room inside that back door. It is full of farm coats, work boots, gloves and kittens.

Actually, it was worse than this. There was a dying shrub to the right of the door along with bare dirt and weeds. We pulled the shrub a couple of weeks before and put down wood mulch so that step was done.

And this is after cleaning up the cobwebs, leaves and general dirt off the house and repainting the back door trim. Thus the cans of paint still sitting on the steps.

Ok, so it wasn’t really a before picture. Lol! But it was close! I think you get the general idea.

back porch makeover farmhouse vintage antiques green plants fresh look

Dumpster Garden shed diving for my back porch makeover

Ask my husband about my garden shed and he will tell you it is just full of junk. But, when I look into that messy shed….when I look past all the kids bikes and piles of garden ‘stuff’…I see potential.

In this shed, I have shelves full of old galvanized buckets, clay pots, vintage basket, old wood boxes, antique chick feeders, vintage garden tools, rusty old metal carts, an old galvanized double wash tub, wheelbarrows, a small farmhouse sink, rusty tool boxes, galvanized tubs, and wood spindle bed frames. Potential with a capital ‘P’!

Back porch makeover galvanized wash tubs green picnic tables plants vintage pitch fork old door

It is a junkers paradise! Lol! We’re talking 25 years of picking and stashing from barns, yard sales, estate sales, garbage piles, and thrifting trips. I just can’t pass up those old rusty and worn treasures for a dime on the dollar. Utilitarian pieces of the past generations. Each piece just waiting for that special project.

When I need that special something to finish my yard, garden, porch or even my home decorating project I usually find it in the shed. And often just exploring the shed gives me the inspiration I need to start a project.

Back porch makeover inspiration

So, looking at my boring back door area I couldn’t really envision what it needed. I knew I had these great old blue chairs I wanted to use so I could have a new spot to enjoy the shade and the sunset.

But, beyond that, I really didn’t know. This is typical. It usually takes a lot of trial and error for me to get the look I desire.

Back porch makeover vintage tinware green plants

So, off to the shed I went! Here is the list of the things I dug out of the shed or came up with elsewhere, to try. Not all were old, but they had an aged look.

And, not everything I auditioned stayed. I usually have a general idea where or how I want to use a piece. But, ultimately, it is just trial and error until it looks right.

Key pieces to my back porch makeover

A galvanized double wash tub that was left behind at a home we purchased that adjoined our farm many years ago. I knew it could be a featured piece to build on by the back door.
An assortment of old metal buckets and clay pots for potting plants into.
Two blue vintage metal garden chairs I bought at a yard sale almost 20 years ago for $5 each (I actually have 4!)
An old chippy door
A wood window frame that was missing a piece of wood
One old garden scoop fork with a decorative metalwork head
A vintage galvanized mop bucket and a chain to use as a hanging pot
An old galvanized garbage can that was a bright chippy aqua that I spray painted gray and flipped over to use as a table. I didn’t sand or prime the surface so I am expecting it will have a new chippy effect by the end of the summer.
A new metal art piece with an embossed rooster
A new clay birdbath I got for Mother’s Day
Various green plants to fill out the display
One piece I got out to use and then decided against was a broken faux windmill clock. I decided to save it for a front porch makeover.

Back Porch Makeover with vintage tinware old garden tools and plants

Pin it for later

Back porch makeover with vintage oil cans plants and metal wash tub

My Back Porch makeover challenges

Heavy use

With eight of us living, working and schooling here full time, this is the door that gets opened and shut 800 times a day. The dirt and boots pile up inside, the boy sticks and garden tools get dropped outside. Because the steps are narrow and there is so much traffic here I decided not to put any plants on the actual steps.

It is also the place where we eat dinner many spring and fall evenings. It is the west side of the house so at times it is too hot for dinner there, but we love to watch the sunset there over dinner in the spring and fall.

It is still under the deep shade of the tree above during the heat of the day so it is used almost daily through the summer for lunch.

Our old standard picnic table (no ‘before’ photo…sorry!) was literally falling apart after 30 years of use and repairs. We removed it and put in these green tables from our farm. They were the perfect touch with enough room for company.

back porch makeover green picnic tables maidenhair ferns clay pots

Deep Shade

And the shade is deep from the ash tree we planted 25 years ago to protect our living windows from the sun and heat. By focusing on sturdy metal decor pieces that have withstood the test of time already, and on green plants with lots of textures, this space became not only beautiful but hardy and practical to stand up to heavy use. Without flowers, it is classic and timeless and looks great all the time.

I also placed my birdbath I got for Mother’s Day near where I can enjoy it from the blue chairs and added in some vintage metal oil cans across the walkway to fill out this space. And of course, the fabulous green tables from our farm were a perfect compliment to it all.

Back Yard Makeover vintage blue chairs and flower pots

Back Porch Makeover bird bath and green picnic tables

My Back Porch Makeover Video

Shop my look

Pin This to your Porch Board

back yard makeover old doors vintage galvanized buckets

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse

It is so fun to embrace the new season and use my country junk to make something pretty! Hopefully, this inspired you to dig out some of your old country junk and do some decorating of your own back door. After all, ‘back door guests are best’.

Have a blessed day! Julie

And be sure to check out this 6 posts/videos below from my talented friends

Marisa at Bumblebee Apothecary shares an Herbal Bath Salt Recipe

Amy at Our Amyable Farmhouse how to make an Easy Fleece Camp Poncho for Kids

Anja from Our Gabled Home shares 5 Ways to Use Elderflowers

Brittany at Not Your Average Fox is making a Trash to Treasure: DIY Fairy Garden

Emily from Scribbles From Emily shares How to Make a Spring Capsule Wardrobe

Jenny at Be Well Healthy Life is posting about Safe Store Bought Bug Spray