Confession time! We “finished” our porch a little while ago, but I have been holding out on the blog post because we still have a few small details to tweak here & there. Then, a friend mentioned that she’d been excited to see an update on our DIY porch, so I figured I’d just go ahead and share our progress so far! (Letting go of perfectionism once again!)
Here’s where we left off on Part One of our DIY porch makeover:
After installing a wooden deck over the concrete porch, we decided to trim out our posts. Instead of shelling out for prefabricated trim, we just cut our own from regular ol’ 2×8 beams. Waaaaay cheaper!
A table saw cut ‘em down to size in no time! We also used a miter saw to cut the angled pieces for the top & bottom trim.
We decided not to use treated wood for the trim because we wanted to paint it right away.
We also used a circular saw to cut the angled pieces for the top & bottom trim. A brad nailer made it easy to attach them to the columns, and after a few coats of Kilz exterior primer, we had some very pretty posts!
We then attached some vinyl lattice to beautify the rest of the visible concrete, and I gave my old Adirondack chairs a makeover using Kilz & spray paint.
The seashell & succulent were gifts, and I found the pillows, faux boxwood, and jute place mat at Home Goods. We already had the table, too — it actually pops up & serves as a bar/cooler!
What Our Porch Looks Like Now:
Completed DIY Porch Upgrades:
- Wooden decking over steps, porch, and railing
- Vinyl lattice attached to concrete base
- Extended garden beds to curve around house
- Trim added to posts
- Fresh paint on posts, railing, & chairs
- New table decorations & pillows
We still have some work to finish (i.e., attach a new downspout, lol!), but I am in LOVE with the progress we’ve made!! I think it looks a thousand times cuter than before — hello, curb appeal!
The best part?
We did the entire thing (from decking to decorating) for UNDER $600!!
Whoop whoop!!
How We Saved:
- Borrowed tools from our amazingly generous friends & family
- Bought regular treated lumber & chose each board carefully (it was almost $2/board cheaper than if we had purchased “premium” lumber.)
- Reused exterior primer that was left over from a previous project
- Cut our own trim for the posts instead of buying it
- Purchased minimal decorations at discount stores & reused the furniture & decorations we already had
TIP: If you need to borrow a tool but don’t have friends who own the equipment, try searching online for tool lending libraries. You can also find cheap or free tool sharing posts on Uniiverse, and, if you’re in Australia, you can try Friends with Things.
What’s on your project list this summer? Any favorite tips for staying chic on a shoestring budget??
P.S. I’m sharing this at Serenity Now, It’s Overflowing & The Great Outdoors link party at IHeart Organizing! Make sure you stop over there for more amazing outdoor project ideas!
Wow, like, WOW! Way to create such a lovely space for such a small amount! We too borrow tools from others, and of course let them borrow ours, to save money on projects. It’s a great way to save, especially if it’s a specialty tool we know we’ll only use once.
Thanks so much! That reminds me — I meant to add some links about neighborhood tool sharing programs! Thanks for the reminder, girl!!!
That looks amazing! Great job
Thanks, Carrie!
Wow! This is an awesome transformation! XO, Aimee
Thank you so much, Aimee!!
Wow, what a huge difference this made. I love the added moldings on the columns. I’m a new follower, found you on Pinterest.