Front Yard Redesign: The Emotional Surge and Powerful Impact
After a really long, really snowy winter, my front porch was needing a major refresh. I know the difference a coat of paint can make in a room, so I figured why not try it on my front porch? If you have ever felt the same need to do a front yard redesign, then this blogpost is for you! Just follow my steps below as I detail what worked for me and what didn’t.
Supplies:
Step 1 in your Front Yard Redesign: Take everything off and clean
The first step in this project was to take everything off on my porch and steps, and clean it really well. I opted to buy a pressure washer, and I am so glad I did. I absolutely love it and use it all the time. Of course, if you don’t have a pressure washer, you could always just use a hose and this attachment.
Step 2- Remove any adhesive residue and fill cracks in the concrete
I originally used rug tape to secure the rug that goes under my doormat in place. I absolutely love this rug tape and will definitely be using it again. In fact, it worked so well that it was a huge pain to get the residue off. I tried everything to get it off… Coke, Dawn dish soap, essential oils, nail polish remover, and WD-40. I didn’t have any Goo Gone, so that could have worked.
The thing that seemed to work the best for me was nail polish remover and this drill brush attachment. It definitely sped things up. While it didn’t get everything off completely, it got enough off. After I finished that off, I sprayed it all off again with the pressure washer.
Then it was time to fill the cracks in the concrete. They make a special concrete caulk that works pretty well. I filled in all of the cracks and then waited for it to dry.
Step 3- Paint
I applied 2 coats of Sherwin Williams Porch & Floor Enamel paint to my porch and stairs. I mixed in this additive to the paint to make it less slick, it is called Shark Grip. You can mix it to be any color that you want, but I chose Gauntlet Gray so that it would match the stucco on my house.
Step 4- Add new plants
I tore out a bunch of plants that I had lining the sidewalk because it attracted bees and my kids were too scared to walk by them. So I picked some others that were similar in color but less of a bee attractant. They are perfect for this space.
Step 5 – Planters to complete your front yard redesign
The last big step was building the most beautiful, custom planters on the sides of my steps. I wrote a full post about just these planters, so check it out HERE.
Aside from the planters, which were a big project, this front porch refresh was so simple and totally increased our curb appeal. It was the perfect way to kick off the spring.
Follow along for more DIY’s and fun at…
