Breezy and Chic Summer Decor Ideas for a Small Porch

If you have a small porch and are scratching your head to figure out how to decorate it for summer (or any time of year!), keep reading! I’m sharing smart ways you can create a summer porch, even if you have a small outdoor entry way area! Best of all, you can apply these tips to decorating a small porch for any season!

Small Porch > No Porch, 100% of the Time

When I moved into our home in Tennessee almost 6 years ago, I was over the moon to finally porch to decorate.

To be fair, it’s a small porch – maybe even an alcove, some might say – but it was still a step up from the tiny ‘stoop’ I had at my former house on Long Island.

To me, it was a magical chunk of real estate I could finally start decorating.

And that’s what I did – for each and every season… for fall, Christmas, winter, Valentine’s Day, Easter, spring, and summer.

If you have a small porch like me, you might feel a little wistful when you see a huge wrap-around porch or a porch that has space for pretty much a second living room.

But don’t let that bring you down – you can make a small porch look charming and inviting, even with limited space.

Today I’m sharing how I specifically did it for summer, and link to other posts so you can see how I did it for all the seasons. Best of all, you can apply these tips to decorating your small porch for just about any holiday or season.

What to Include on a Small Porch for Summer

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1| Furniture

I love choosing a piece of furniture to place on my porch because it takes up a nice chunk of real estate.

When I first started decorating, I used to love creating intricate vignettes down the finest details.

To a degree, I still enjoy that – but I’m homeschooling my twin boys right now, and I just don’t have time or mental bandwidth to do that every season!

Placing a chair on my porch allows me to not only have somewhere to sit when my sons are playing in the driveway, but it is something of a ‘capsule decor piece’ that I can use each season which can be decorated in a cute way while taking up a nice chunk of space.

Over the years, I’ve used a plastic Adirondack chair that I spray-painted a neutral tan color.

painted adirondack chair on summer porch

This year, I purchased a more durable Adirondack rocking chair, which just elevated the space just a bit more (I’ll post updated pics once it’s all set up!)

My summer theme this year was bright and cheerful, so I used color in lots of places. I added some brightly colored pillows to the chair so it would pop against the neutral background.

painted adirondack chair on summer porch

Depending on the type of chair – it can be decorated for sitting, along with a pillow and blanket. Or it can be a place to hold a planter, basket, or other seasonal decor.

You can also use a bench, a stool, or a small table!

porch bench with flowrs

A fun, vintage, or functional piece of furniture always elevates the space on the porch. Small bistro sets and hanging chairs are also great for small porches!

2| Plants and Greenery

A porch needs to have its flower and plants!

summer porch with flowers

For summer, I let just the summer blooms do their thing! That’s the amazing thing about summer – you really don’t need a whole lot more than seasonal flowers in planters near your entry way!

I liked to add some risers and stools, just to include varying height.

planted summer flowers near porch

Additionally, if you have a piece of furniture that you can place flowers on, such as a small table or bench, that also can add depth to your porch decorations.

Here, I just lined up potted flowers on a bench that was off to the side of the porch.

porch bench with flowrs

purple flowers bench

Hibiscuses are a wonderful choice for summer with their bright blooms. I’ve also used hydrangeas as porch decor, before I planted them in the yard.

hibiscus in planter near patio and porch

If you don’t want to worry about the upkeep for flowers, green plants are another great option. Ferns are luxurious choice that looks lush and tropical, and don’t require as much watering.

In the past, I’ve also used hostas in DIY planters until I planted them in the ground at the end of the season.

hosta in rope planter on porch

You certainly could also just put some summer faux flowers in a vase or a planter as well. There are some fabulously life-like flowers and plants like hydrangeas and ferns that look amazing and require zero maintenance.

small porch florals with hydrangeas

3| Lighting

String lighting on my porch is always a favorite, and I just love that effect.

If that’s not something you’re into, lanterns are a great alternative! Pop a battery-powered candle inside and it’s instant ambiance.

summer porch with lantern and flowers lights

For the summer, I love open bamboo lanterns that are solar powered! I keep a set hanging in my carport, which provides extra lighting to my porch.

string lights on summer porch

You also could put fairy lights in a mason jar, which is so cozy, inviting, cheap and easy!

4| Rugs

Even if you have a small porch, a rug can really anchor the whole space together.

I love layering rugs. summer porch with lantern and rug and flowers

Here, I used a lighter based rug, with a smaller buffalo check rug and a tan welcome mat.

For many of my outdoor rugs, I choose the ones that look a little plastic-y, made of polypropylene & polyester, because they dry so much more quickly, making them mold-resistant.

My porch doesn’t really get very wet, but the bottom rug is made of polypropylene & polyester.

5| Wall Decor

If you have some wall space, that is a great way to draw the eye up and doesn’t require a larger porch!

On my porch walls, I have an old window with a set of hanging wreaths that I DIYed and pretty much use all year. I just unclip the flowers and clip on different seasonal decor.

On the other wall, I have a wood round that I made at a ladies night at church!

fern, summer wood round, old window with wreaths

Signs, wood rounds, and wreaths are great to add and pack a punch on a small porch! Vertical space is generally plentiful on a small porch – use it!

On the door is a simple DIY magnolia beaded wreath that I made, as a nod to living in the South!

magnolia diy wreath

6| Seasonal Touches

Of course, it’s summer, so you can also add in some summer specific touches. It’s also a great way to add in some of your personality and unique style.

Personally, I think the flowers and greens are enough for summer. But you can also add in some summery lanterns, pillows, or porch signs or leaners!

And here is the whole small summer entry way put together in a 6′ x 4′ porch!

summer porch with flowers

Easy Summer Porch Ideas, Budget- Friendly Small Porch Edition

I hope you found a few ideas to inspire you for decorating your small porch. Bigger isn’t always better – it’s usually a lot more to clean and take care of!

With just a handful of carefully chosen items and decor, you can create a gorgeous porch for summer – and every season!

The nice thing is that you generally can keep many of the same base items and set-up (a chair, crates, wreaths on doors) and just swap out florals, wreaths, and season specific decor!

If you want more inspiration for summer porch decorating, I have 35 more ideas that you can check out here: 35+ Stylish Front Porch Decorating Ideas for a Summer Oasis.