If you are anything like the team here at The Porch n Patio, then you know how important it is to have an outdoor space that not only reflects your personal style but also allows you to relax outside comfortably.
Our team of interior designers and passionate decor experts have spent years learning how to take an outdoor space from boring and shabby to functional, comfortable, and stylish. They know that it takes time, money, and hard work to find the right design and products for your space.
Our Design Goals
We created Porch and Patio to help you with that search. We want you to find the products and inspiration you need in one place and get back to relaxing with your loved ones.
From small apartment balconies to large outdoor decks, we can help you design the perfect outdoor space that fits your budget, style, and needs.
Our product guides will help you narrow down the perfect products for your space. We will show the products that are worth the splurge, the products you can find on a budget, and everything in between.
Our excerpts know that some things just aren’t worth the extra money, but other items should be splurged on for quality and safety.
Idea guides serve to offer inspiration and a jumping-off point for your outdoor design. Whether you are trying to find a sign for your front porch or a new porch swing, we can help you narrow down the design and materials you want so your search is that much easier.
How We Design Content
Our design experts have a ton of knowledge acquired over years of Interior Design education and personal life experience. From the tiny balcony of your first apartment to the large deck of your dream home, they know how to treat each space and help you make it your own.
Combined with years of writing experience, they are the whole package. That is exactly why they write for us, because not only do they know the topic but they also know how to write about it!
Our writers are fantastic at crafting engaging and informative articles, but when our writers are done with their job, our editors step in to make sure everything is perfect.
From checking grammar and content to formatting everything to perfection, our editors make sure only the best content reaches our site.
Lastly, of course, you, our readers, are a cornerstone in helping us grow and improve. Your suggestions and feedback help us offer you the content you want, the way you want it. Never hesitate to reach out if you see a way we can improve or just want to leave a note. We love hearing from you!
Our Values
- Creativity
- Function
- Passion for Design
- Honesty
- Relaxation & Fun
Meet Our Featured Designers
We have a lovely team of passionate and talented out decor experts. These are a few of our featured writers!
Candace Osmond
Candace worked as an interior designer for several years before deciding to make the switch to freelance writing. Now she’s an International & USA Today Bestselling Author and Award-Winning Blogger.
She loves being able to combine both these skills and bring you product and idea guides that help you create the outdoor space you want!
Why are you writing for Porch n Patio?
As a former Designer, I love everything to do with furniture, both indoor and outdoor. I’m all about creating a comfortable, practical, and cozy setting to relax in your own backyard.
How do you decorate your outdoor space currently?
Right now, my outdoor space works around our massive veggie garden. We laid a gravel base with individual garden boxes and have patio furniture arranged around a fire pit.
Do you prefer a screened-in or open-air porch?
I prefer screen-in because BUGS!
Firepit, fireplace, or no heat source outside? Why?
I love a simple fire pit to roast marshmallows over, kick up my feet, and get lost in a good book.
What are your tips for someone decorating a porch or patio on their own for the first time?
Start with a center focal point. It might be a fire pit, a dining table, a hot tub, etc. Start there and build your setting out from that. Make sure to leave ample room for traffic flow.
Erin Jamieson
Erin Jamieson loves designing a beautiful outdoor space and learned a lot about designing and building while working for Habitat for Humanity. She’s well versed in DIY projects and finding the perfect products for when you don’t want to do it yourself.
When she isn’t spending her time writing, Erin enjoys attending various Home and Garden shows. She loves finding new ideas and inspiration to bring to her own outdoor spaces and share with you!
Why are you writing for Porch n Patio?
From Habitat for Humanity to projects at home, I’ve always loved making improvements to exterior spaces. I’m bringing my volunteer work and personal experience to help consumers make additions to their homes. Outdoor spaces have always been a respite for me from daily stressors and a way to spend time with friends and family.
How do you decorate your outdoor space currently?
I love gardens, and a little goes a long way. Seasonal flowers are traded out for pumpkin and gourds in fall. Simple patio chairs are paired with potted plants and string lights for a welcoming ambiance. In the future, I’d love to have a small vegetable garden.
Do you prefer a screened-in or open-air porch?
I love both: screened-in porches are simply relaxing to listen to the rain and for entertaining no matter the weather. But there’s also something undeniably wonderful about being directly outside. I have an open-air porch currently.
Firepit, fireplace, or no heat source outside? Why?
I love fire pits for large backyards, and I also love the elegance of a fireplace. I don’t get cold quickly, so I do well without a heat source. However, of these, I’m most drawn to fire pits. I love spending time around a fire pit with loved ones, roasting marshmallows, and enjoying the evening.
What are your tips for someone decorating a porch or patio on their own for the first time?
First, set a budget. Decide how much you can spend for now. You don’t have to make everything look amazing at first. Updating a porch or patio over time is better- not only financially but to adapt to other changes in your home. Opt for durable chairs- my favorite is Polywood. After that, little seasonal decor touches (wreaths, signs, potted plants) really make an impression without costing a fortune.
Ashley Class
Ashley is a freelance writer, contractor, and real estate investor. She has staged many homes over her career and knows what it takes to make them stand out while still blending in. Ashley believes the exterior of a home is the world’s introduction to your personality and style and she loves being able to share her tips and give her opinion on current trends to help you bring your unique flair outside of your home.
When she isn’t reimaging homes and getting them ready for prospective buyers, tenants, and lookers, Ashley spends her time writing about the same passions. She’s written for a number of well-known blogs and websites, along with spending some time in other areas of the content wheelhouse. When it comes to finding new products or ideas, Ashley has got you covered.
Why are you writing for Porch n Patio?
I am a home designer and general contractor who believes the exterior of your home is everyone’s introduction to your personality and style. I love to share tips and trends for those to be able to express themselves on the outside.
How do you decorate your outdoor space currently?
My current outdoor space is transitioning to Halloween, but I love timeless styles. We are slowly renovating our 100-year-old home, and it’s important for me to balance its characteristics with our modern touches
Do you prefer a screened-in or open-air porch?
I prefer a screened-in porch because no matter how much bug spray I wear, I always get bit up!
Firepit, fireplace, or no heat source outside? Why?
I love a fireplace or firepit outside. A glass of wine outside by a fire is my happy place.
What are your tips for someone decorating a porch or patio on their own for the first time?
For someone decorating their porch or patio for the first time, I recommend buying the bigger furniture in neutrals and layering it in colors. You don’t have to spend a lot to express yourself, and basic neutrals will give you a foundation to change up the colors or seasonal accents easy.