We’re outlining the changes we made to maximize the functionality of our Chicago front porch.
In This Post
Summer is Front Porch Season
It’s finally summer and we’re lucky to call one of the greatest cities in the world, Chicago, our home! We basically live on our front porch in the summertime so we wanted to maximize the space this year.
The old furniture layout served us well, but was starting to feel cramped for our little family. We’re moving the vintage Salterini Radar chairs to our mid century Red House project where they’ll fit in perfectly. Our often-modified DIY porch swing was gifted via our YBH flea instagram account. We now had a blank canvas to work with and were ready to really maximize our space.
The Compact Outdoor Sectional
Our porch has a unique shape with a natural landing area on the left side and a larger seating area on the right. We wanted to increase the seating area on the porch and this modular outdoor sectional from our friends at Article fit the bill perfectly. We added a couple of additional armless chair modules to extend the sofa into a perfect ‘L’ shape and were only left with a couple of inches to spare on each end. It tucks into the space incredibly well!
The Lily White sofa features a sturdy powdercoated frame and waterproof cushions that repel rain and moisture. For good measure, we gave them a quick spray of hydrophobic coating to keep them looking new. This low pile outdoor rug defines the space and complements the sofa perfectly.
Accessorizing for the Finishing Touch
With the bones of the space in place, we were ready to accessorize! We wanted the space to feel open, airy and cozy while remaining functional. The sofa’s built-in side table is a great spot for devices or a beverage, but we also eat meals out front as often as possible, so we also ordered the perfect coffee table! The dimensions are perfect for the space and the finish plays well with the stained tongue and groove ceiling.
Let’s Put it to Use!
Our former front porch setup of a 2-3 seater swing plus the two Radar chairs struggled to seat five people comfortably. Last weekend, we had a few friend over for a backyard BBQ and retreated to the front porch when it started raining. Somehow, we fit 6 adults and five kids out front and were fairly comfortable for 20 minutes while we waited for the storm to pass over! As much as we loved it, eliminating the swing freed up an incredible amount of space and we love how this new setup turned out!
Cheers to the start of summer and to all of the outdoor hangs you can handle. In the meantime, give us a wave if you pass by and see us lounging on the porch!
When I saw you were getting rid of the swing, I wondered what could possibly be better…. the sofa and coffee table are indeed perfect!
It has been incredible gathering friends around the new sectional. I was hesitant at first, but I’m happy for all the memories we made with that swing!
Love the new setup and giving me some great ideas for our patio. Sidenote: would love tank top details, Kim! So cute!!
Hi Lindsay, thank you! It was a lucky vintage find, but I’ll be sharing similars on LTK!
This is inspiring me to do my front porch, which I never use. I was thinking about putting a single hanging chair at the end so maybe I should start researching that. Your front porch is stunning!
Thanks! We loved our swing and we love the hanging chair at Tree House, but they sure do take up a lot of space vs. the amount of seating they provide.
Hi- Lovely makeover! I especially love the rug, but can’t find your particular pattern among the options in the link. Has it been discontinued?
Shoot, it looks like it might be sold out on Amazon. Found it here for you!