Transforming My Summery Side Porch Into a Cozy Fall Oasis
Hey Friends of the Twins, welcome back! How many of you remember this space? I like to call it my side porch, which I had decorated for the summer. Well, today we're going to give it a fall makeover—beautiful, comfy, and cozy just in time for the new season.
I also have a major update to share with you all, thanks to Grand Patio, who sent me a 10x13 rectangular Cantilever patio umbrella with the base. It’s going to be perfect out here.
Now, I call this area my side porch, but it’s actually a continuation of the driveway. That room with the windows behind my daughter? That used to be a carport when we first moved here, but we renovated it into my sunroom.
So, it’s technically still part of the driveway, but this door that leads into the sunroom has become our main entryway. I decided a seating area here would be perfect, and since then, we've slowly but surely been pressure washing the area. It's going to take a little while to get it all done, but I’m in no rush—the cracks don’t bother me, and as long as it’s clean, I’m comfortable.
We’re going to start by putting together the umbrella, and Friends of the Twins, it comes with every tool you’ll need! My son-in-law helped me out, and it took him about 30-45 minutes to get it all set up.
The base even has wheels, so it’s easy to move. You can fill it with sand or water for extra stability, and since we didn’t have sand, we filled it with water for now.
One of the things I appreciate most is how easy the umbrella is for me to maneuver on my own. It has an easy-grip crank, and I’ve tested it—no issues! The fabric is coated polyester, and I’ve already sprayed it with Scotchgard to help it last longer.
Since we had some rain delays, it took me about three days to get this whole area refreshed. I started by repotting my summer flowers—I’m not quite ready to part with them yet! We have mild winters here in Georgia, and some of my plants, like the coral bells I planted two years ago, never die back. I’m giving the flowers a refresh and incorporating them into my fall decor.
One tool I absolutely need out here is a good blower. I found one over the summer at Aldi, and it’s perfect because it’s lightweight. My husband has two others, but they’re too heavy for me, and I like having my own equipment so I can keep this entryway clean.
Another great feature of the umbrella is its 90-degree tilt, which lets you stay shaded as the sun moves. I wish I could place the base on the grassy area, but I prefer having the seating area fully covered. I’m just going to have to decorate around the base, and I like little challenges like this—they keep me on my toes!
While sprucing up the space, I took the opportunity to spray some bug repellant. Living in the woods, we deal with a lot of critters, and I’ve learned to always have plenty of bug spray on hand. My sister Shonda taught me this—she’s always stocked up, and now I know why!
I’m also loving the beautiful fall colors of the plants I picked up from Home Depot, and I’m determined to take better care of my yard. I’ve gotten the inside of the house how I want it, so now it’s time to focus on the outside. It’ll take time, but I’m excited about creating little outdoor seating areas, especially for when my grandbabies come to visit.
I also gave the door a fresh coat of paint and reused some old grapevine swags I already had. They’re secured to the planter with floral wire to keep them from blowing away.
And I’m not quite ready to part with my foam pumpkin from HomeGoods—it was part of my very first YouTube video, so it’s a little nostalgic!
This little oasis is perfect now—whether it’s for morning coffee or just sitting outside in the fall air. I want to create a space where we can enjoy the outdoors, and I’m already planning my next seating area, complete with a fire pit.
My dream is to have different areas around the property for family gatherings, and I’m slowly making that vision a reality.
Thank you again to Grand Patio for the umbrella, and I’ll link both the umbrella and the patio set in the description box.
Friends of the Twins, make the life you live a life you love, because life is short. Thanks so much for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one!
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