I have a thing for symmetry. So much so, that sometimes I have to be careful about how often I have symmetry in one room, ha! It’s an easy design formula; it brings balance and harmony to any space, area, or vignette. When thinking about our front porch, I knew I wanted this space to have symmetry. Our porch isn’t centered on the front of the house, so symmetry on this one space serves as a good focal point. The overall architecture of the porch isn’t symmetrical either. With one sidelight by the door, it could feel off balance. Creating symmetrical just in front of the alcove is what was needed!
Last year, we had part of our exterior painted and I also had new lights installed. It was just one small lantern tucked into the alcove. The first step in the symmetry was getting two beautiful lanterns and bringing them up front.
This year, I focused on planters. I knew I wanted to repeat the symmetry. I also know that I don’t have a green thumb so I was going to stick with something simple that I know I can keep alive. Thank goodness for a basic kimberly queen fern! It’s the only plant I’ve been able to keep green and lush all summer long on the porch that receives direct sunlight. In terms of planters, I also knew I wanted to repeat the charcoal color of the lanterns. I wanted something that could be here year round. Whether that’s filling it with a fern in the summer or a Christmas tree in December, I wanted it to stay in place.
I found these charcoal, circular planters locally at Old Time Pottery. The round shape breaks up all the angles on the porch and the lattice pattern adds a timeless appeal. I was initially worried they would be too big. However, my design style is big and bold. Because there’s not much color on the porch, I knew I needed the impact of a large planter to make it a focal point.
If you’re looking to add the traditional symmetrical look to your front porch, I’ve sourced some fantastic styles above! You can click each item to take you to the source. I’m loving the lattice styles and some of the classic urns. You can’t go wrong with a chippendale planter!
What’s your front porch style?
