Revive A Retro Martha Stewart How-To For An Eye-Catching Front Porch

Channel your inner Martha Stewart and give your front porch a fresh new look with a DIY paint project that pops. To turn your front porch into an outdoor oasis, a stenciled design is the perfect way to breathe new life into your space. Drawing inspiration from Martha's classic techniques, this project is a great way to inject both color and personality into your home's exterior.  Whether you opt for bold, maximalist paint colors, like red paint that attracts birds to your yard, or a more subtle monochromatic scheme, the retro stenciling is guaranteed to catch the eye of anyone who passes by. With a little creativity and a splash of paint, your porch will become a stunning extension of your home that welcomes guests and wows neighbors alike.

Martha used a simple diamond pattern to transform her space, but the sky's the limit when it comes to stenciling possibilities. You can make your own pattern or opt for a premade design to save time. Options such as the Zonon Mandala Style Reusable Tile Stencil or the CrafTreat Reusable Swirling Pattern Stencil provide stunning details that can elevate any project. Ready to refresh your space? Take a cue from Martha Stewart and bring new life to your front porch with her timeless stenciling tips that prove what's old is new again. 

Before painting your porch floor, you'll need to prep and paint it in your chosen base color. Once it's fully dry, it's time to plan your pattern. Stewart started by determining how many rows of diamonds would fit. You'll want to measure your porch and plan the placement of your stencils as well — yes, this may mean a little math! Then, she used a chalk line like the Irwin STRAIT-LINE Marking Chalk, snapping the line to leave a chalk mark as a temporary guide. Like Stewart, use taped lines to create a diamond pattern as a guide, or use the chalk lines to determine the placement of your stencil. It's important to choose a tape that won't leave residue, such as the 3M ScotchBlue 2090 Safe-Release Painters Tape. Stewart recommends placing a straight-edge metal razor, such as the DEKEones Razor Blade Scraper, on the tape and tearing it to get a clean cut. 

With careful planning and the right tools, you'll be ready to start painting with ease. Select a bristle brush or wax brush, then dip it in your paint and wipe off any excess. Use too much paint and your design may end up blurry. Finally, once you're finished, it's important to avoid using your porch for a few days to allow your paint to fully cure. By following these steps, you'll end up with a gorgeous, retro-inspired porch.