A “Nasty” 1940s Porch Gets a Renter-Friendly Makeover Filled with IKEA Inspo
Historic homes are definitely charming. One thing that’s definitely not charming is the layers and layers of dirt that can come with an older home that’s not well-kept — especially an older outdoor space.
Kristen Ward’s (@kristenmakeshome) 96-square-foot 1940s porch was one of those older, grimier spaces — in fact, it had “caked-on layers of dirt” — but she was determined to make it a sunny outdoor spot for meditating and more.
In a budget-savvy redo (Kristen is renting, after all) she transformed the porch for about $500 with IKEA floor tiles, a little herb garden in a plant stand, and patio furniture that would hold up well to moisture. Read more about how she saved money on the project below.
Apartment Therapy Before & After Survey
- Name: Kristen Ward
- Social media: @kristenmakeshome
- Type of home: Apartment, rented
- Who do you share your space with, if anyone? My boyfriend, Matt
- Approximately how big is this space? 96 square feet
Describe what this space looked like before.
Oh man, it was nasty. The house was built in 1899, but the porch was enclosed in the 1940s. The previous tenants had never shut the windows, so there was tons of water and snow damage and debris. When the landlord gave me a tour of the unit, he completely ignored the space entirely.
What I loved about it was that it has beautiful sunset views over Somerville, Massachusetts. I also loved the greenhouse look from the glass windows. It was always warm in there as long as the sun was out.
Why did you decide to make a change?
A number of reasons: First, because I wanted an herb garden. I love to cook with basil and chives. Second, because I really wanted some sunny “outdoor” space for mental health!
What were the important steps in the project?
I spent hours cleaning. I mean hours. I borrowed my boyfriend’s Shop-Vac when I realized my little indoor vacuum was not going to cut it when it came to the caked-on layers of dirt.
Is there anything you did for this project that was a home improvement “first” for you?
Yes! I laid down outdoor floor tiles from IKEA. They click into place and cut with just scissors! It was my first time having to make detailed cuts for some of the nooks and crannies.
When sourcing floor tiles, I made sure I wouldn’t have to spend money on tools or other materials to install said floor tiles. In this case, all I needed was a pair of scissors. Other options required hand saws and cutting mats.
I learned the porch is totally not a perfect rectangle while I was laying the floating tiles. This meant making obscure diagonal cuts, so I had to go out and buy another box of tiles.
Were there any setbacks or surprises along the way?
The windows don’t actually shut all the way, so anything next to the windows had to be completely waterproof. That ruined my plans for having anything with cushions. Another challenge was that there were no power outlets out there, so I was limited to daylight hours (and moody candlelight!).
Was anything easier than you expected?
I felt extremely confident in my decision not to shop online. I went to multiple Targets, IKEA, and HomeGoods and set up little vignettes in the aisles of the store to see what inspired me and what worked well together. It took about six hours, but it totally beats waiting for online shipments to be delivered.
Is there any part of your project you can call out as a particularly budget-friendly solution?
I bought the trunk I used to store my throw pillows in from Facebook Marketplace for $35. The wicker trunk is painted Icy Morn by Benjamin Moore.
What do you love about the “after”?
The whole room feels like a bright, warm hug. It is the oasis of my home. I work from home, so at least once a day I go out there to meditate for 10 minutes or honestly just to drink an ice cold glass of water. It’s totally transportive.
Any words of advice for those considering the same type of renovation or project?
Be open-minded and flexible. In the end, this became less of a porch for my herb garden and more of a relaxation sunroom. Don’t be too fussy over spaces that are temporary. My time in this apartment is limited, so I’m glad I didn’t allow myself to drag my feet over this simple DIY.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.