Porch swings, rocking chairs and pitchers of sweet tea. Afternoons on the front porch are as much of a tradition in the South as the hot, humid days that accompany them. And as the days begin to grow warmer and longer, it’s time to reclaim the front porch and get it ready for visiting with company or lazy afternoons napping.
The history of the front porch is a history of America
The popularity of the front porch as a place to commune with nature, friends and family is a particularly American architectural feature and behavior. Understanding how they came to be is a history lesson in American architecture and how we came together as a people.
The United States owes it diverse forms of architecture to the melting pot of immigrants that settled here. We copied from the classical designs of the English, Italian, and Greek, along with many other regional styles brought from homelands. As time went on and our nation matured, so too, did our interpretation of classic designs, evolving with American tastes and needs.
Our modern idea of the front porch as an outdoor “room,” has only been around since the mid-1800s. Originally, the word and idea of a porch came from the classical Greek portico, an entryway highlighted by a roof and supporting columns. As time went on, architects in the South realized they could take better advantage of the shade and breezes an outdoor roof could provide.
Expanding into deeper, fuller spaces, they shaded the home’s interior and allowed windows to remain open to take advantage of breezes, regardless of weather. As the idea of an outdoor room developed, streets were lined with homes and front porches, and the gathering spaces helped create a feeling of family and community. The era of front porch living was at its height.
The advent of air conditioning, television, and changing tastes in housing and landscape (with an emphasis on backyards and privacy) may have curbed their popularity, but the appeal of the front porch as a gathering place, especially in the South, remains.
What makes a porch Southern?
There are a few porch elements that are considered classically Southern, but most of what makes up front porch living in the South is the attitude of hospitality that goes with it — offering a welcoming and comfortable retreat for family and visitors.
A pop of color overhead
Soft blue ceilings are probably the most distinctive feature of traditional Southern porches. And while it’s a feature that many agree needs to be there, not everyone agrees on why.
For some, the pale blue color is known as “haint blue” because it is believed that the color protects the home and its occupants from being harassed by haints, or restless spirits. Depending on who you ask, this works because the color mimics water, which the spirits cannot cross, or it confuses the spirits because it looks like sky.
A less supernatural reason for the sky blue is to deter wasps and spiders from making a home on your porch. Some people swear by the power of blue to repel insects from their porch because it fools them into thinking it is blue sky. While science has not shown the color to be effective, there is some science behind the practice, nonetheless. Historically when paints were used, they were milk paints, often with lye in the mixture. And since lye is a known insect repellent, the paint was effective at keeping the bugs at bay. But even without a logical explanation, it’s a calming and traditional color that lightens and brightens a space.
Greenery all around
And speaking of tradition, what’s more classic than hanging ferns on a Southern porch? Like
charming jewelry, ferns enhance the beauty of front porches nearly everywhere in the South, probably because ferns love humidity, which Southern summers have in abundance.
There are other options, of course, but make sure to include plants. Not only does the color and fragrance add a welcoming touch to the setting, but some can also even help with unwanted guests, like bugs. Depending on time of year and the amount of light your porch receives, you can plant marigolds, chrysanthemums, petunias, citronella grass, lavender, basil, or mint (in a container to prevent its aggressive spreading) to discourage mosquitoes and flies from joining you and ruining your relaxation.
And a place to kick back
Nothing says summertime in the South like spending time on a rocker or porch swing. There’s a reason why both have stood the test of time — nothing lulls you into an afternoon nap quite like their primal, gentle sway.
Front porch life and Southern Hospitality
So much about the Southern front porch is social, and so much of Southern hospitality is about
making visitors feel welcome and comfortable. In order to do this, there are things to keep in mind as porch season heads this way:
Seating: If you don’t do anything else, at least make sure you have plenty of comfortable places to sit. Include a cozy conversational cluster tucked in a corner for those long talks with family and friends after Sunday brunch.
Tables: When guests stop by, you know you’re going to offer food and drink. Make sure you have a places to easily set things down.
Lighting: As the sun goes down, think about the ambiance simple lighting or candlelight can bring to your porch rather than harsh overhead lighting. It also works better for watching fireflies (lightning bugs in the South) as they come out.
Fans: Consider ceiling or floor fans for when Mother Nature fails to deliver a welcoming breeze. Not only will they help keep you comfortable, they’ll also help keep away bugs.
Little luxuries: Pillows, rugs and throws all go a long way to add comfort, texture and color, making the space inviting and welcoming for visitors.
Privacy: As much as front porch living can be about socializing, it should also be about recharging with a good book or a long nap. In order to do that comfortably, use a lattice wall with climbing vines, or taller shrubs to create a cool shady nook to catch a few winks.
Continuing the tradition
Social gatherings with jokes told and stories shared. Watching children as they play in yards. Waving hello to neighbors as they pass by. Porches are a link to our past and a key to developing connections and building community. They’re also an opportunity to spend time out in nature instead of viewing from inside. It’s time to get busy clearing out the cobwebs and dusting off the furniture. It’s time to sit a spell and relax.