Nesting tips for your porch

The new book "Porch Living" (Gibbs Smith, $30) offers tips on making the most of a home's front porch, which author James T. Farmer III calls "the happy space nestled betwixt nature and nest." He provides some of the following ideas:

Consider scale

"In order to furnish a porch, you need to scale it proportionally with your home," says Farmer. "I often have found furniture scale is the most often abused element; it's either too big or too small." Furniture that's too large will crowd a small porch, and furniture that's too small can look doll-like.

The imporantace of being well-lit

"Lighting is key," says Farmer. "Not just for the entrance, but also leading onto the porch, and from the ground level, and for your landscaping." Consider hardwiring fixtures into the porch's ceiling to provide gentle downlight on warm summer evenings, or use solar-powered lamps along the walkway to illuminate the path.

Don't overcrowd

Don't have too much furniture. "When you can't see the individual items, then there's too much there," says Farmer. "You need one type of deep seating, like a sofa, and you also need dining seating."

Keep it outdoor-friendly

"Stick with outdoor fabrics and furniture that's weather-resistant," says Farmer. "They've really come a long way with all-weather fabrics and with weather-tolerant woods as well. Don't put a velvet covering on your rocking chair, and also remember that porch furniture will need maintenance more often than interior furniture."

Tech matters

"Don't forget about technology when it comes to the porch," says Farmer. "It can be a wonderful place to have a radio or even a television. It can be a great place to watch the game, and it's another way for people to enjoy their porches. I don't think you have to give up elegance for comfort."