$100 Back Porch Makeover Reveal

It’s Reveal Week for the $100 Room Challenge

Week Five- Reveal Week for the $100 Room Challenge. We’ve finished about 95% of what I had planned for our little Back Porch Makeover and today I get to show you how it all came together for under $100.

What’s the $100 Room Challenge? The rules are simple: One Room. One Month. $100. Just the type of challenge that this budget-loving-DIY-crafting-make-do kind of girl loves!

The $100 Room Challenge is hosted by the lovely Erin of Lemons, Lavender, and Laundry. She is the woman behind this little challenge that has over 20 bloggers joining this month. Erin started by challenging herself to see how much she could decorate and change in one room all for under $100. This month marks the 5 year anniversary for the $100 Room Challenge! 

Congrats Erin, I am so happy to be a part of this great community of bloggers who have had the pleasure of participating in these challenges. It’s been inspiring and encouraging to get to know others who like to decorate and DIY on a budget!

On with the tour- the Back Door

To start our little tour of this Back Porch Makeover, we’ll step outside from this door at our little back landing. This back door was in desperate need of some love and attention. It had been years since it was painted and had a small bit of damage.

A piece of scrap wood, two screws, caulk, and Robin’s Egg Blue paint really brought back some life to this neglected door. At the last minute, I decided to add a window film to the glass window inserts. I just love the texture and detail it has added to this door while still letting in the sunlight.

As we open the back door to go out onto the Back Porch– you can see that the outside of the back door has been painted, a rich Flat Black. I love how the black color looks with the retro vibe of the window film as well. It really makes this door pop!

The screen door was another project that got a bit of love and attention in this little space. The top screen had a couple of small holes, so it was up for replacing- such an easy project. If you’re new to DIY- this is the project for you. It’s just amazing how changing the screen can make the whole door look new again. As well as a couple of new coats of Oil Rubbed Bronze paint to the frame.

Back Door and Screen Door Makeover Cost:

• Scrap wood, screws, caulk, already had- $0
• Robin’s Egg Blue- mixed two old samples we already had together- $0
• Flat Black paint– had leftover from another project- $0
• Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint- $6.98
• Window film- from Amazon– $10.98
• Screen replacement kit- $19.99
• Total= $37.95

Back Porch Makeover- the landing

As we exit the back door we step out onto the Back Porch landing. It’s a super small spot that packs a lot of style. I am renting this cute little house, and am not able to paint all the siding but painting the screen door really made a difference in how the space was brought together.

One project that I knew we needed to complete for our Back Porch Makeover was to build this little bench. I often decorate a little table, or make do with a couple of cubes and scrap wood. But building this bench took this space to another level.

Using standard pressure treated wood and deck screws made making this bench super affordable. Check out my Pinterest board- Easy Build Bench for inspiration for your own bench.

I originally had two benches in my plan- but time ran out to complete the second one. So expect a tutorial to come on how you can build this super easy 2×4 bench too!

I have been loving the layering of outdoor rugs that has been so popular the last couple of years. Here I was able to layer two rugs with similar Buffalo Check patterns. The cotton Black and White one on the bottom, and the Red, Orange, Brown and Cream sisal rug on top. I smile whenever I look at them.

Back Porch Makeover- Landing costs:

• four 2×4 pressure treated lumber boards @$4.80 each- $19.20
• Black and White checked rug- $7.99
• Red, Orange, Brown and Cream sisal rug- $6.99
• Total= $34.18

Back Porch- Potting Bench Refresh

Just to the side of the Back Porch landing is this potting bench we’ve had for a few years. It was a free by the side of the road find, that is just a perfect little spot to place items while going in and out the back door. All it needed was a good cleaning and another coat of dark Gray paint from the garage stash to freshen it up.

We have these thrift store crates on the bottom shelf of the potting bench to hold odds and ends during the summer months. They got a quick coat of this Olive Green paint, and then I did a dry brush of the dark Gray of the potting bench over it. I really like the two colors together- it adds so much depth.

For all of the accessories on the Back Porch I just used what I already had- metal lanterns in a mix of metal colors. A few birdcages, Brown glass bottles, and glass jars filled with pine cones collected from a nearby park.

I have also been collecting little Birch branch pieces that have fallen on our morning walks with the dogs. When they’re all placed in a glass jar together they make a bigger impact.

Back Porch Potting Bench costs:

• Dark Gray paint for potting bench- had in the stash- $0
• Olive Green spray paint for crates- had in the stash- $0
• Artwork, accessories, pinecones, birch branches- shopped my home and collected in nature- $0
• Total= $0

Garage Door, Fence, and Brick Path

The last little spot we tackled for this Back Porch Makeover was this spot by the side Garage door. I painted the door and trim in the same Flat Black paint and now it looks so cool and modern. I just love it!

Reusing the old rugs that had been on the porch saved a little money and look great here by the garage door. I love this little bright pop of Lime Green that brings out all the greens in the Ferns. I think it is unexpected and fun!

A small project that took more time to decide how to do, rather than to actually do- was replacing a few of the Fence boards. There were three that were split and damaged. Pulling them out, replacing them and then staining them Gray to match the old boards is a small detail that no one should ever notice. But I will know it was done. And now you do too!

The very last project that I have to share is this small spot that we bricked over with bricks we already had. We haven’t added the extra paver sand over the top yet, but we did add River Rocks in all of the large cracks and gaps around this little spot. I think it makes it look intentional and finished.

Garage Door, Fence, and Brick Path costs:

• Garage door paint- all ready had in the stash- $0
• Fence post boards 3 x $1.72= $5.16
• Gray stain- had in the stash- $0
• Bricks- already had- $0
• River Rocks- one bag- $5.48
• Paver Sand- $3.48
• Total= $14.12

How Much Did We Spend?

So- how much did we end up spending in the end for this $100 Room Challenge?

$86.25- Whoop Whoop!

Now I think that’s pretty good! But I also know that not everyone has a paint stash. So let’s say I did have to buy the paint I used, how much would that have added to my total? My guess is another $20-$30 or so for a quart of Black, a sample size of Robin’s Egg Blue, some stain, and a couple cans of spray paint. That would have probably brought me over the $100, but not by much. A lot can happen for $100!

Do you want to see where my $100 Room makeover began?

Check out the posts below

• Back Porch Makeover- Week One
• Diggin’ In the Dirt- Week Two
• How to Paint Doors on a Budget- Week Three
• Still Painting and Built a Little Bench too!- Week Four

Make sure to check out all the other reveals below!