Maybe it's where you got your first kiss, or where you said goodbye to your friends who were moving away, or where your dog waited anxiously for you to come home from school. I'm talking about the front porch. It's a place that conjures many memories and is full of decorating possibilities.

Older homes relied on this outside space to monitor activity and serve as a boundary between public and private. Some homes have small covered stoops with just enough room for a chair or a bench, and larger homes, especially in the south, had sprawling wrap-around porches big enough to host a small party.

Decorating a porch is much like decorating any other room, except for the consideration one must give to the effects of weather. What to do with this transitional space is up to your imagination and budget.

Determining how to place furniture or a bench will require taking some dimensions and drawing a floor plan to scale. The most important thing to keep in mind: It is not your living room, so keep it light. You don't want to shock or be a nuisance to your neighbors. The front porch is somewhat in the public realm, so it should be tastefully furnished with a dash of restraint.

The size of the porch will greatly determine what furniture can be used. Some will opt for maintenance-free outdoor furniture, and others will choose indoor furniture. For those who are shaking their heads in disbelief, believe me, there is nothing wrong with furnishing your porch with real indoor furniture. Of course, there are some safeguards to take into consideration if this is the route you choose.

The first consideration is to make sure there is enough overhang or roof covering so that furniture isn't directly exposed to corrosive elements such as rain and excessive sunshine. Also important is that the finishes are sturdy enough to withstand the elements. Sometimes painted finishes and slightly distressed finishes are advisable because their worn appearance is part of their appeal.

Upholstered pieces can be a bit tricky outside, but if some care is given to replacing the inside foam, batting and strapping with mold-resistant versions, your indoor furnishings can endure the outdoors. With so many synthetic fabrics available, there are truly remarkable indoor-outdoor fabrics that have the same allure of high-end decorative fabrics.

Your porch floor could use some attention, as well. Some consist of wood planks, tile or even plain gray concrete. There are many options: staining your concrete a nice contrasting color, painting wood floors with patterns, or installing popular synthetic-weave outdoor carpeting that looks like it belongs indoors.

A recent trend borrowed from luxury boutique hotels is that of draping porches and balconies in miles of sheer outdoor fabric. This trend creates a lot of impact, but also requires a lot of maintenance to keep them clean and mold-free.

My advice is that you be considerate of your neighbors regardless of whether you hang your swinging bench, drape your drapes or roll out the red carpet ala Hollywood. And if you decide to design your porch, give it the extra maintenance so your Shangri-La doesn't end up looking like Sanford and Son's front porch.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash