If you have a porch that you barely use because it lacks privacy or comfy furniture for relaxing, there are some simple things that you can do to turn your porch into an outdoor oasis. Even better, you can turn it into an outdoor oasis for just a little bit of money.

For less than $500 you can make your porch comfortable and relaxation friendly. You can also add privacy to your porch so that you don't have to worry about your neighbors or everyone who is driving by watching everything that you are doing.

The best way to get started is to be patient and wait for outdoor furniture to go on clearance. You don't have to wait long for this to happen. Outdoor furniture is typically put on the market at the end of winter. By July, most stores have already put their outdoor furniture and decorations on clearance for 25%-40% off. There is no need to pay full price for furniture if you know that it will be on clearance in no time.

Before you buy furniture you need to think about how you want to use your porch and how big your porch is. If you have a smaller porch you are going to have to choose between seating or dining furniture. Larger porches can actually accommodate both, making your porch even more useful. Even if you have a small porch with a wicker loveseat and two chairs, perhaps you would still have room for a café table to use for coffee and bagels in the morning.

Buy an outdoor rug to coordinate with the cushions on your furniture. Again, wait for the rugs to go on clearance. You don't want them to take up your whole porch but to be more like an accent of color.

Accessorize with plant stands, colorful pottery, flowers and picture frames. If you have wall space consider hanging an outdoor clock, metal sign or mirror. Buy a white outdoor bench and store your furniture cushions when they are not in use to extend their life. The bench can also be used for additional seating if needed. Outdoor lights can add whimsy or romance to your porch depending on what kind of ambience you are going for.

For privacy and shade buy outdoor blinds. You can find them at your local discount department store or home improvement store for less than $20 each. If you have an overhang on your porch roof, hang them behind the overhang so that when the blinds are up they can't be seen from the street.

There are so many other things that you can do to make your porch into an outdoor living space. All it takes is your imagination. You might find that you have things lying around your house that would be perfect to add to your outdoor space. The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that if you can be patient and wait for things to go on sale you can get more bang for your buck. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that you should decorate your porch to suit your decorating style and in such a way that you will want to be out there from the time the sun comes up until it is time to go to bed. After you are done decorating, you will wonder how you ever lived in your home without relaxing on your porch and enjoying the outdoors.