Greet guests the minute they arrive with décor that says 'You're welcome here!'

Decorating your front porch now that summer is finally here is a great way to underscore a seasonal theme — a time to focus on the outdoors and the outside of your home.

From painting the front door a cheerful color to DIYing a flower container, there are easy ways to give this exterior focal point a makeover.

Try some of these simple ideas to get your porch in shape for the season.

Clean the porch

Start with the basics: Scrub the floor, wash the windows, and store snow shovels in the garage. The less cluttered the porch, the better it will look.

Set out flower pots

The classic way to dress up a front porch is with colorful, lush flowering plants in pots. For a summer feel, choose brightly colored containers that work nicely with your front door color, says Leah Gomberg, owner of Sweet Life By Design, a home-staging company in Maplewood, New Jersey.

“For a more dramatic look, try a pedestal container,” she says. “Also, think about grouping containers and using plants in a variety of heights.”

Pick seasonal flowers

There's no shortage of spectacular blooming plants, including hydrangeas, tulips, peonies, Queen Anne's lace, daffodils, daisies, magnolias and geraniums. Choose by shape, color and personality (magnolias are lush and romantic, daisies are perky and cute).

Choose fresh over faux

While you could use artificial flowers to decorate, why not go with fresh blooms to better represent spring's themes? To keep the flowers from drying out too quickly, stick stems in individual floral water tubes which, when filled with water, act like mini vases to keep flowers moist.

Paint the front door

“If you want to make a big change,” says Gomberg, “give the door a new coat of paint in a spring color like aqua, lilac or light green.” It's an easy way to instantly boost your home's curb appeal.

Paint a bench or rocker, too

Give your porch's bench or rocker an awakening by painting it a gorgeous new shade. “The color you use depends on the color of the door,” says Gomberg, who also suggests adding a colorful throw pillow or two to the bench and chair to make them even more inviting.

Hang an umbrella wreath

Got a colorful umbrella you're not using anymore? Fill it with flowers. Close the umbrella shut, position it upside-down (the handle should be pointed up), and arrange the flowers within. Tie a pretty ribbon around the middle of the umbrella and it's ready to be hung on a nail on your front door.

Showcase rain boots

Repurpose those yellow rain boots your kids have outgrown (or buy from a thrift shop), and set them on the porch filled with your favorite spring flowers. If using fresh blooms, put them in floral water tubes and stabilize them in the boots with newspaper or tissue paper.

Get a rug

Make your porch feel like an extension of your living room when you place a brightly colored rug front and center. Get one that's made for outdoor use. If a rug isn't in your budget, consider a new entry mat.