5 cheap(ish) things for a lovely front porch

Make your porch the envy of the neighborhood

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If you’re lucky enough to have a porch of your own, you know that it’s more than just the area in front of the house—it’s an extension of it. And with the weather warming up, you may soon find yourself meandering to your front porch to kick your feet up, sip something cool, and wave at passing neighbors.

Here are five cheap(ish) things—from smart lighting to a spacious cooler—to make that magical space even better. And if you don’t have a porch, our picks will feel right at home in any front or backyard, too.

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Sprucing up the garden? Skip the soil test kit.

Connie Park

When you’re starting a garden from scratch or prepping your yard for spring planting, it’s important to know the state of your soil to maximize your blossoms.

There are many at-home soil-test kits on the market, and when we began researching and testing, we had hoped to find one we could recommend. Unfortunately, all of the kits we tried were complicated, messy, and, often, inaccurate.

Here’s what to do instead→

Today’s best deals

The W-King X10 Portable Bluetooth Speaker.

Blast your favorite song

Deal price: $98 | Street price: $116

Use promo code 53BD7WVA and apply the on-page coupon

The W-King X10 will soon be one of our recommendations in our guide to the best Bluetooth speaker. It offers great sound for the price, it’s waterproof with a shoulder strap for easy transportation, and it has a long-lasting battery that doubles as a power bank.

Buy now from Amazon

Burn a candle that (almost) cures homesickness

Deal price: $17 | Street price: $35

Apply the on-page coupon

Far from home? We’re seeing a great deal on these destination-specific candles that carry the scent of different cities. Each candle is well-balanced without being too overwhelming or off-putting.

Buy now from Amazon

The Victrola Eastwood Signature turntable.

Romanticize your life

Deal price: $123 | Street price: $150

… with a quality turntable. If you want the least-expensive all-in-one record player that sounds decent, the Victrola Eastwood Signature ranked highly among our test panelists.

Buy now from Amazon

For more deals on our picks, check out the Wirecutter Deals page.

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5 cheap(ish) things for a lovely front porch

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