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Front porch fencing


10 designs to add curb appeal |

(Image credit: Getty Images)

If you are looking for porch railing ideas, it's likely you're at the start of a porch design – or redesign – project. The railings can set the tone of your entire porch so need to be chosen carefully: intricate railings will give a period home a highly decorated appeal, while simple, streamlined railings will suit a more modern exterior, while wood and rope designs will work with log cabin or country-style homes. 

Similarly, the profile and density of the railings will create either an open or private feel for your porch, something you may want to vary between your back and front porch ideas. 

The finish on the railings is important, too, with light colors creating an airy feel, and darker tones creating a more dramatic appeal. Wood finishes will bring a rustic appeal to your home too. 

Below, we showcase a variety of porch railing ideas to help you make the right choice.

Porch railing ideas

Whether you are looking for porch railing designs for your front or back porch ideas, bear in mind that they need to be chosen to reflect the architecture of the rest of your home's architecture too. If they can reflect other elements, such as your front gate or backyard fencing, too, all the better.

1. Paint wood porch railings for a cohesive feel

(Image credit: Serena & Lily)

It's always important to reflect the other materials used on your porch in the railings, so if you have a wood front door, shutters and decked flooring, wood will be a natural choice for the porch railings, too. You can heighten the effect of the use of this natural option by choosing porch furniture in sympathetic materials, too.

Wood will obviously need protecting from the elements, which is where your porch paint ideas can play a part. White is a classic, brightening choice that is easy to add accent shades to in easier-to-paint areas of the porch, such as your home's exterior wall, or even just in soft furnishings. White is also the best choice if window frames are painted white, too, to create a cohesive feel. 

'When it comes to choosing the right color for your home, it’s important that you ensure the shade is harmonious with your exterior,' says James Greenwood of Graham & Brown .

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Who knew there was a porch railing design dedicated to cocktails? If you are curious as to how they got this moniker, the binoculars balanced on the flat top rail of the railings above gives you a distinct clue: this top rail is flat and wide enough to hold a cocktail glass, which makes them the perfect choice for small front porches where you might socialize regularly but perhaps don't have the space for drinks' tables. 

Here, the porch railing has been finished with a tough varnish to suit the cabin decor of the house. However, cocktail railings really suit a range of different treatments, with the railings painted a different color or finish to the top railing.

(Image credit: Andrew Suvalsky)

If your home or backyard feature intricate architecture, it pays to echo this within the design of your porch railing ideas. Here, the railings mimic the style of the gates beyond – or perhaps vice versa. The effect is to draw attention to the porch, which means keeping the finish on the railings, in this case white, quite simple. Color can be added in furniture, as on this porch. 

If, as on this porch by Andrew Suvalsky Designs , your seating is positioned to enjoy a beautiful view, it pays to ensure that the porch railings aren't set too high. The ideal height will be around 36in (though in California deck railing is required to be 42in): safe for small children, low enough to be easy to look past when seated.

4. Highlight porch top rails with paint

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

Highlighting the top rail of your porch railings is a great idea for adding more color and detailing to your porch, and is particularly successful if chosen to complement your front door color ideas.

'Although the go-to paint is often a white or off white, choosing a bolder color is a great way of creating a feature, especially if you have beautiful doors or windows in your property,' says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore .  

Here, it picks out the shutters and house number, too, and is turn picked up by the planting.

5. Take inspiration from deck railings

(Image credit: Lagoon)

If your porch doubles as a deck, or perhaps you have a raised or enclosed deck overlooking your backyard, it is worth marrying your deck railing ideas and porch railing design. This will create a cohesive look from the front right round to the back of your home. 

Here, the design of the columns, with the diagonal supports, is mirrored in the design of the porch railings to create a look that's simply elegant.

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

'Screening in a back porch will provide you with privacy if you are overlooked by neighbors; it will also help keep bugs away and can help protect furniture from the worst of the weather. It can help make your porch feel like an extension of your home, too,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens. 

'The porch railings you choose for privacy needn't be solid, though; these, above, would give you enough screening but still allow a cooling breeze to penetrate, a must in warm climates. '

7. Go for all-over color

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

If, like us, you love color, you can decorate a front porch – doors, railings and trim – in one bold shade. This works perfectly for small porches, like this one, and really suits the intricate gables of a Victorian style homes.

‘Your front door and surround is the perfect introduction to what lies beyond, consider elements such as the vernacular of the build and a palette that has empathy with the architecture,' says Patrick O’Donnell, Farrow & Ball Brand Ambassador.

Want to go a step further?  'Work with colors that share the same undertone or several shades lighter or darker than one another – this again will create a considered look that is timeless and attractive,’ says Patrick. 

If you are going to take this approach with dark colors, ensure your front porch lighting ideas are efficient enough to light (and show off) what could otherwise be a dark space.

8. Choose cable porch railings for modern spaces

(Image credit: CQM Design + Interiors / J Holt Manning)

If the effect you want to create is minimalist and streamlined, cable railings are the perfect choice for your porch. They are also a great choice for making a small porch feel larger, for maximizing the view beyond and for allowing as much of a breeze as possible to penetrate a stuffy space. 

Cable railings, though modern in finish, needn't just be limited to modern homes; you can see here that designer (and homeowner) Christie Manning of CQM Interiors has used them to complement her period home's architecture. 

9. Pick a composite material for durability

(Image credit: HSH Interiors)

If you love the look of wood but not the upkeep – especially if yours is a large wraparound porch – composite will be a good choice for you. Composite porch railings are made from a combination of wood and PVC and good products look convincingly like wood. They also come ready-colored, so there is no need to paint (or repaint) them, plus they come in a range of styles, so you can find a railing design to suit your home.

10. Pare back porch railings for cottages

(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)

If you are looking for cottage porch ideas, you could go for an intricate design, but if yours is a small, quite enclosed space, a pared back porch railing will be more space-enhancing and will allow more light into the porch.  

'This type of design is particularly to suited to porches where there is little possibility of injury from falling, particularly for little ones. It also means that the lovely planting in the borders beyond the porch can be enjoyed fully,' says Lucy Searle, Editor in Chief, Homes & Gardens.

How tall should a porch railing be?

A porch railing should be at least 3ft in height to be safe, especially if the porch is raised; in California, deck railings are required to be 42in high. In all cases, ensure you stick to height regulations in your locale. 

What is the best material for a porch railing?

The best material for a porch railing is one that suits both the architecture of your home and the amount of upkeep you are prepared or able to dedicate to your porch. This means that period homes are more likely to suit painted wooden or wrought iron porch railings, while modern homes are more likely to suit metal porch railings. However, this is not a hard and fast rules. As for upkeep, composite porch railings require the least upkeep, while anything painted will need touch ups every three to five years, with total renovations every five to 10 years.

How do I decorate porch railings?

The best way to decorate porch railings is to do so in a way that complements the architecture of your home. So if your home's front door or window frames are painted white, it's likely that white-painted wooden porch railings will suit best. Equally, simple designs will suit more modern, streamlined homes, while more intricate designs will work better for period homes.

Lucy Searle has written about interiors, property and gardens since 1990, working her way around the interiors departments of women's magazines before switching to interiors-only titles in the mid-nineties. She was Associate Editor on Ideal Home, and Launch Editor of 4Homes magazine, before moving into digital in 2007, launching Channel 4's flagship website, Channel4.com/4homes. In 2018, Lucy took on the role of Global Editor in Chief for Realhomes. com, taking the site from a small magazine add-on to a global success. She was asked to repeat that success at Homes & Gardens, where she has also taken on the editorship of the magazine. 

Options, Designs, and Installation Tips

  1. Home
  2. Porch Railings

There's no denying that front porch railings not only provide safety but also will give your porch some real pizzazz! Even if not required by your local building codes, railings add charm and curb appeal.
Like many components of your porch, you have many railing design choices.

Choose to create a balustrade to reflect the architectural style of your home while incorporating your own desires.

If you purchase an item through affiliate links within our content, we may earn a commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. See our disclosure policy.

These are gorgeous railings. Do you agree?

Updating or even replacing porch railings is an easy way to change the look of your home. Fortunately, some options are maintenance free.

You're in the right place for porch railing ideas

Do you like these turned balusters on this Cape May NJ front porch?

Innovative railings from the Porch Store in Nashville TN

Most home supply stores will carry the basic top and bottom rails with a choice of a few traditional spindles. Or, you can find more custom designs at manufacturers like Vintage Woodworks or The Porch Company.

Often times; however, you may need to make the railings yourself or hire a contractor to cut and assemble the balustrade. Whatever path you choose, our guide should help you select the best railing design for your home.


Take a Look at Our Railing Topics


PLEASE NOTE: Your railings must comply with local building codes and different locales have varying requirements. The examples we show may or may not be in compliance with codes for your own local area; be sure to check with your local building codes department before installing railings.

Check out our railing spacing and calculations guide for additional information.

Lattice panels
Custom vinyl lattice is an affordable and decorative way to create a unique railing system.

Aluminum railings
Aluminum porch railing is maintenance free and can be attached to wood or metal. Easy to install

Railings code guide
To learn basic code requirements before you build or plan for your porch railings.

Railing spacing and calculations guide
Use to install or build railings. We've got just the information you need to make the job easier!

Wood deck railings
Wood balusters offer design options you may not have previously considered.

Turned porch balusters
Turned balusters come in a wide array of designs and very popular

Sawn porch balusters
Sawn porch balusters are amazingly decorative. Use with or without other porch trim to create a work of art on your porch.

Stainless steel cable railings
Cable railing systems are versatile, almost maintenance free and don't block your view. And, they come in DIY kits too

Glass deck railings
Glass brings a touch of elegance and offers you a most unrestricted view. Check out what you won't see.

Vinyl porch railing ideas
Discover the world of custom vinyl porch railings....

Knee walls
Knee walls provide privacy and protect you from the elements. Don't rule them out as an option for your porch

Wrought iron railings
Wrought iron railings offer unparalleled elegance and durability

Railings materials guide
To find just the right material - you'll be pleasantly surprised at your options.

Mountain Laurel porch railings
See these amazing railings made from beautiful mountain laurels

Porch hand rails
See your options for porch hand rails and materials - great photo examples too. See DIY Railing Systems.

Porch railing accessory ideas
We can't wait for you to see the accessories you can get for your railings like this table from Amazon. com

Speaking of Porch Handrails

DIY InstantRail Adjustable Handrail Systems - Click here to learn more. (Our Amazon affiliate link)

Did you know you can easily install metal hand rails on your porch, deck, or even in your home? Do you know someone who could benefit from having handrails to help prevent falls? This may be for you.

Please Watch Our Video of Porch Railings

Selecting the right material, knowing the railing codes, and understanding how to calculate and space your balusters are all part of your balustrade system. We have all that information and more to help you design the perfect railings for your home!

Porch railing by Vintage Woodworks

Lovely porch railings and trim like the above is from Vintage Woodworks. Classic, timeless and charming!


Pleasing porch railing design - photo courtesy of ngdcatlady

Knee Walls - Have You Heard of Them?


Knee walls, once very popular, still have their charm today. Look at the pictures below for examples.

I grew up on a porch with a knee wall and spent many hours playing games, hide and seek, and just pretending. Knee walls can help protect you from adverse weather, add a little privacy, and make your porch appear more grand.


Knee Wall Pictures

Photos above by J L T, FL Architect Fan and bob2006.


Now Look at These Knee Wall Designs

Take a gander at these impressive knee walls we found in California. I especially like the last one that incorporates a baluster-type design within the knee wall.


Knee wall colors often match the colors in the home

Excellent example of coordinating the colors of the porch columns to the kneewall. Do you see?

Notice the geometric designs in the knee wall

Look closely at the vertical balusters in this knee wall

Beautiful stone knee wall on this home

Fancy brick work creates open spaces in this kneewall

How About Wrought Iron or Metal Porch Railings?

Although it is one of the most expensive railings available, wrought iron stands the test of time. From the simplest designs to the most elegant, wrought iron always adds character to any porch.

They are decorative by nature, you can attach ornaments such as family crests, leaves, and other designs to enhance the overall appeal like the one shown below.

One drawback may be that wrought iron tends to rust over time and therefore requires periodic maintenance. However, other metal railings like aluminum offer a similar look and may not require as much care.


Easy-to-install Metal Porch Railings


These metal porch (or deck) railings come in 6 foot lengths making them easy to install. They are maintenance free and can be used with existing columns and posts.


Aluminum Residential Railing - (Our Amazon affiliate link)

Another option is to purchase custom made railings; use our handy Find a Local Contractor form to locate a supplier in your area.


Match Your Porch Railings to Your Home's Architecture

Victorian porch railings

But don't always hold to convention. The above porch an excellent example of a Victorian design with unassuming square balusters. How beautiful is that!


Look at This Before

Before the new porch railings

Now Look at These Afters

Custom made Chippendale railings

These above three photos are courtesy of MrFixUmm.

Very Important to Know:  Baluster Height Considerations


Consider the height of each baluster (picket). Normally, your balustrade is a minimum of 36 inches making your balusters approximately 32 inches. Depending on the height of your porch or deck from the ground, balustrades may need to be as high as 42 inches or more.

However, and depending on your local codes, you may have other options. You can almost always make them longer and sometimes can shorten them as illustrated in the photo below.


Short turned balusters on front porch

Also Quite Important: Baluster Spacing Considerations


You can opt to use turned balusters that are fairly thin in width or choose more substantially looking balusters. This range of size options will also affect the overall appeal.


Traditional size of turned balusters

Larger turned balusters

It is important to match the size of your balusters to your porch columns (in most cases). Note how the larger porch balusters complement the size of their adjacent porch columns.


Balusters match porch columns

The spacing of balusters also impacts the overall design affect. There are no hard and fast rules so experiment to discover what pleases you the most.


Classic turned balusters spaced close together

Classic porch balusters spaced maximum 4" apart

Just Be Different: Mix and Match Baluster Designs


Another neat trick is to mix and match balusters to create unique affects like those shown below:


Look! A whimsical mix and match of railings

Always Remember Safety


Select the Best Material Your Budget Can Afford

Select a material that best suits your needs. Metal and vinyl railings require very little maintenance and last forever.

Wood, although it requires routine maintenance, can be beautiful and should be used if maintaining architectural integrity is important. Panels of tempered glass or cable look fantastic on contemporary porches and allow an uninhibited view.


What About Gate Designs for Your Porch?

Video: Make a Rolling Porch Gate from a Section of Railing


Do you have small children who like to play on the porch? Or pets you want to keep safe? You can easily make a rolling gate from a section of railings that match your porch. Watch the video above for an example that our son's family did.

Just add hinges to it and rolling casters at the bottom. Then close with a latch.


Another Example of a Rolling Gate


Beautiful example of rolling gates on front porch

Lori's Porch Gate is Another Example for You


Lori's attractive DIY gate keeps her pets safer

Lori and her husband were looking for a lightweight gate that wouldn't sag on her porch. She had the idea of purchasing a vinyl fence panel, cutting it, then attaching hinges and a latch.

The panel they purchased had to be assembled. They removed two pickets because they needed a smaller size. Her husband used a circular saw to cut the vinyl - which she said took just a few minutes. He pre-drilled the holes on the wooden porch columns and they had it up and together in probably an hour.

Their gate keeps their dogs and cat on the porch and it looks very attractive, too. Do you have other ideas for a gate on your porch? Please share with us.


Here's a close-up of Lori's gate from inside her porch. The hinges and latches are attractive and the gate style adds interest to her railings.

Lori says the gate is so lightweight that there is no need for wheels.


Lori's amazing wraparound porch

Did You Get Some Great Porch Railing Ideas?


Porch railing infographic

The homeowner added a middle handrail for ease of climbing the stairs. We think aesthetically it looks wonderful.

Add curb appeal with beautiful porch railings

Don't overlook the importance of your porch railings (and porch columns, for that matter). They each provide not only structural functionality but also lend much to your home's curb appeal.

You might like these

90,000 fences for the porch + photo

Content

Virtually no existing straight staircase porch design is complete without a railing and railing. If the step height exceeds the recommended 200mm, in order to complete the step, we often need additional hand support on a comfortable and rigid handrail. In addition, the presence of a porch fence is the same security element as a canopy or a canopy over your head.

Important points in the construction of the fence

Porch railing is often perceived as a secondary, purely decorative element. But it is not so. In "serious" construction, all stairs, including the porch, must be equipped with railings and railings. In addition to building codes, there is a whole state standard number 25772-83 for such fencing of flights of stairs, roofs and porch areas.

In addition to a beautiful exterior design, porch railings should:

Important! The last point is often crucial for children or teenagers who manage to ride on the railing or play with the porch railing.

The most successful options for the porch railing

Of course, the external design of the stair railing affects the overall appearance of the main entrance to the house, so they try to make the porch railing from steel or based on a metal frame. The exception is stylish stone railing options with stainless steel or wood decor.

Wood-look porch railing

In a wood-look façade, the stairs and porch railing are often made of timber or wood-polymer composite, or WPC. If you have not encountered such material, most likely, at first glance you will not distinguish a railing made of WPC from a real high-quality timber, as in the photo.

Why is the porch railing made of WPC? First of all, because of the beautiful texture of the material, the high resistance of WPC to precipitation, heat and frost, moisture and parasites. In most cases, manufacturers of WPC fences give a service life of at least 30 years for branded material. An important factor is the beauty and expressiveness of the design of the fence based on WPC, as in the photo.

Important! Due to the specifics of production and design, the rigidity and strength of beams and balusters made of WPC are several times higher than those of wooden elements.

In addition, the plastic surface of the material makes it insensitive to any precipitation, from snow to heavy rain.

In addition, WPC-based porch railings have a number of features that are interesting for the owner of a private house:

  1. The railing design can be made according to your sketches or drawings, depending on the dimensions and specifics of the porch of your house. Firms guarantee the exact manufacture of all elements of the porch fencing, from the correctly selected height of the balusters to the thickness of the handrails;
  2. The whole set of elements of future railings made of WPC can be assembled, as in a children's designer, with your own hands, using a hand-held power tool and an assembly drawing. In this case, you will not need the skills of a professional carpenter or welder, the entire assembly process is carried out using screwdriver technology;
  3. For particularly critical load-bearing elements of the porch fence, you can order duplicates and use them in five to ten years in case of emergency or force majeure.

The cost of a WPC structure may be slightly more expensive than similar pine railings, but the work of a professional carpenter to assemble or install the structure, plus finishing work and preserving wood from moisture and pests, will increase the price of a wooden fence to the level of a composite one. At the same time, wood processing and pest control will have to be carried out annually. In addition, you need to try hard to achieve the same spectacular appearance of the fence, as in the photo.

Stainless steel - the eternal material for the porch

Any stainless steel-based fence, even the simplest and most primitive in design, always looks very presentable and stylish. Now porch railings made of nickel-plated or chrome-plated steel are an invariable attribute of offices and sales offices that want to maintain their image as successful and promising. Stainless steel is highly resistant to heat and precipitation from even the most acidic rain.

Metal, and even more so stainless steel, when properly assembled, is able to withstand the most extreme loads and at the same time maintain an attractive appearance, as in the photo.

Stainless steel is a very expensive material, so a metal porch railing is always characterized by minimalism and strict lines. The railing is often concreted into the flight of stairs directly, without intermediate couplings or connections.

Most often, as in the previous case, the design of the stainless steel porch railing is collapsible, based on ready-made elements of handrails, baluster racks, brass decor, various caps and knobs. The reason for this approach is the poor weldability of stainless steel. Such an "eternal" material is very poorly welded even in the conditions of using industrial welding equipment. Therefore, the fence is assembled on site from prefabricated elements.

The disadvantages of stainless steel handrails include the high thermal conductivity of handrails. Because of this, in severe frost it is not very comfortable to touch them with your hands.

Artistic options for metal porch railings

Metal, like stone, is a favorite material of modern construction. To build a reliable and beautiful porch railing, you can use ordinary black metal, brass, wood and plastic decorative elements.

Balusters and the main frame are made of a steel profile or a square; ready-made plastic overlays and decor are used for handrails. With the help of a steel three-millimeter strip and a welding machine, even with your own hands, you can form a fancy metal pattern. For internal stairs, steel decorations can be replaced with antiqued black painted plastic ones.

The most sophisticated option in the design of the porch fence is considered to be forged steel patterns and cast iron. Despite some archaism, cast iron casting can be very beautiful and elegant, as in the photo.

In terms of resistance to heat and moisture, it is significantly superior to steel structures and is much cheaper than forged products. The problem of welded and cast metal fencing structures is considered to be the high traumatic ability of individual elements of balusters and racks. Sometimes in this design, a beautiful metal pattern has many notches and sharp edges that can injure and cut the skin of hands and feet, especially for children who love to play. Therefore, in some cases, the inside of artistic forging balusters is decorated with a black plastic coating that does not change its appearance, but makes the sharpest edges of the metal safer.

Porch railing special requirements

In pursuit of appearance, the comfort of the household should not be forgotten when using the porch. The structure should not be too high or located inconveniently for the main route of movement along the flight of stairs. Most people prefer to use handrail railings as additional handholds. In this case, the racks must necessarily have additional power elements that prevent deflection, deformation of the structure, or its breakage.

Conclusion

The best material for railings and handrails has always been wood or plastic composites. The wood is difficult to maintain in proper condition, its surface requires regular waxing or varnishing to prevent swelling and warping of the handrails. The use of wooden handrails for railings is allowed if the location of the porch allows drafts and the sun to quickly remove moisture and condensation. Otherwise, it is better to choose plastic handrails, they are easier to maintain and repair.

The front porch to the house: Classical, French, Carved, European-style do-it-yourself: Views + Photos and Videos

The front entrance to the house with a porch is considered the face of the whole building, because it is on it that the image of the owner is judged. What size and type of porch will be dictated by the architecture and size of the house, as well as the taste of the owner.

The front porch is a mandatory front door element. By using decorative solutions when building a porch, you can emphasize the beauty and integrity of the entire building.

Decorating your home according to fashion trends is a natural desire for any person. Every owner of a suburban area wants his house to stand out from the neighboring buildings. We are fortunate that there is currently a huge variety of designs.

Contents:

General information of the issue

Note: 0135 ladder with several steps and canopy.

Since the floor of the house is always raised to the level of the base, the steps are an indispensable part of the porch. As a rule, the steps lead to a spacious or small area adjacent to the front door.

Important: There are always an odd number of steps. Mostly 3, 5 or 7.

The main task of the porch is the transition from the ground to the floor level. Distance between them are 50-200 cm.

For your information: If the front porch is located at a height of more than 2m, then it will be equipped with railings . And fences in a small porch play a more decorative role.

The purpose of the porch is not only practical, but also aesthetic, because it is the main decoration of the facade of the building.

When constructing a porch, it is important to adhere to some rules:

Important: The combination of elements must be done very carefully and with extreme care.

To achieve the desired result and create a coherent architectural composition, it is important to use not only combinations of materials, but also appropriate color shades.

Front entrance to the house with a porch

Assessment of the front entrance


And if you think about whether the entrance to your home is convenient and beautiful.

Since beauty is a subjective concept, we usually evaluate the porch based on the general appearance of the facade. How, then, to make a correct assessment of the perfection of a given structure, and also to determine whether the entrance is convenient.

For information: There are many examples of how in large houses residents often do not want to use the main entrance, entering the house through the back door. Not because it's faster, but it's all about convenience.

The porch can be evaluated according to the following parameters:

Proper porch arrangement

the door opens outward. It is better to make the site not very wide, because the vast expanse of expanse for the wind and draft. The main task of the porch is protection from the weather. This should be taken into account first. After all, if a beautiful porch is flooded with rain and swept with snow, then this fence is no good.

In this situation, it is necessary to correctly select the size of the canopy, the lifting size of the platform and the side protective walls. A few steps are enough to protect the front door from snowdrifts. For steps, it is better to choose materials with a non-slip surface . Also there must be lighting at the entrance to the building.

The following types of porches are available:

Materials


The front porch, depending on the material of manufacture, can be:

Styles of porches


The main point when working on the device of the porch is the harmony of all exterior elements. The porch serves not only as a protection for the door, but it is also a significant element of the building's architecture.

There are the following directions: