Home porch design
60 Warm and Welcoming Front Porch Ideas
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 07/14/22
The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto
Your front porch is your home's best chance to make a good first impression. No matter how big or small it might be, whether it is showy or unassuming, and regardless of the style of architecture, your front porch deserves as much attention to design and decor as your interior space.
A front porch can function as nothing more than a pass-through space or double as a second outdoor living room. It can create a convenient landing space for comings and goings, or simply sit there looking pretty, inviting passersby to wonder what else you have going on inside.
Whether you are looking to enhance your home's curb appeal, create a welcoming portal for both you and your guests, or make life a little more pleasant for all of those hard-working delivery people who visit your doorstep every day, check out these front porches in a range of layouts and sizes that don't skimp on style for some clever ideas on how to beautify your own outdoor space.
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Add a Golden Mustard Door
Design by Studio Robert McKinley / Photo by Read McKendree
The front porch at this New England Shaker-style home in Montauk from Studio Robert McKinley is a summertime dream with its golden shingled siding, jumble of plants, and welcoming mustard yellow door.
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Create a Conversation Zone
Design by Ghislaine Viñas / Photo by Garrett Rowland
If you have a large front porch, create individual zones. This sprawling Hudson Valley front porch from interior designer Ghislaine Viñas has open and accessible wrap-around sides that allow for a number of seating areas to be set up around the periphery. In one corner, a small seating area with two chairs and a table creates an intimate conversation area while leaving plenty of open space.
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Keep It Cool
Design by Raili CA Design / Photo by Becca Tilly
This open surf ranch front porch designed by Raili CA Design for Kelly Slater has a casual Southern California appeal, with reclaimed wood planters filled with matching greenery, flat wood plank flooring, and plenty of space for a bike or a surfboard.
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Decorate With Dried Flowers
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
This snow white front porch from Leanne Ford Interiors is warmed up with a few burnished accents, from the warm porch light to the welcome mat and two oversized bunches of dried flowers flanking the door.
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Zone It Off
Design by Becca Interiors
This homey Hudson River Colonial front porch from Becca Interiors has simple seating areas using traditional furniture that matches the style and black-and-white color palette of the facade. Some potted greenery sprinkled throughout softens the space but leaves the view through the neighboring porch open for admiring the water.
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Use Contrasting Colors
Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Spacecrafting Photography
In this front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors, a pair of terracotta urns filled with potted plants flank a pink door that contrasts with the deep blue/greeno' siding and stone facade of the home. An adjacent seating area is accessorized with the same warm corals and pinks to tie it all together.
52 Front Door Colors to Choose From
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Keep It Simple
Design by Chango & Co.
/ Photo by Jacob SnavelyThis minimalist front porch from Chango & Co. has an open layout, slate flooring, and a pair of black Scandinavian style rocking chairs perched on either side of the front door that add a graphic element that makes the small space look finished.
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Embrace Color and Pattern
Design by Maestri Studio / Photo by Nathan Schroder
There's no point outfitting a large front porch with outdoor seating if you don't plan on using it. This front porch from Maestri Studio is styled for looks rather than function, with dramatic cement tile patterned flooring, manicured plants, and a fresh mint green paint color on the decorative double doors that adds relief to the black-and-white color palette.
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Hang Moroccan Lanterns
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
This Spanish-style front porch from Marie Flanigan Interiors has a simple bench and a row of perforated metal Moroccan lanterns with an aged patina that produce arresting shadows when lit.
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Use Warm Lighting
Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne
When decorating your front porch be sure to install plenty of lighting evenly spread throughout the front (and sides if you have a wrap-around porch) so that it feels comfortable and relaxing in the evening, and feels welcoming for passersby and guests approaching the front door. And be sure to use warm lighting rather than harsh cool light so that it glows like this front porch from Lisa Gilmore Design.
The 8 Best Outdoor Light Bulbs of 2022 | by The Spruce
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Add Colorful Deck Chairs
Design by Searl Lamaster Howe / Photo by Tony Soluri
This retreat on the edge of a state park in central Michigan from Chicago-based Searl Lamaster Howe has a shady front porch that is clad in both untreated and charred cedar and obsidian lap siding. The porch overhang protects a stack of firewood, and a pair of rose pink deck chairs adds a warm dose of color.
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Plant an Indoor Outdoor Garden
Design by Hamsa Home
This Santa Monica new build front porch from Hamsa Home has a midcentury modern-inspired cactus garden that is carried into the front entry—separated by a large pane of glass—to create the illusion of an indoor/outdoor garden.
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Make Space For Everyone
Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne
On this spacious and breezy Florida front porch from Lisa Gilmore Design, a pair of rocking chairs is accompanied by a small stylish daybed that assures that every last member of the family has a comfortable place to hang out and while away a summer afternoon.
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Use A Bold Color Accent
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
This modern farmhouse in upstate New York from NYC-based Chango & Co. has bright cherry red double doors that add punch to the black and white porch.
Matching black rocking chairs with red-and-black check throw pillows, red side tables and gray throw blankets and a pair of sconce lights make it inviting and practical. -
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Add Sculptural Seating
Design by Studio Robert McKinley / Photo by Nicole Franzen
This light and airy front porch from Studio Robert McKinley has sculptural seating and casual landscaping that carries onto the steps with potted plants and onto the porch with hanging planters that help fill the empty space without blocking sightlines.
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Paint the Furniture
Design by AHG Interiors / Photo by Nick Glimenakis
This Cape Cod style home from AHG Interiors has a small and cozy front porch with stone pavers on the floor that match the walkway. A small bench painted in the same navy shade as the siding blends into the background, providing function while maintaining an uncluttered look.
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Use Your Words
Design by Raili CA Design / Photo by Karyn Millet
You can add personality to your front porch with just a few small decor moves.
This front porch from Raili CA Design has a white stenciled lowercase greeting on the wooden steps and a sculptural olive tree that casts alluring shadows against the clean white facade, creating a memorable signature that doesn't detract from the minimalist vibes. -
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Scale It Up
Design by Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by David Duncan Livingston
This monumental high-ceilinged front porch from Heather Hilliard Design is filled out with a pair of large-scale potted plants that add balance and make the imposing facade softer and more welcoming.
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Send a Message
Design by Christina Kim Interior Design / Photo by Raquel Langworthy
Leafy palm plants and a surfboard leaning up in the corner of this front porch from Christina Kim Interior Design set the tone for this coastal Sea Girt, New Jersey home.
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Add Double Porch Swings
Design by Chango & Co.
/ Photo by Sarah ElliottThis spacious front porch from Chango & Co. has a pair of hanging porch swings on either side of the front door that add symmetry and extra seating.
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Use Modern Furniture
Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Andrea Calo
This front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors has modern furniture and a large potted cactus that creates a seating area that works with the style of the home.
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Emulate Victorian Style
Design and Photo by Sandra Foster
This 125-square-foot Victorian-style cottage in the Catskills of New York from Sandra Foster has an open and airy front porch with delicate turned painted wood columns that gives the miniature space some extra breathing room.
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Create a Reading Area
My 100 Year Old Home
Blogger Leslie Saeta of My 100 Year Old Home outfitted the front porch of her Waco, Texas vacation rental home with a double outdoor living room on either side of the double glass front doors, allowing guests to relax and admire the view of a giant oak tree.
The black-and-white palette mixed with the raw wood flooring of the front porch is true to the home's modern farmhouse style. -
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Use French Doors
Design by Allison Babcock Design / Photo by Matt Kisiday
The front porch entrance to a historic restoration and design project in Nantucket, Massachusetts from Allison Babcock Design has glass-paned French doors and simple painted white railings that contrast with the shingle siding. The porch itself isn't big enough for a seating area, but a pair of plants in navy pots flanking either side of the wide entry steps creates a sense of welcoming, and double porch lights ensure that the entry is well lit after dark.
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Accessorize It Like a Living Room
Design and Photo by Sho and Co.
This front porch from Sho and Co. was designed to feel like an extension of the interior, with modern, clean-lined furniture and seating upholstered in soft fabrics grouped in an intimate conversation area.
Greenery in modern planters that can be switched out seasonally and some oversized outdoor vases that are heavy enough to withstand winds add to the indoor-outdoor look. -
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Mix Old and New
Design by BASE Landscape Architecture
This elegant front porch from BASE Landscape Architecture has classic proportions, painted moldings, arched windows, and a retro pendant light. A pair of simple pale wood benches on opposite sides add a modern touch and a practical space for resting a farmers market haul, putting on shoes, or waiting for the locksmith to arrive when you lock yourself out of the house.
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Add Can Lights
Design by Brophy Interiors
This front porch from Laura Brophy Interiors has a small overhang with built-in can lights that save space on the limited facade and allow for a larger window. A simple wooden bench offers extra seating.
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Add Curtains
Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Corey Gaffer
This spacious front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors is equipped with billowy white curtains that can be tied back as seen here or closed to provide shade or privacy from onlookers.
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Line the Stairs With Potted Plants
The Spruce / Lisa Hallett TaylorThis Orange County, California front porch is filled with pots of purple, white, and blue flowering plants and garden sculptures that extend to the front steps, giving it a lived in feel.
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Add Black and White Stripes
Thistlewood Farms
Blogger KariAnne Wood of Thistlewood Farms chose a black-and-white striped outdoor rug to jazz up her front porch, accenting with planters and baskets full of bright fuschia flowers.
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Move Things Around
Design by Christina Kim Interior Design / Photo by Raquel Langworthy
Playing around with the style and placement of your home's street number is one of the practical and aesthetic decisions you can make about the design of your front porch. On this Sea Girt, New Jersey front porch from Christina Kim Interior Design, the street number is placed beneath the front door in a way that mimics the way some cities mark street numbers on the curb, making it visible to visitors as they approach the short flight of steps up from the winding front yard walkway.
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Keep It Open
Design by Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop
While your front porch design should feel comfortable to use and welcoming for friends and visitors, if your front porch is visible from the street, you should also consider what the view is like for passersby. This front porch from Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop has an open format and a seating area that includes a hanging porch swing and two chairs in neutral tones that blend into the home's facade and front landscaping for a manicured modern look.
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Try a Faux Painted Floor Runner
Thistlewood Farms
This faux painted floor runner in a classic checkerboard pattern from blogger KariAnne Wood of Thistlewood Farms adds some graphic black-and-white punch to her modern farmhouse front porch.
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Blue Door
Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.
This spacious Costa Mesa, California front porch from Mindy Gayer Design Co.
has an open design and symmetrical matching seating arrangements on either side of the blue front door. -
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Add Hanging Plants
A Beautiful Mess
This front porch from A Beautiful Mess has a hanging swing that anchors a small outdoor seating area, while a row of hanging plants add a virtual green screen that virtually separates the cozy space from the neighboring house.
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Make It Graphic
Most Lovely Things
This front porch from Most Lovely Things has a comfortable outdoor living room decorated with a striped rug and patterned throw pillows in a black-and-white palette that modernizes the space.
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Tile the Steps
Design by Studio Surface / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
This tiny front porch from interior designer Michelle Salz-Smith of Studio Surface is more of a landing space, but graphic tiled steps that are visible once you open the gate is a stylish surprise that makes it feel decorated and finished.
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Add Cozy Accessories
Inspired By Charm
This front porch from Inspired By Charm has a wooden bench accessorized with a long pillow with a crocheted cover and a light striped throw, making it a cozy perch to enjoy a morning coffee and wave at the neighbors.
The 12 Best Places to Buy Outdoor Patio Furniture of 2022 | by The Spruce
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Light It Up
Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Andrea Calo
This Texas front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors has minimal seating that blends into the background, and powerful porch lights that illuminate the facade after dark.
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Accessorize Your Porch Swing
Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne
This dramatic modern black porch swing from Lisa Gilmore Design is hung from long black chains and accessorized with patterned throw pillows that gives it a contemporary look.
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Add a Dutch Door
Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.
The star of this small front porch from Mindy Gayer Design Co. is a pale blue Dutch door whose open top allows air to flow into the house and makes visitors feel welcome on arrival.
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Embrace Symmetry
Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne
This front porch from Lisa Gilmore Design uses simple furniture and potted plants to create a simple, symmetrical front porch that looks polished and timeless.
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Make It Patio Style
Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.
This front porch from Mindy Gayer Design Co. is more of a patio than a porch. But positioned at the front of the home it is styled like a front porch with a seating area that is accessible from double French doors on the facade a step up from the adjacent front door.
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Add Tropical Vibes
Casa Watkins Living
This festive front porch from Casa Watkins Living has the same tropical colors and maximalist approach to accessorizing as the interior of the home.
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Paint the Steps
Design by Charles Almonte Architecture / Interior Design
Charles Almonte Architecture / Interior Design created a sense of presence on this small front porch by using deep red paint accents. Warm porch lighting and plants in raised planters on the porch and at the base of steps adds polish and a sense of occasion to a modest space.
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Add a Floral Element
Design by Maite Granda
This covered front porch from Maite Granda isn't largely visible from the outside, but flowering vines in a vivid purple climbing the white facade adds softness and a welcoming feel.
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Stick the Landing
Design by Maite Granda
This Florida front porch from interior designer Maite Granda is more of a landing, a place to get some fresh air while sheltering yourself from the beating sun, or shake yourself off after a Florida downpour before going inside.
A glass and metal pendant light gives the covered front porch a room-like quality while providing even lighting after dark. -
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Add Some Art
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger
Not every front porch faces the street, but you should still mark the entry point to your home. This front porch from Leanne Ford Interiors has a casual off-road feel with its white seating area, black lantern, and simple wood-framed print hanging by the door.
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Embrace Open Space
Design by Maite Granda
If you know you're not going to use your front porch as an extra living space, feel free to keep it bare. Just be sure that it doesn't look neglected and add a touch of decor if needed so it looks like someone lives there. Interior designer Maite Granda took a minimalist approach to this spacious Florida front porch, adding a pair of topiaries on the landing and two steps up that makes the empty space look intentional.
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Add a Bistro Table
Design by AHG Interiors / Photo by Nick Glimenakis
This 10x12-foot Catskills, New York tiny house from AHG Interiors has a generous open front porch that creates extra outdoor living space when weather permits. Classic decor choices and a tangle of climbing ivy create a lush, romantic setting.
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Use Vintage Pieces
Design by Chamberlain Interior / Photo by Kacey Gilpin
A hanging porch swing, vintage style rattan chairs, and a mix of blue and green throw pillows give this small front porch from Chamberlain Interior an easy natural feel that invites lingering and conversation.
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Paint the Door Pink
Design by White Sand Design Build
This cheerful Venice Beach, California Spanish-style bungalow from White Sand Design Build has black-and-white patterned floor tiles, a tall drought-friendly cactus, blond wood frame posts, and a candy-colored pink door that spreads the positive Southern California vibes.
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Echo the Interior
Design by Michelle Berwick Designs
Well groomed topiaries, a black-and-white palette, and a small seating area give this suburban front porch from Michelle Berwick Designs a sense of polish and grandeur that echoes the interior that is largely visible through the glass windows.
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Use Warm Finishes
Design by Tyler Karu
The small front landing on this modern Maine house designed by Tyler Karu has warm wood cladding, a casual assortment of house plants, and a vibrant coral-colored front door.
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Keep It Traditional
Design by Michelle Berwick Designs
A completely renovated early 1900s farmhouse from Michelle Berwick Designs preserved original features like the classic small front porch, which is furnished minimally with some rattan seating and a warm sconce light.
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Be Yourself
A Beautiful Mess
Your front porch is an opportunity to reflect your sensibilities and highlight your personality.
A welcome mat saying "Howdy" on this front porch from A Beautiful Mess sets the tone and puts guests at ease. -
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Dress It Simply
Blanco Bungalow
This breezy Spanish-style front porch from Blanco Bungalow is located on the side of the house, with a glossy black door flanked with a mismatched pair of plants, a natural door mat, and an industrial style sconce to give it a casual but polished modern feel.
The 9 Best Doormats of 2022 | Tested by The Spruce
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Fill Empty Space With Plants
Design by Kate Marker Interiors
There's nothing wrong with some empty space on a front porch, but you can make a small front porch feel bigger and cozier by filling up blank space with plants, like this front porch from Kate Marker Interiors.
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Create an Oasis
Design and Photo by Julian Porcino
This Spanish-style Los Angeles front porch Julian Porcino is more like a covered patio that opens onto a private courtyard.
But just because your space isn't visible from the street doesn't mean it shouldn't be decorated and outfitted for use. Here, a wire chair and matching side table placed under the arched facade, scattered plants, and a pair of outdoor sconces create a private spot for morning coffee or an after-dinner drink. -
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Skip the Welcome Mat
Design by A. Naber Design / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
This small, deep front porch from A. Naber Design is big enough to house the mailbox and could have been a forgettable space. But a graphic black-and-white tile floor in place of a welcome mat and a large wind chime hung on the periphery add just enough attention to make it memorable instead.
50 Charming Front Porch Ideas
Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Outdoor oasis, here we come.
By Hadley Mendelsohn
Joe Schmelzer
Remember Allie Hamilton's wrap-around porch in The Notebook? We've had a thing for porches ever since we saw it, and while we may not have our very own Noah to build us one from scratch, we do have a few more ideas to share with you.
In fact, these designer and landscaper–approved back and front porches would elevate an outdoor oasis even more than Nicholas Spark's imaginary one did. Comfortable, stylish swings? Check. Mood lighting? Check. Ability to stand up to Mother Nature? Check. Now just add a good book and refreshing cocktail, and you've got a getaway that's just a step outside your front door. Get inspired by the 45 picturesque porches below.
Read McKendree
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Frame Windows and Screens with Paint
Bella Mancini enlivened this screen door and its wood frame with Santa Clara by Benjamin Moore. The color feels right at home with cedar shake and hydrangeas but has a note of distinct cheerfulness.
Victoria Pearson
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Build a Secure Closet for Packages
Between all the online orders and foot traffic, a secure spot for deliveries and accessories (like umbrellas) is more essential than ever. A delivery closet on the porch of our Whole Home Concept House 2018 even had a garment rack for dry cleaning.
James McDonald
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...or Just Stash Them In a Dresser
An antique dresser on a porch is the perfect place to have delivery drivers stash packages. Nicola Harding treated this one like it's in a grand foyer, embellishing it with plants, artwork, and lighting.
Karyn Millet
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Create Cover With a Small Awning
Mix-and-match tiles aren't just for your interiors—they add instant intrigue to a front porch. Here, Sharon Lee alternated patterns on the step risers for an unexpected dose of personality. A custom awning in Sunbrella fabric provides a hint of shade.
Paul Costello
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Consider a Breezeway
From the outside, this green breezeway—which doubles as a flower-arranging room and was designed by Rebecca Vizard—makes a strong first impression, and the garden flowers pop against the gravel and tile path leading to the front door. To pull this off in your own home, keep it ground level and opt for a partially covered walk-through space instead of an elevated porch.
Paul Raeside
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Make It Cheerful
Potted sunflowers and plaid throw pillows on the garden bench align nicely with the quaint feel of the stone exterior home by Shazalynn Winfrey.
Phoebe Howard
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Disguise Tech Features
The rounded door is framed by bougainvillea, giving the front porch entrance to this home by Phoebe Howard. secret garden vibe. Colorful blooms also distract the eye from the high-tech keypad over the door handle.
Tamsin Johnson Interiors
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Build In Your Garden
A built-in garden bed is bursting with succulents, the ideal match for a modern home exterior. They're just tall enough to enhance privacy without totally blocking the view from the living room designed by Tamsin Johnson.
Emily Followill
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Tease a Color
This shade of blue paint was used throughout the home designed by Meredith McBrearty, so the front porch sets the tone for what lies ahead (and cools of the brick and warm tones in the entryway!).
Joe Schmelzer
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Hook Up a Water Feature
Designed by Cuff Home, this porch has major curb appeal. From the black shutters to the turquoise front door, and manicured hedges. But what really sets it apart is the fountain, since water features always create unbeatable zen energy.
William Abranowicz
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Go Porchless
This modern stunner designed by Kathleen McCormick speaks for itself. The concrete steps, blue door, and steel and glass facade need no introduction.
THOMAS LOOF
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Scatter Seating Areas
Setting up multiple sitting areas will help you accommodate more people while also ensuring you get more use out of the space. To spruce things up, consider painting the columns, ceiling, and balustrades a fun color. Designer Amanda Reynal chose a mossy green hue for this nature-inspired porch.
Romanek Design Studio
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Optimize It With Lighting
If you want to be able to safely enjoy your backyard once the sun goes down, make sure you've optimized it with integrated lighting in the steps and sconces on the exterior of the home, as Romanek Design Studio did here.
It'll also just make your life easier when coming and going.
Abney Morton
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Set Up an Herb Garden
Step up your style and cooking game by arranging a mini nursery or herb garden on the porch. Here, Abney Morton Interiors propped some pots of herbs up on a console table by the hanging swing.
Stephen Karlisch
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Keep It Simple
This Texas home designed by Jean Liu strikes the balance between natural beauty and practicality, perfect for its urban environment. The key: Pavers that complement the home's exterior material with a few trees and planting beds. Then, there's a slim overhang for extra lighting creating a more decorative impression over the front porch.
Trevor Tondro
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Truck It Away
Madeline Stuart gives this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers a sense of place with agave plants flanking the entrance and blooming bougainvillea spilling over the wall. Though the front porch isn't visible from the street entrance, it still has plenty of curb appeal.
Eliza Carter
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Secure It With a Gate
Create the illusion of extra privacy (and an extra safety barrier for toddlers and pets) in a city home with an iron-wrought gate. They're a natural fit for Victorians and brownstones, like Eliza Carter's NYC home featured here.
Max Kim-Bee
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Screen It In
There are so many cozy window seats in this 1890s carriage house that it's hard for interior designer Lisa Tharp to keep track, and the screened porch is no exception. Overlooking the green New England countryside, it's a beautiful setting for a screened porch. Wherever your porch is, adding screens will keep the bugs out while still letting the breeze in so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.
JESSIE PREZA
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Spotlight a Motif
Flank the stairs to your front porch with stone sculptures shaped like a motif that speaks to your family or locality. On his Jacksonville, Florida, front porch, designer Fitz Pullins chose these fun pineapple-shaped sculptures in a corresponding stone material so they both pop and blend in.
Romanek Design Studio
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Treat It Like a Mudroom
Secure some hooks and slide in a bench or a pair of chairs to let your beach and pool gear dry instead of dripping throughout the house. Think of it as an outdoor mudroom. Romanek Design Studio opted for casual, minimalist furniture and decor for an understated, stylish impression in this Malibu home.
VICTORIA PEARSON
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Add a Fireplace
If your porch is large enough, add a fireplace and television so it can function as an outdoor family or living room. Take a cue from this leafy open-air porch designed by Sherry Hart and Jennifer Jones Condon and built by Ladisic Fine Homes.
Peti Lau
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Install Cameras
Install extra security, like a camera, but be sure to camouflage it into the surrounding environment. In this modern home by Peti Lau, the polished concrete flooring and wooden materials blend in with the surroundings and feel connected to the natural landscape, so you hardly even notice the little camera in the corner.
THOMAS LOOF
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Go Island-Inspired
When Clos-ette founder Melanie Fowler hired friend (and House Beautiful Next Wave designer) Caroline Rafferty to make over her Palm Beach house, she brought one major piece of inspo: The famously chic Lyford Cay Club in the Bahamas, which Rafferty wove in through the house's pale-pink exterior and treillage-inspired woodwork. The lush surroundings were executed by landscape designer Fernando Wong.
JESSIE PREZA
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Hang a Bird Feeder
Pavers lead to this elevated front porch on a property designed by Krystal Matthews. While the understated planters and sweet-swinging bench certainly help set the mood, the details framing the area help, too, like the bird feeder hanging from a tree.
AP Design House
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Weather-Proof It
Enjoy your outdoor space rain or shine with details that can stand up to the elements. AP Design House weatherproofed this porch by adding timeless and design-forward Bermuda shutters and galvanized steel corrugated panels overhead.
Jane Beiles
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Add Shutters
Another way to weather-proof? Add the appropriate shutters. Here, Charlotte Barnes opted for classic shutters with slat-like louvers on the windows as well as Bahama shutters that attach from the top of the opening between the columns and open like an awning. They'll protect your porch from heavy tropical wind and rain while the hardware and paint color can add some aesthetic perks.
PHOTO: Tom Ferguson; DESIGN: Arent & Pyke
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Lay Graphic Floor Tiles
A graphic floor tile will personalize your front porch just enough. Take a cue from this design by Arent & Pyke, where a planter introduces greenery and an outdoor chair adds a dash of color. Clean, simple, and classic.
Joshua McHugh
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Keep It Open
If your front porch features a little alcove like this one designed by Raji RM, maintain the open airflow with a cutout or two that mimic the rest of the home's windows.
Then add a bench to make it easier to get everything sorted as you come and go.
THOMAS LOOF
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Let Nature Take Center Stage
Looking out at the sea ahead and draped in a canopy of tropical plants, this porch features minimal decor, allowing us to focus on the natural environment. Instead of a sitting area, there's a casual dining nook for al fresco meals.
PHOTO: Scott Hargis DESIGN: Regan Baker Design
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Make It Cozy
This back porch by Regan Baker Design is a perfect private spot to unwind in. To make it conducive to entertaining, bring in large outdoor floor cushions for additional floor seating.
65 Chic Patio Ideas to Try in Your Own Backyard
Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.
How to decorate the porch of a private house
The porch is an obligatory element of the entrance part of the building and its “visiting card”.
The desire to decorate your own home, taking into account fashion trends and personal taste preferences, is inherent in almost everyone. The design of the porch of a private house should emphasize the integrity of the entire structure and make it more attractive. There are many options for decorating the entrance part of the building, so we suggest that you consider the most popular and interesting of them.
Wooden porch
The most popular option is the installation of wooden decking on the porch. In most cases, such structures are made from pine wood, as the most inexpensive and popular natural raw material. If the porch is properly sealed, varnished and painted, it will look attractive for many years.
This is an up-to-date way of decorating a country-style façade. This design can be supplemented with wood-based porch decor, which will bring the atmosphere of a country cottage. Wood can be supplemented with stone, which is relevant not only for country style.
In suburban private buildings, these two materials look quite harmonious together and are suitable for finishing scaffolds, doors and use as a decor.
Concrete porch
Concrete is considered a versatile material that is inexpensive and reliable, and is also optimal for making a porch. This is a monolithic structure that will not begin to stagger over time, which is sometimes inherent in wooden products. In addition, it can be easily repaired and decorated with any decor. Do not forget that the concrete porch can be of various shapes, which will not particularly affect the price and the amount of time to complete the task.
Concrete structures can be decorated with tiles, such as clinker tiles. There are options trimmed with stone, and also painted with paint, and processed with other materials. In modern buildings with a facade of wood, brick or siding, a concrete porch can be left without additional coverage. This allows you to emphasize the features of the texture of the walls and their colors.
Brick porch
A brick porch is a more expensive option than the previous ones, but it also looks attractive and is considered a fairly reliable solution for decorating a house. Installation of the structure may take more time and require serious effort, but in the future the work will pay off with a vengeance, since it does not require additional care.
Often, a brick porch has a concrete base or a step covering based on other materials. There are options with laying tiles on the steps. It looks at home, inspires confidence and adds reliability to the building. But be careful, as any step covering you choose should not be slippery, otherwise this area will become potentially dangerous in the cold season due to snow and ice.
Stone porch
Natural stone is considered a classic option. Such raw materials are durable, presentable and durable, which is especially important. There are many varieties of stone, with some suitable for the base, and a number of others for creating decorative elements (and the raw materials for making the base will cost much more).
Although, in general, all types of stone are able to withstand adverse weather conditions, and it will not require additional maintenance for a long time.
If the building is made of stone, then you can fit a porch with columns into the overall structure. Natural stone can be combined with monumental elements. Such a composition will look harmonious.
Metal and wrought iron porch
Usually, when talking about a forged or metal porch, they mean decorative parts of the structure - canopies, railings, steps, which are made on the basis of metal. But sometimes a completely metal porch is installed in a private house.
The main advantage that such designs have is increased strength and durability. However, you will have to constantly paint and treat the porch so that it does not deteriorate due to corrosion. Moreover, the metal floor will be cold enough, so it is not suitable for arranging a terrace. The latter option requires a concrete base or wood flooring on a metal base.
Porch with canopy
In most cases, canopies continue the roof and, together with the porch, perform an important function of protection from the effects of precipitation and solar radiation. This is a great option for arranging a comfortable entrance to the building.
If the building has architectural features that would not allow a canopy over the main entrance, even a small one, replace it with a canopy. Such a detail will not only partially perform the functions of a canopy, but will also be able to diversify the appearance of the building, and if you choose the product correctly or make it in an original way, it will become a real decoration of the exterior.
Even a small canopy can make the entrance to a private house more presentable. The shade from it can protect from the sun, as well as save from streams of water during rain, if you open the doors or wait for the car.
Porch with steps and railings
If the house has a high foundation and you can install steps that will lead to the main entrance, the installation of railings will be relevant.
This design will make the exterior of the building appear safer and more stable, and will also serve a very specific function and help residents and visitors enter the house in bad weather.
This is the traditional design of the entrance to the building. It can be combined with a canopy or canopy, as well as additionally decorated with various designs to make the composition look complete.
Terraced porch
If the area in front of the front door allows you to organize a place to relax, then you can equip an open or closed terrace. There may be a swing for children on it, or it will simply be a place for a comfortable stay near the house, and an opportunity to protect yourself from bad weather conditions.
Spacious terraces can be equipped with garden furniture for comfortable relaxation, pots with plants, and as a result get an attractive appearance of the building and a cozy atmosphere. Install pendant lights or place outdoor wall lights nearby.
They will be able to illuminate the approach to the porch, for example, the paths leading to the building.
If the building has a high foundation, it is necessary to form a porch using steps. As a result, a terrace with a seating area will be at a certain elevation, when compared with ground level. Frame steps and flooring with stone or concrete, treated wood, or brick to provide protection from moisture or insects.
Glazed terrace is a must for those who live in cold climates. Compared to other options, this one is much more difficult to design. But it is this type of porch that can be considered the most functional.
When designing the design, you can choose different materials or options for arranging the entrance to the house. However, when choosing a design, remember that the porch is an important architectural element, so it should match the architectural style of the house.
House porch design - 55 photos of amazing porch design ideas in a private house
A modern country house must have a small porch.
After all, before you get inside the house, you will definitely have to walk along the porch. Any porch is a separate decorative element that gives the building an unusual and unique look.
The design of the porch has many different features, while the porch has a different design and structure.
So an ordinary porch can look like a small staircase with only a few steps, as a rule, they are installed directly in front of the entrance to the house. However, there are options when the porch is girdled around the veranda, or girded around the terrace.
Therefore, the design of the porch of a private house depends entirely on the style in which the building itself is built.
Beautiful outdoor staircase style
For different types of houses, different types of materials are used in the design of the porch. For example: a modern house of a prestigious and elite class with a porch, modern materials are used in its design, such as glass, plastic, sometimes stainless steel or metal with a high chromium content is used.
But for the porch of an ordinary classic country house, you can use ordinary tiles as a decor, while malleable metal elements can be used as an addition. Well, country-style houses have a large number of different decorative elements made of wood, for example, various wooden columns with decorative carvings.
At the same time, for a longer preservation of the natural color and for a long service life, it is recommended to treat all wooden decorative elements with an oil composition for wood.
Original design ideas
So when creating an unusual porch of an ordinary and simple house, you can combine different materials for a unique unique design of the porch. Wood and natural stone can be called a good and simple combination, these natural materials will make the porch very beautiful and unique.
Concrete can also be used. The main feature in the design of the porch is the embodiment of design ideas or imagination.
How to decorate an outdoor staircase. Porch decoration
One of the main components of the porch is the staircase, and it can have a different design. For example, if the porch has a concrete base, then it is mainly lined with ceramic tiles or natural stone of natural or natural origin.
Decorative design with such materials is ideal for a brick building.
But the porch of a country house made of wood can have a large selection of decorative designs. But, many owners of such houses are trying to emphasize the importance of the material from which the porch is made. For this, the wooden porch is treated with a special oil composition.
In some cases, as a decoration for wood, it can be fired and then treated with a light wood lacquer.
Also quite common is a porch with metal stairs. Of course, this option has an aesthetic and beautiful appearance.
However, there are small nuances: firstly, the stairs of such a porch should not have a high location, and should not be very steep, besides, in winter, the metal becomes slippery under the influence of low temperatures.
How to build a beautiful original staircase. Railing design
The second decorative element of any porch is the railing. Therefore, the design of the railing is of no small importance, because the general appearance of the porch itself depends on it. So the most common design of the porch is the use of vertical balusters with horizontal crossbars having an unusual shape.
All handrails have handrails made of wood or plastic. So, when decorating the porch of a cobbled or ordinary village house made of wood, it is necessary to use wooden handrails, but it is recommended to use plastic handrails when decorating the porch of a modern country house made of concrete or brick.
However, a porch made of wrought iron may have a metal railing.
How to make a beautiful decoration of the canopy
The canopy over the porch is another additional decorative element of the porch, it is made of materials such as wood, polycarbonate or profile sheet.
