How can i decorate my front porch
How to decorate a front porch |
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
Wondering how to decorate a front porch?
It is often said that first impressions are everything, so it’s worth paying particular attention to your front porch. It is, after all, the first thing people will see as they enter your home.
Porches date back to Ancient Greece and were originally designed as a row of columns on the outside of a building in order to add a feeling of grandeur and give protection from the weather.
Now they are more likely to be a covered area attached to the house or a raised space that extends around the entire property. With a range of front porch ideas to choose from, these structures can boost your home’s curb appeal and are important in setting the tone for the house inside.
So, whether you are lucky enough to possess a wrap-around version which radiates southern charm, or you have a more simplistic front-door covering, remember that it is an important space that needs thought, planning and dedicated decoration.
How to decorate a front porch
These steps – both simple and structural – will help you decorate a front porch in style.
1. Consider urns, pots and planters
(Image credit: Rejuvenation)
Particularly good if you live in an urban area, pots can provide impactful greenery around your entryway. 'Plants in pots are a great way of brightening up a porch. They add color and interest,' advises Karen Rogers from KR Garden Design .
Consider stone or terracotta pots, urns and other types of planters around your porch area.
For a relaxed look, group them together in different sizes. Or, for a more formal front garden idea, choose something simple, such as a bay tree in a large stone pot at the side of the front door or one on either side.
2. Think about planting options
Photography/David Brittain
(Image credit: Future)
Planting climbers around your porch is an easy way to add impact to your entrance.
Speak to your garden designer about wisteria, jasmine or pittosporum.
These types of climbing plants can help frame an entrance and give it a wonderful lush green feel.
'Get the basics in place. For climbing plants, set up a network of taut wires. They will soon be hidden as the plant grows,' advises London-based garden designer, Tamsin Kelly .
Choose plants which have fragrant blooms that will give an extra-sensory treat every time you step on the porch.
However, Tamsin warns to be mindful when choosing scented plants. 'Traditional jasmine isn’t the most sweet-smelling, so go for star jasmine instead as it’s evergreen and very scented. Clematis is also a good option,' she adds.
3. Pay attention to your door hardware
Photography/Adam Wallis
(Image credit: Future)
'Be sure to focus on the brassware. It will help set the tone for the color and overall look of the porch area,' says Ruth Mottershead from Little Greene .
Door hardware in brass and iron, traditionally made using casting and forging methods, can be easily changed to add impact.
And it’s not just limited to the front door.
Think about the other hardware around the porch including signs and door numbers. While they don’t have to match, they should at least complement each other.
4. Consider painting your door or porch area
(Image credit: Future)
Before embarking on a project or speaking to your decorator, consider the materials used on the facade of the house.
'If you have a red brick exterior, green works really well as a paint option. It also echoes the nature outside,' says Little Greene's, Ruth Mottershead. 'Darker colors are often seen as more modern, whilst lighter hues are more traditional,' she adds.
5. Think about lighting options
(Image credit: Swan Architecture)
Depending on the size of your porch, lighting can play a huge role.
Smart front porch lighting ideas are particularly important if arriving home on a dark winter evening or if you are trying to illuminate a seating area.
'Whatever you do, stay away from strip lighting,' warns garden designer, Tamsin Kelly.
Here, a large pendant lantern emphasizes the large scale of this front porch and the curved detail of the ceiling.
6. Invest in seating
Photography/Adam Wallis
(Image credit: Future)
If you are lucky enough to have a large porch area, invest in the best outdoor furniture for summer gatherings and evening entertaining.
A smaller porch might be better suited to a farmhouse feel with overflowing planters and mismatched furniture.
7. Don't neglect the steps
(Image credit: Proven Winners)
Consider painting the treads of your steps or the floor of your porch.
'You can go for paint effects on the floor of your porch,' says Ruth Mottershead from Little Greene. 'It might be worth considering tiles too,' adds Ruth.
8. Think about decorative details
Photography/Ben Anders
(Image credit: Future)
Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas.
As the seasons change, why not hang a seasonal wreath to add a dramatic flourish to your porch area?
In autumn or fall, strategically placed pumpkins add interest. In winter, lanterns and blankets are ideal.
Think about the other elements on your porch. Perhaps it’s time to move away from traditional coir matting and go for something a little more distinctive – an outdoor rug is ideal if your porch is covered.
9. Make it multi-purpose
Photography/David Brittain
(Image credit: Future)
Look at the light and space available on your porch. Could it have multiple functions? Could your porch be useful as a boot room with a shoe jack and log store? Could you set up a BBQ area and or add other outdoor dining ideas to the space?
Think about the ways you could re-imagine your space and talk to your interior designer about potential front porch design options.
What should I put on my front porch?
Photography/Matthew Williams
(Image credit: Future)
Plants provide an abundance of greenery and offer an appealing addition to any porch regardless of size.
From large pots and wooden planters to metal containers and stone urns, there are so many ways to showcase outdoor plants on your porch.
'Combine pots with the same aesthetic, and aim for one or two statement plants,' says garden designer, Tamsin Kelly.
Lanterns and decorative lights add ambiance and help illuminate the space in a practical way.
Chairs, seating, and if possible a table, provide useful options for larger porch areas and transform a traditional decked space into a bona-fide outdoor living room idea.
How can I make a small front porch look good?
'Painting the roof of your porch is a good option as it can make the space appear larger,' explains Ruth Motterfield from Little Greene.
'Choosing the same color will help give the illusion of space,' she adds.
Although a range of decorative elements can look appealing, be sure not to overload the space with too many details and accessories.
How can I make a front porch more inviting?
Textiles will help add coziness and character.
If you already have a seating area in the garden, think about matching the color and pattern of the coverings to whatever you choose on the porch. Alternatively, switch rugs and cushions as the seasons change to add interest.
Photography/David Brittain
(Image credit: Future)
Steph Hendries is a freelance journalist who has contributed to many different interiors websites including Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home and Livingetc. She has also worked on a range of social content for property brands such as Zoopla and Boomin. Steph writes for Homes & Gardens Solved section, concentrating on DIY, how to, cleaning and organizing content.
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
25 of 56
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 for the New Year / Homebodies
If you live in a private house, then you have a chance to decorate your yard and porch in a special magical and beautiful way. Give this process some time to cheer yourself up and bring the most magical holiday of the year closer.
1. Luxurious ikebana in flowerpots
Put some flowerpots on your porch. Use various branches, Christmas decorations, tinsel or rain. You can also additionally cover the bouquet with artificial snow. nine0003
2. Chic pendants
Volumetric Christmas decorations in the form of pendants look great on the porch. You can place them on a strong rope or make a more creative version with real tree branches.
3. Bright gift boxes
Gift boxes are always a great way to cheer up. Until you need to add the gift itself, a simple box wrapped in paper wrapping and a red bow is enough. Such surprises can be placed in flowerpots or on special stands. nine0003
4. Traditional wreath
Without a wreath on the eve of the New Year, it is impossible to fully decorate your porch.
By the way, it is quite possible to make such a beautiful detail with your own hands, the main thing is to collect more branches of the Christmas tree.
5. Fantastic spruce garlands
If the wreath is too complicated for you to create on your own, then you can simplify the process. The same branches of the Christmas tree are woven into a kind of garland, where, in addition to branches, red satin and other ribbons are also used. nine0003
6. Toy baskets
Snow is in perfect harmony with the New Year holiday. You don’t even need to buy an artificial one, use the one that nature gives us. Place a few baskets with Christmas decorations near the porch, and the snowball itself will complete the beautiful installation.
7. Real tree
And, of course, you can’t do without the main detail of the holiday. A Christmas tree can be placed not only at home, but also on the porch.
So she looks like a real beauty that will delight all your guests. nine0003
8. Amazing lighting
Christmas garlands are the easiest way to decorate your yard and porch. Think for yourself how best to use the colored lights.
9. Fairytale path
Small Christmas trees with a bright garland along the edges of the footpath are a way to create a path straight into a fairy tale. Instead of Christmas trees, you can make snowmen or other heroes of the New Year.
10. Creative bouquet in skates
If you have long stopped skating or they are terribly dull, then do not rush to get rid of them. They can be a great vase for a New Year's bouquet, and the detail looks more creative if you attach it directly to the front door.
Decorate your house and porch for the New Year or not - the choice is yours. But you must admit, creative thematic details cheer you up and allow you to believe in miracles!
22 decor ideas - Roomble.
com Design and Decor nine0003
2022-05-15T07:26:47+00:00 2022-05-11T09:58:13+00:00 Porch in the country: 22 design ideas 2022-05-15T07:26:47+00:00 Even the smallest porch can become an accent in the exterior of the house. We tell you what the design of the porch can be Porch in the country: 22 design ideas
Even the smallest porch can become an accent in the exterior of the house. We tell you how the design of the porch 9 can be0003
Regardless of what kind of foundation the porch has (concrete, stone, brick or wood), and in what style it is made, it can be called the "face" of the building. The porch not only protects from rain and serves as a "sanitary" zone and architectural element, but also decorates your country house. How to beautifully decorate the porch of a private house and what decor you can use: 22 ideas for inspiration.
Everyone knows the method of decorating the porch, which will give comfort even to a tiny area in front of the entrance.
Ampel plants are increasingly used to decorate Russian porches, balconies and terraces. For hanging planters, imopea and fuchsia, bacopa, begonia are suitable. Succulents in hanging planters and florariums will also come in handy.
This idea can be realized with a trellis, an arch or a special support attached to the façade. The brightest and most popular options are clematis, kampsis, climbing rose, ivy.
An idea that is not yet very popular in harsh and brutal Russia. And yet, colored doors, furniture and even porches, entirely painted in bright colors, are becoming more common - the desire for comfort and originality outweighs the traditional desire to "hide behind an iron door." nine0003
Idea for a large porch: original benches, armchairs or chairs (or maybe even a small sofa) for a cozy seating area on the porch after trimming the strawberry mustache.
Antique signs, funny or original graffiti, whimsical signs combined with unusual materials - a porch decoration option popular in Europe and the USA. In our country, this “tool” is used mainly by young people.
If there is enough space on the porch, you can place a summer dining area on the site. Don't forget to add electric string lights and lanterns for an evening of romance. nine0003
The holidays are the occasion for theming the porch. Borrowed again from the inhabitants of Europe and the USA, the idea - to decorate the porch according to the season - is gradually taking root with us.
A functional element of the porch decor, which can also be beautiful, original and memorable: knitted, wicker, multi-colored rugs with funny inscriptions or the entire area of the porch with a descent to the stairs.
Beautiful and cozy porch lighting includes not only non-standard exclusive lamps, but also garden candlesticks, electric garlands, LEDs, cute lanterns.
The lighting system can be made multi-level and with various purposes: for evening intimate light, bright, highlighting certain areas of the porch. nine0003
You can not only buy original pieces of furniture or take them out of the attic warehouse of rare items, but also make them with your own hands from barrels, pallets, tires hidden in colored poufs.
Editor's note:
- An easy way to decorate the stairs: paint the railings white, and weave the balusters with climbing flowering plants.
If the size of the porch allows, then the traditional chairs or chairs can be replaced with a hammock, swing or hammock chair. Whether the adults will have time to rock back there with a book after their righteous garden chores is unknown, but the kids will be delighted. nine0003
A free wall is a blank canvas on which you can “draw” any flower arrangement. Flower pots can be mounted on the wall, placed in boxes, on unnecessary wooden ladders and stepladders, create a creative flower installation with meaning.
In beautiful planters and fantasy pots, in boots and boots, in tin buckets, with accompanying decor in the form of old stools, watering cans and sculptures — flowers remain the simplest, most accessible and brightest decoration of the porch.
A small decorative pond with water lilies or a miniature fountain, a waterfall can also be made on the porch with your own hands and at no serious cost.
Traditional balusters can be replaced with exclusive carved or forged ones, fencing made of impact-resistant glass, ropes, tree trunks, stainless steel mesh, and so on.
How to decorate the walls on the porch? The list of ideas is limited only by your imagination: inscriptions and lanterns, paintings and garlands, personal collections of hats, trophies and basins, flowers…
Original garden sculptures can decorate not only the garden, but also the porch. Combined with garden decor or solo. The main thing is not to overdo it with the quantity and do not forget about the combination of sculptures with the overall design of the porch (garden gnomes will definitely be superfluous).
The most popular canopy for a small porch is wrought iron elements with hooks for hanging flower pots or lanterns. A roof for a porch of a large area can be a solid design structure made of wood (glass, metal, ondulin) and a light canopy. nine0003
How to decorate a porch with steps? The most popular way after sculptures, lanterns and flowers is to complement the steps with stone decor, clinker tiles, paint, carpet paths and, of course, lighting, which will become a functional, very useful decor in the household.
Porch flooring can be wood effect tiles, colored mosaic tiles, ornamental inlays, and more. In the recreation area, you can use mats and bamboo rugs, colored paths. nine0003
You can update or decorate the door with your own hands with the help of imagination and improvised means. The simplest and most affordable ways to provide a memorable door decor are bright colors, craquelure and decoupage, flower arrangements and vintage items, original door handles and mailboxes, wreaths and monograms, themed seasonal decor.
