Open porch ideas
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.
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Keep It Simple
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Jacob Snavely
This 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.
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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 Elliott
This 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.
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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.
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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.
100+ ideas!!! | Do-it-yourself porch to the house (50 photos)
A porch for a private house is an indispensable element in the arrangement of any modern home. Since the aesthetic and functional design of the entrance becomes a “business card” and a reflection of the preferences of the household, a competent approach is required for the construction of this structure, in particular, the selection of suitable materials. The design of the porch of the house should create a sense of integrity of the overall ensemble and enhance the attractiveness of the main building. In the article we will talk about how to make a porch to the house with your own hands and what nuances you should pay attention to in order to avoid gross mistakes.
Porch construction types
The general design of the porch is an open area, combined with a staircase, directly in front of the front door. Additional elements - a canopy, fences, walls and glazing can be made from a variety of materials and any shape if desired.
There are three main types of porch:
- Simple . It is carried out in the form of a platform at the entrance. A staircase is necessarily equipped and such a porch is often supplemented with a canopy.
- Fitted . It is designed at the stage of preparing the drawings of the whole house, therefore it has a common foundation with it and is being built capitally.
- Attached . It is constructed (attached) after the construction of the main building.
Porch steps to the house with beautiful lighting
An interesting stylistic solution for decorating the porch made of concrete and brick
Foundation for the porch
To prevent deformations due to temperature differences, a foundation must be built under the porch. Its appearance depends on the material planned for use for construction, design and dimensions.
If a small porch is intended, oriented only to provide a convenient entrance to the house, then it is enough to equip a concrete pad.
Manufacturing technology: step-by-step instructions
Do-it-yourself foundation for the porch of a private house is carried out in several stages:
- marking of the territory;
- formwork installation;
- reinforcement cage knitting;
- pouring concrete mix.
Porch area marking
For formwork construction, you can use edged boards or moisture-resistant plywood. For the first option, boards sheathed from the inside with roofing felt, which has good water-repellent properties, will be required. To prevent excess mortar from flowing out, the boards must be laid tightly against each other.
The photo shows how to assemble the formwork for the porch from plywood and boards
To save concrete, the base of the steps can be filled with broken stone or bricks
When constructing an entrance from heavy blocks, bricks, it will be necessary to create a stronger reinforced foundation. Such a decision is also necessary in the case of the construction of a spacious porch, which involves the arrangement of a recreation area with the installation of furniture and other accessories.
Wooden porch
Wood is the most versatile porch material for DIY projects. Often used inexpensive and fairly durable when making a protective paint layer pine. More expensive larch will provide high strength after impregnation.
To work with wood, you will need a small set of tools
Porch steps should be convenient for climbing and descending
Wood structures allow you to decorate the entrance with elements of country style, Provence, classics. They are easily combined with stone, forged and wicker elements.
Photo examples of a wooden porch
Modern wooden porch
Concrete porch
Concrete is considered the most versatile, affordable and cheap material used to make a porch. A monolithic structure created in accordance with all the rules is durable and reliable. It has maintained its integrity for many years and is easily restored.
Concrete is a practical and reliable material that can withstand heavy loads
An important advantage is that a concrete structure can be given any shape. When decorating, you can decorate a concrete porch using a variety of decorative elements.
Finish similar structures with clinker tiles, stone. They are plastered and painted. If the facade of the house is made of brick or wood, the concrete entrance is often left without an external coating, emphasizing the overall static balanced composition.
Classic concrete porch
Monolithic concrete porch with many steps
Concrete porch is usually clad with outdoor ceramic granite floor tiles with a corrugated pattern
Monolithic reinforced slab in front of the entrance plays the role of a kind of porch to the house 9002 should be treated with a hydrophobic compound, this will significantly increase its resistance to moisture and frost
Metal porch
If you have the welding equipment and the necessary material, you can build a metal porch within one day.
This design looks ordinary, so elegant forged elements often act as an additional decor. They significantly increase the overall cost of the building, but allow you to get an original luxurious accent.
Luxury wrought iron porch
Metal structures complement other materials used for decking and steps. Chipboards, wooden planks are used. The final durable coating can be made of porcelain stoneware.
Metal is best combined with wood, their tandem is able to decorate any home
Metal porch with a canopy made of polycarbonate
Porch made of stone, brick
Brick or stone masonry looks prestigious when erecting a porch. But these operations require specific skills, so if necessary, they turn to specialists.
The construction takes a lot of time, but the end result will please for decades, while the external decor does not lose its charm and nobility.
Red brick porches look stylish and unusual
Installation of a canopy over the porch
The main functional role of the canopy (single or double slope, figured, domed, arched), erected above the porch, is to protect it from any precipitation.
However, at the design stage, the aesthetic component of this structural element should also be considered. This will add an additional decorative touch to the overall harmonious ensemble.
Materials used
- Wood . It is not difficult to install, but requires mandatory impregnation from fire and additional application of several layers of varnish that protects against moisture.
- Polycarbonate . Select options with a high degree of strength. You can use transparent or colored sheets, taking into account the general color scheme of the facade of the house and the surrounding landscape.
- Roof tiles . When choosing as a material for the visor of the tile, they observe harmony with the overall design of the roof.
- Metal tile . This modern, easy-to-install material looks original, has different shades, organically fits into the environment.
- Profile deck . Due to the large dimensions of the sheets and low weight, it is quickly installed. Long service life at a low price makes this material very popular.
- Roof tiles . It looks original, creates a feeling of aristocracy. Requires the construction of a continuous crate.
Open porch canopy made of painted wooden beams
Fabric porch canopy will protect the entrance to the house from sun and rain
Porch ideas (photo)
The main structure of the porch is usually planned immediately when designing the house. Later, ideas may arise for its further modernization, increasing space, introducing new functional roles.
Architectural options
- Open porch . It is a platform equipped at the front door. From above, a small canopy is usually built. For restriction, you can install on the edges of the railing. The advantages include simple installation, quick construction. The downside is the lack of wind protection.
- Closed porch . This variation with side walls allows you to get an entrance to the house, protected from external adverse influences. To preserve lighting, the side walls are glazed completely or in fragments. When calculating individual frames, take into account that their width should not exceed 120 cm in order to withstand wind loads. The main frame of the walls is made in metal or wood.
- Tambour . A fairly spacious extension, covering the porch from all sides along with the steps and providing for wall insulation, allows you to reliably protect the house from the penetration of cold. Inside, they usually equip places for storing outerwear, shoes, umbrellas.
- Double sided porch . When constructing such a structure, the stairs are located on both sides. When supplemented with openwork wrought iron railings, they create a respectable finished look of the whole house.
Tip! A porch with a reliable canopy and side glazed walls allows you to equip a comfortable seating area. It is enough to install a coffee table, a few light chairs and create a cozy corner where you can relax after a hard day's work.
Beautiful combination of white and green colors in the design of the facade of a country house
Elegant snow-white porch in the Scandinavian style
Porch with access to the backyard of the house
Large vases with flowers will gallantly decorate the entrance to the house
An example of decoration and decoration of the porch
If the porch area is small, measures to expand it are carried out in terms of adding an open terrace or a capital closed veranda to it. In such a situation, they receive an additional summer room. By installing wicker furniture in it, they get a comfortable living room. To protect against insects, the open terrace is covered with a mosquito net or decorated with a light muslin.
More static wooden sofas and armchairs, complemented by soft pillows, will organically look on the veranda. Additional decor is given by floor or wall planters with plants. Often, a dining area is taken out to the porch, combined with a veranda.
It is important to provide and equip the entrance to the house with unobtrusive lighting
Porch with a low brick plinth
In addition to the table, chairs, there are compact shelving with closed facades for the necessary dishes and utensils. Increasingly, plastic pieces of furniture are used for this purpose. They are light, mobile, have a pleasant smooth texture and bright decor.
For furniture ensembles with metal legs, a durable floor covering is provided. If the frame is forged, this brings an element of luxury to the surrounding space.
White color radiates warmth and calmness even in autumn days
Rattan furniture blends harmoniously with the stone finish of the house
On a fairly spacious terrace, a barbecue area is often equipped next to the dining area. It is important to choose a non-combustible material for wall and floor cladding.
Having provided a sufficient height of the porch with a combined spacious terrace, a hanging swing is equipped on it. Having made them in the form of a comfortable sofa or a wicker chair, they complement not only the recreation area, but also create a comfortable children's corner. Sun loungers and hammocks will bring comfort.
Suspended porch swing is a dream for many
When expanding the porch in the form of a veranda, it is necessary to install waterproofing under the floor or wall covering. After the competent performance of all work, they receive an additional room. It can be not only a living room or dining room, but also a bedroom or study.
After installing panoramic windows on the insulated veranda, they get an excellent space for a home greenhouse. To enhance the perception of comfort, a bookcase, banquettes or small chairs are installed. In such a corner it is pleasant to read or work on a computer.
Tip! For cool weather, the porch provides the possibility of connecting a mobile electric fireplace. Having picked up a model with imitation of bursts of natural flame, they create a calming romantic atmosphere.
Soft lighting delicately decorates the wooden beams
Porch decoration tips
Porch interior decoration is usually done in light colors, visually expanding the limited space. Different materials are selected for facing the platform, steps, part of the wall and the surface around the porch.
Porch cladding materials
- Ceramic tiles . Among the advantages, a variety of textures and color shades are noted, which provides high decorativeness. Products with a rough surface are selected, which will prevent injury when moisture freezes on it. More often use frost-resistant durable clinker tiles. When laying out, certain skills are required, since it is necessary to maintain a constant thickness of the seams and to prepare a smooth rough surface with high quality.
- Paving slabs . When facing the porch planes with paving slabs resistant to any weather conditions, it is possible to obtain a reliable, aesthetic, durable coating. The range of this material allows you to choose both plain smooth and embossed or patterned planes. Having paved the path and the surface of the earth around the porch with the same material, they get a completed sophisticated look.
- Natural stone . The porch lined with natural stone looks prestigious and very decorative. Granite finishing lasts up to a hundred years without losing its solid decorative effect. Aristocratic elegant marble is becoming more and more common. It is advisable to select such material for closed porch types. Be sure to reinforce the anti-slip pads.
- Porcelain stoneware . Durable solid porcelain stoneware from the range with non-slip surfaces on the exterior decor is not inferior to stone. Its cost is lower, which leads to increasing popularity. It should be borne in mind that special equipment will be required to cut this hard material. Before laying, the surfaces to be trimmed are carefully leveled.
Perfectly organized home porch seating area
Classic gable roof porch
When constructing the porch of the house with their own hands, other materials are also used. It can be quite durable siding. A fairly extensive color palette is offered by manufacturers. You can choose a material that imitates wood, stone, brick.
Concrete surfaces are easy to plaster. If desired, perform a variety of relief texture, use options for decorative plaster. Such flat surfaces are in perfect harmony with additional decorative elements.
If the porch is high, for safety it must be equipped with reliable and durable railings
By carefully considering the form, materials used, functional role, it is possible to obtain an exclusive organic design of the porch, which reliably protects the entrance to the house. When complemented with comfortable furniture, green plants, decorative accessories, they get an original accent that adorns not only the building, but also the surrounding landscape.
120 photos of optimal execution and design options
Many future owners of a private country house, which is just being built, do not pay much attention to the porch, and some even forget to build it. Someone simply did not provide for it, for others it may not be necessary to install it. However, in fact, the porch in a suburban house is a very important and complex architectural addition to the house, in addition, it can also have an aesthetic function, thereby indicating the elegance and originality of the building as a whole.
Therefore, its construction must be taken with all seriousness and responsibility, since it is from it that the entrance to the house begins. At the same time, most owners of their houses are trying to equip the facade of their house in such a way that everyone around would like it, the same applies to all extensions to the house.
It should be noted that from the point of view of practicality and convenience of construction, it is desirable to build it last, and if possible not together with the house, but separately.
The fact is that building a porch with your own hands will not be very difficult, almost anyone who understands at least a little about construction can handle this work. At the same time, in the process of adding to the house, you can come up with various options for the structure right on the go or improvise a little.
More instructions, as well as tricks from the pros, on creating furniture, decor and various crafts are on the website https://podelki.org/
Article summary:
Material selection
Almost any available building material can be used as the base material for making a porch. As a rule, the main material for this extension is still concrete. However, you can use other materials such as: brick, stone, wood, forged metal.
In this case, brick is not recommended, as it is very strongly exposed to precipitation and temperature, which will eventually lead to its destruction, cracks will be visible on the brick and chips will form, and this will spoil the appearance of the facade.
But porch options using stone or wrought iron are a very complex and expensive option. Therefore, the most optimal construction option is made of concrete.
At the same time, it can be built in various shapes and types, after which, if desired, you can make a special lining to imitate stone or brick, and additionally embellish with various elements of forged metal. This option is the most acceptable both in terms of material choice and in terms of money.
So, let's look at the most common porch designs.
Open deck with steps
This is the easiest way to build this extension. There is practically nothing complicated here, except to properly mount the steps for the porch. A canopy is not provided for this design, so this option is the fastest in terms of construction.
Platform with closed walls
As a rule, this type is installed on insignificant heights, where special fences with railings prevent falls. At the same time, the fences and railings themselves can perform not only a protective function, but also a decorative one.
Closed porch
This type is primarily suitable for large and spacious country houses, where it is possible to make one part as a veranda, and the second directly at the entrance to the house, while the site itself should be very extensive.
This option is very convenient, since you can receive guests both in its closed part, for example, if the weather is bad outside, and in the air. Therefore, a closed porch is a very interesting option.
Building a wooden porch
Before you start building a porch to the front of the building, you need to have a clear plan and drawing of the structure. At the same time, the drawing must indicate all the necessary parameters and dimensions of the structure, as well as the structure of the steps, their height and width, the parameters of handrails and railings. You should not forget about what you want to see in the end, this is a very important point.
Next, you need to decide on the foundation and its dimensions. After all, the durability of the structure and its reliability largely depend on a high-quality and reliable foundation.
As a rule, the choice of foundation is influenced by a number of important factors, such as: the presence of groundwater in the soil, the terrain (hills, elevations). After that, you can get to work.
It is recommended to use hardwood beams for a wooden porch during operation, so that it would serve a long service life.
Equally important is the staircase, which is the link between the facade of the building and the porch. It is necessary to choose the method of constructing a staircase from the structural features of the facade of the house, here the choice is very large.
Construction of a metal porch
Metal porch is mainly made for cottages or small private houses. This type of porch is the most popular and popular, second only to wood. Knowing all the required dimensions, such a porch can be pre-welded, and then the finished structure can be delivered directly to its destination.
If there are no decorative elements made of forged metal in this design, then its cost will be much less than that of concrete or wood. Therefore, although the wrought iron porch is very beautiful and has a stunning view, it is quite expensive and also very difficult to install.
For such a porch, it is allowed to lay the foundation of a lighter version, since the metal is a rather elastic material, therefore, the impact on its soil does not have any effect. And in some cases, for such a design, the foundation is completely unnecessary.
Steps for this design can be made entirely of metal, or you can additionally make a wooden step, it all depends on your fantasy and imagination.
Concrete porch building
The construction of the porch in this version is quite troublesome and complicated. It is characterized by the presence of a solid and reliable foundation, so it can stand as long as the house itself.
At the same time, an important feature in the structure of this type of porch is that inside the formwork it is necessary to reinforce the steps with reinforcement. And in general, it is necessary to make a frame from reinforcement in the image of the structure, all this is necessary for a more reliable structure.
It is recommended to pour concrete in one step, but it is very difficult, so pouring with short breaks is allowed. This means that when the first pour was poured and slightly dried up, then you can gradually pour further concrete mortar. And so to the top of the formwork.
Canopy and canopy
The canopy over the porch is very convenient and practical in terms of the safety of the house structure. Most often, a porch with a canopy serves as protection from the weather, at the same time, it can also perform a decorative function.
As a rule, the suspended canopy can be mounted on almost any part of the wall or surface of the facade of the house, with the exception of frame or prefabricated panel walls.
Almost every canopy, with the exception of a gable or arched canopy, must be equipped with a special gutter that diverts the water stack to the side.
Thus, choosing a porch to your taste is not as easy as it seems. The whole difficulty lies in the variety of choices and in the cost. If you have any difficulties with the choice, you can familiarize yourself and see the bright and colorful photos of the porch, maybe you will find something for yourself.
Porch photo