9 Ideas for Creating an Inviting Front Porch

There’s nothing quite like a cozy and inviting front porch to crank up your home’s curb appeal and entice visitors to want to stay for a while. But if your front porch is currently bare-bones and lacking in charm and color, it can be tricky to know where to start. Check out these nine front porch ideas to transform your space.

1. Add or Change Out Your Light Fixtures

A well-lit porch functions as both an important safety precaution (to prevent tripping and stumbling in the dark, as well as deterring possible break-ins) and also as a decorative welcome to your home.

Exterior Lighting

Whether you want an antique hanging lantern or a pair of bronzed industrial sconces on either side of your front door, you can set the tone for your décor inside while keeping the area brightly lit.

Porch Step Lighting

If you have stairs leading up to your door or porch, consider adding lights on each step for optimal illumination. You’ll thank yourself every time you arrive home after dark.

2. Paint Your Door

A freshly painted door is hands down one of the best and easiest front porch ideas for the dramatic transformation it can give your space. Your front door likely takes a beating thanks to its daily use and exposure to the elements—and a faded, peeling front door doesn’t exactly say pride of ownership. But a fresh coat of paint on the door will give your entire house a facelift. Try a bright color, which plays well off of a neutral exterior while energizing your front porch. If you coordinate the door color into the upholstery and accessories on the porch, you’ll be amazed at how easily it all comes together.

Front Door Color Ideas

From timeless to trendy, here are the color choices you will want to consider for your front door.

Take Me There

3. Get a Doormat

While a doormat serves the specific purpose of keeping dirt and debris from being tracked into your home, it also brings the front porch together and introduces texture. Since it sits at the threshold of your home’s cozy interior and the outside world, it’s a first impression worth the effort. Right now, you will likely spot layered doormats out and about in your neighborhood. Get a larger, softer doormat with a striking pattern, and then put a smaller doormat made of a tougher material in the center of it to get this look.

4. Install a Porch Swing

You can’t go wrong with the quintessential front porch swing. There’s no better spot for reading the paper on a Sunday morning or enjoying a glass of wine on a summer evening. Who knows, it might even provide the perfect opportunity to start talking to your neighbors! Finish things off with a cozy throw and a couple of pillows made up in durable outdoor fabric for a seating spot that’s sure to become everyone’s favorite.

If swings aren’t your thing, consider a cushy couch or a pair of Adirondack chairs. A charming bistro set will work well on particularly small or narrow front porches.

5. Get New House Numbers

Much like lighting, house numbers are both a design choice and a safety issue. In the event that you need to call emergency services, you’ll want them to be able to find your home as quickly as possible. Though you may not typically associate your home address with curb appeal or front porch ideas, house numbers that stand out can change the look of your space while keeping you safe.

Oversized numbers in a contrasting color will be easily readable from the street, ensuring that everyone can find your home quickly. And don’t think your house numbers can only be hung on a porch post: hanging them directly on the front door or adding a yard post to your front lawn are also good options for making sure your house numbers are visible.

6. Plants and Flowers

Potted plants, topiaries, or flowers instantly infuse your front porch with a wash of eye-catching color and texture.

• The best choice of plants are ones that thrive in the shade and are large enough to make an impact from the view of the street—like ferns and hostas.
• Choose planters that complement your home’s style and the scale of your porch.
• Large pots have the added bonus of creating clever hiding spots for deliveries while you’re away from home.
• Hanging a festive wreath on the front door is another way to give your porch a shot of greenery.

7. Decorate for the Seasons

This is one of the best front porch ideas for keeping things updated year-round. Seasonal decorating is an easy way to keep your front porch décor feeling fresh and festive. Add piles of pumpkins and gourds in the fall or hang an evergreen wreath for the winter. This is a smart way to create seasonal looks that last not just through the holiday, but the season itself.

8. Outdoor Living Room

A roomy front porch is just begging to be used as an outdoor living room. Apply the same rules for decorating as you would use inside.

• Use materials and finishes that can take exposure to the elements.
• Adding a patterned rug will provide extra warmth to your porch in the winter.
• Hanging curtains will help define the space, keep the porch shaded from the hot afternoon sun, and provide an extra bit of privacy from neighbors.

9. Accessorize Your Porch

You don’t want your front porch to look crowded, but adding a few thoughtfully chosen décor items can definitely make your front porch look more interesting. Antique shops and thrift stores are great places to look for interesting porch decor items, like a wooden shutter, wagon wheel, or vintage cooler. The choices for personalizing your front porch are endless!