For some homeowners, the front porch of a home is the ultimate location for socializing and enjoying the company of neighbors. For others, it is a place to relax and watch the world go by. While the front porch can have many functions, it will always be a space for homeowners to decorate and design to fit their style. Here are several tips and tricks to create a front porch that perfectly fits your style.
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Freshen up Your Front Door
Nothing says welcome home quite as well as a freshly painted front door. From bold red to subtle shades of blue, a freshly painted front door adds an inviting pop of color to any home. Other popular front door colors that will make your front porch look inviting are green and even bright yellow. To really highlight your front door you can add freshly manicured topiaries on either side of the door. These can be as large or as small as you see fit for your front porch area. In addition to a couple of well-placed topiaries, an evergreen wreath will add even more color to your front porch. These are easy to hang and you can add or remove seasonal pieces throughout the year.
Make it Cozy
Front porches are made for sitting. Whether you opt for chairs, small outdoor sofas, or a front porch swing, make sure the seating is comfortable. The most common chairs that homeowners add to their front porch are Adirondack chairs. These classic seats come in a variety of materials and colors. Another common seating arrangement is a pair of rocking chairs. Again, these can be wood or metal as long as they are comfortable. For an added layer of comfort, search for chair cushions and matching throw pillows that can add little pops of color to your front porch. Finally, a front porch swing is always a hit for those looking for comfort and classic appeal.
Keep it Bright
Though the dark dreary days of winter will soon be gone and the bright glow of summer will last long into the evening, your front porch will need a source of light if you want to use it at night. While your standard overhead front porch light will be enough to illuminate the area directly in front of your front door, you may need to add additional light to really make your front porch shine. Not only are lights important for illuminating your perfectly placed decor, they are also a safety feature. Outdoor lights can illuminate walkways, driveways, and hard-to-see areas where you or guests could stumble and fall. Luckily, adding outdoor lighting is as easy as a trip to the hardware store. Solar-powered LED lights come in a range of shapes, sizes, and lumens. Pathway lights can be pushed into the ground around walkways while larger stairway lights can be placed on banisters. Even bright lights, such as solar-powered spotlights are great to illuminate accent areas. These can be placed around your garage door or even in the ground in front of your home. Finally, solar-powered lanterns are great additions to a cozy front porch as they can be hung or placed around the perimeter of the front porch, creating a warm glow for you and your guests.
Add Living Color
No front porch is complete without a few well-placed accent pieces. Easy additions that require very little care are perennial planters. These shrubs or flowers require very little care besides the occasional pruning but provide color all year round. Ferns, hostas, and begonias are common front porch additions. If your front porch has ample landscaping around it you can add even more in-ground perennials such as marigolds, petunias, and lavender. Of course, you should mulch around these plants to add an additional layer of color to really contrast the beautiful flower colors and also increase your home’s curb appeal.
No matter how you choose to decorate your front porch you should make sure it fits your style and your entertaining needs. With just a few well-placed outdoor furniture pieces and a few stylish accents, you can make your front porch a cozy and inviting area.