The front porch of your home is nothing if not welcoming. Since it’s the first place your guests pass through, you want to make sure that it gives warm and lovely vibes and creates a great first impression of your house. If you’re settling in a new home, it is much easier to decorate your porch as you start with a clean slate. However, it is also pretty satisfying to spruce up and update your porch, even if you’ve been living in the house for a long time. Either way, you don’t have to worry! If you’re looking to update your porch, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a list of welcoming porch essentials that can help you create a lovely and attractive space that you and your guests can’t get enough of.
1. Rug and Doormat
Let’s start with the basics. Can you picture a front porch without a doormat? No, right? A doormat is one of the most practical and aesthetically appealing additions to make to your front porch.
If you feel like your doormat appears tired and weary, investing in a new one can help you immediately transform the drab aesthetics of your porch. In case you don’t have a doormat, you should invest in one as soon as possible. Either way, making an addition as simple as swapping or adding a doormat will instantly perk up your porch.
If your front is spacious enough, only a doormat won’t suffice; you will need to add something more. Enter rugs. A rug is probably one of the warmest and most welcoming accessories to add to any area, including your front porch. Adding a lovely patterned rug that goes with the color scheme to your porch’s seating area is also an excellent idea for a more improved appeal.
2. Outdoor Chairs, Swing, or a Park Bench
Nothing says welcome, like a cozy seating area. If you have enough front porch space, why not utilize it to create a lovely seating area? If your porch is truly tiny, a single chair should suffice. However, if you have enough space, consider adding a pair of outdoor chairs, a park bench, or even a swing.
If you’re planning to keep a pair of chairs, make sure to position them in a conversational style. A park bench is a great option if you’re looking for a more rustic and nature-friendly appeal. Additionally, if you’re trying to create a more relaxing area, then a swing for two will do the trick!
3. Plants in the Landscape
Although they’re not on the porch itself, the plants incorporated in the landscape leading towards your front door can play a huge role in how your porch looks and feels. The way leading towards the porch is also an important part of your curb appeal and can influence the impression your porch creates. Spotting colorful plantings when entering your gate can make your guests feel pretty happy and welcomed. Moreover, plants in the landscape also provide privacy for those sitting on the porch.
Read Also: 9 Ways to Spruce up Your Front Porch
4. An Interesting Colored Door
Your home’s front door is a part of the porch, and making even the slightest changes to it can help improve the overall appearance of your space. A freshly painted door with an interesting color that blends perfectly with the color scheme of your porch and your home interior is the perfect way to get people talking!
Adding a pop of color to your front door by painting it red, blue, yellow, or any other bright color can make it considerably more attractive and appealing. There’s nothing a fresh coat of paint and upgraded accessories can’t do to change up a boring door.
5. Colorful Planters
Planting flowers and plants in your landscape isn’t the only way to add a touch of nature to your porch. You can actually set up green plants, such as fern, and beautiful flowers, such as magnolia or dahlias, in some lovely-colored planters. Arranging colorful planters on your front porch can give it a healthy and lush appearance.
The only thing you need to beware of is choosing the size of your planters and pots wisely. Make sure that your flower pots suit the size of your porch; otherwise, it could become a mess. For a spacious porch, large potted plants can serve quite great. However, the same doesn’t apply to smaller porches. If you don’t have much space on your porch, tall and narrow pots are your best bet.
6. A Fan
Is the climate where you live too hot to handle? Are bugs a common problem in the area? If you face either one or both of the aforementioned issues, you should consider investing in a porch fan. Luckily, there are several ways to go about this. You can either install a ceiling fan that will remain in place until you decide to remove it, or you can invest in a portable stand or tabletop fan if you want to reserve your ceiling space for a lighting fixture or other décor.
7. A Coffee Table
If your available front porch space allows, it may be an excellent idea to set up an outdoor coffee table. Once you’ve set up your outdoor chairs, complete your outdoor sitting area with a sleek and petite coffee table. After all, you will eventually need a surface to set down your drink or book, especially if you like sipping your morning or evening coffee out in the open. In case your porch is too small for a coffee table, consider investing in a double-duty garden stool.
The Bottom Line
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is neglecting their porch while focusing their energy and resources on the rest of the home. The truth is that the front porch is a critical part of your home’s appearance. Since it’s the first thing visitors notice when they visit your home, a run-down or drab appearance can impact their first impression negatively. A well-kept porch, on the other hand, can be an excellent way to improve your curb appeal and allow your guests to enjoy their visit. We hope that our list of porch essentials can help you create a welcoming space!
