Before renovating your front porch, decide what you want to accomplish. Your porch’s appearance and its intended purpose are important considerations you have to look for beforehand. Make sure the porch usage should be maximized, and the entire look of the porch should complement the rest of your property. Read to know more about the things to consider before starting your front porch renovation.
Questions to Ask Before Starting Your Front Porch Renovation
Consider the following questions before designing the porch of your dreams:
· Do You Have Any Specific Plans for the Porch?
If you know the answer to this question, you can better gauge the depth and length of your porch. A porch with a cafe table and two chairs needs a different space than a porch for eating and entertaining. Porches need to have enough space for people to move around; think of them as mini-houses with a foundation, roof, and walls.
· When Will You Start Using Your Porch?
You can add a fireplace, a ceiling fan, mosquito screens, and insulation in the ceiling, depending on the location of your house. Renovate your porch in a way that it can endure the extremities of every season. Along with the aesthetics, make sure to make it as useful as possible.
· Is Your Porch Accessible to Everyone?
Think about how to go from your porch to the rest of your house and how to keep traffic flowing smoothly. Your home can benefit from natural light via a large patio or French doors that go out onto the side and back porches. Make sure that every family member can have their fair share of time to unwind on the porch. Make it accessible for everyone.
· Do You Want to Use Your Porch for Entertainment?
It’s up to you whether or not you want your front porch for entertainment. If you have the space on your porch, establish separate sitting and dining areas to serve as a secluded spot for guests. An indoor/outdoor rug and all-weather chairs provide a comfortable place for guests to relax while sipping cocktails. You can also add cushions and pillows to the table and chairs to make the area more inviting.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to entertain your guests on your porch and are willing to take them directly into the dining room, keep the setting of your porch as minimal as possible. Make it an inviting space that offers a warm entrance into your home. Only work on the aesthetics.
Read Also: Essentials to Create a Welcoming Front Porch
Things to Consider for the Design of Your Porch
Before starting your front porch renovation, one of the most important questions is what to do with the space available? The porch that most people picture sits in front of their house and frames their entrance. You don’t have to have a porch in front of your house to enjoy one. Whether on the side, or the rear, a porch can act as a buffer between your house and the outside. It wraps around the front and side of your home to provide you more usable area outside.
Once you have established the uses for your front porch, consider the following things:
1. Style
The style of your porch should match the rest of your home. A sleek concrete porch complements the style of a modern home. Adding a wooden porch with period-appropriate trims and railings can bring out the best in a Victorian or Craftsmen homes detailing. The attractiveness of a Mediterranean-style home can be enhanced by using sturdy columns, pillars, and tile flooring.
2. Size
The size of the porch is a significant issue. You should stand with ease on even the tiniest porch, especially near any door. Porches need to be at least several feet deep if you want to use them as an entryway or a platform for displaying container plants.
Read Also: 9 Ways to Spruce up Your Front Porch
3. Structure of the Roof
A porch roof’s ceiling is another key design component to consider. Shallow rooflines are common on most porches. They don’t create a vague image on the home’s facade. If you like, you can even raise the ceiling to the rafters.
Vinyl, wood, or fiber-cement siding is commonly used to complete the bottom of the porch’s roof. If you expect to spend a significant period of time on the porch, you can add design elements like beams to give it a more personalized and intricate look.
4. Design
You should also think about the design of the roof’s support columns. Metal and wood are the most common materials for basic posts. You can jazz up the posts to make them stand out even more from the rest of the design.
There are various ways to make a post thicker, such as using wood or wrapping them in plaster or stone. You can add more weight by using pillars and columns, which go well with various design styles. If you want rustic or craftsman styling, you can achieve it by combining wood with brick.
5. Feel
You also need to consider the feel of your porch because having the right feel is essential. Otherwise, the porch might appear damp and unwelcoming. Adding half walls to a porch gives it a more enclosed feel. You can use them for both your sun and screened-in porches. Along the roofline, beams or between posts, you can use a decorative trim that can lend architectural flair to your porch’s design.
6. Railings and Steps
If your porch is higher than a few steps above the ground, you need steps or a small staircase. Adding railings to a porch helps define the space and provides a degree of protection.
Wood, metal, and vinyl are the most common materials used for handrails. You can provide a more modern appearance by using tempered glass panels. These panels also act as a windbreak. To create a more modern look, you can go for cable railings.
7. Comfort
You should also consider those features that aren’t included by default. With ceiling fans, heaters, lighting, and curtains, you can give a comfortable vibe to your porch. You can also add a fireplace or television for a more elaborate choice.
Final Words
And we have discussed all the questions you need to ask and everything to consider before starting your front porch renovation. Incorporate these into your porch. Happy decorating!
