15 Porch Ideas to Beautify Your Home
In the UK, porches are not just a matter of aesthetics, they also appeal to those who have an eye for sustainability and to those who desire to optimise its value as a structural resource. With porch ideas becoming increasingly popular, let’s look at what’s trending in terms of the aesthetics, design & material choices to make the best use of your porch.

Your front porch is the first thing a visitor will be enchanted with before meeting you inside your house. So, how about making them feel great and welcome them with warmth and amazement? Your porch can make that happen. All you need is a thoughtful approach and a fine taste for charming aesthetics.
In terms of facilitators, a porch design will necessitate considering factors such as porch style, material type, budget, functionality, design elements, etc. The bigger picture however is to consider the designing process as your only chance to create a lasting impact. Not only would you want to satiate the aesthetics of the porch design, but you need to also consider how useful your porch extension can be in the long run.
For example, a front porch can be a great opportunity to create a welcoming gateway, a space to sit & relax, or to adorn it with green decors. A back porch on the other hand can be utilised to leisure with family, form a dining area, and can also accommodate a storage space too.
So, taking into consideration that a porch should operate as a functional element along with being aesthetically inviting, here are 20 porch ideas that are worth considering –
1. Declutter the Front
Though this seems obvious, clearing the clutter will suddenly open a large canvas for creative ideas for your front porch. Not only will this make the front of your porch appear larger and inviting, it will also open the floodgates for functional ideas to manifest, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
2. Small Front Porches – Turn Limitations into Advantages
If the front of your porch space is small you may suddenly feel perplexed and short on ideas. Imagine a space crammed for width where you can’t even accommodate a chair for seating! This is where you have to let out your craft & creative ability –
- If there is a roof above to the sides of your front porch, consider installing swinging chairs
- Make use of the corners to fit in a small chair & table arrangement just beside the railings
- Install planters at both sides of the doorway such that the view is not obstructed from inside to the outside. You can also think of hanging planters or pots. All this if done in a symmetry will enhance the appeal of your front porch
- Add vintage outdoor wall lights on either side of the door entrance especially when you have a small front porch. This will intensify the ambience even more
- Consider a tiny garden on either side of the pathway with room to walk and water the plants
When it comes to porch ideas, an open porch is always a popular choice as they seamlessly connect the outdoors to the indoors. They immediately appeal to the aesthetic eyes whilst offering unhindered views and facilitate free flow of natural air, ventilation, and light inside the house.
4. Nothing Like an Enclosed Porch
An enclosed porch can be quite unique for its ability to offer the experience of outdoors at the comfort of an indoor space. Perhaps, the greatest benefit of an enclosed porch is that extra space that can be turned into any utility, like a kids’ play area, a boot room or any storage space.
Additionally, an enclosed porch can be utilised any time of the year regardless of the weather. So, you can enjoy the sunlight, a snowfall or that rain drizzle still being inside and experience it like being outside.
More so, one can also install a heating or cooling system and accommodate temperature regulation mechanisms according to the weather.
5. Replicate the Colour of Your Front Door
This one stands out among the many porch ideas. Matching the colour of your porch with that of the front door of your house will unveil a different magic. The trick is to use brighter & bolder shades for both your porch and the front door of your house. Avoid black or brown, and go for yellow, red (light & bright), blue etc.
6. Drape your Porch
One of the most underrated porch ideas is to drape it. Considering adding a drape to your porch entrance is not only welcoming to the visitors but it also appeals to the romantic. The drape also can be used to secure your privacy. Such an element works well both for an open and an enclosed porch too.
7. Consider Installing a Small Gate
Though this might sound odd, but installing a tiny gate along the pathway leading to your porch entrance helps with securing toddlers and pets. Look for an iron gate and you well put a series of railings leading till the gate to make it more secure. Don’t worry about the beauty of the porch, such additions will not spoil the aesthetics of your porch but rather adds to it.
8. How About a Bird Feeder?
A bird feeder right the side of the porch entrance adds more grace and serenity to your place. Imagine sitting outside your porch and relishing the chirp and charm of lovely birds flocking every day.
9. Decorate your Front Porch with Vegetation
Irrespective of whether you have an open or an enclosed porch, try adding greenery and some flower charm on either side of the entrance. Not only are you allowing beauty and romance to adorn your home, but you are also letting in some clean and fresh air.
10. Make it Minimalistic
Not all porch ideas need to be decorative. If you aren’t a fan of grandeur and extravagant decoration, a minimalistic feature at the front will always win only when opt for a certain symmetry. Yes, just make sure the doors, the windows, pillars are in the right configuration. If it is, then don’t worry about breaking your head on adding extra elements, the beauty of the porch will speak for itself.
11. Design an Exposed Brick or Stone
Exposed bricks or stones with an industrial retro glass wall light outside the porch entrance is vintage at its best. Try incorporating this if you are building a new porch from scratch; such porch ideas go a long way.
12. Connect Your Porch to Your Garden
The best way to do this is to convert your brick/concrete walls into glass panes to gaze at the garden. This provides an immediate connection from your inside to the outside. Add a spot for a sprinkler or a hose reel for gardens by the side of the porch walls. Keep a small space within the porch for a garden tool kit underneath.
13. Accommodate a Water Body
Why not? If you are a nature enthusiast, create a small pond-like water body in the low-lying area beside the porch entrance. Make water flow and make use of accessories such as pond liners which can mimic the look of a natural stream.
14. Make it Gorgeous
Imagine this, a brick-walled porch with monochromatic colours for the doors, windows, and the pathways including the steps. Add a couple of potted plants on either side and a retro wall light. See the magic!
15. Modernise It
If you are for modernity, then use black and dark colours. Apart from hinting on the new wave, they look elegant to say the least. Install lanterns either in contrast to the black colour or of the same colour, and spare space for a table & chair arrangement with some greenery. A perfect setting for the modern era.
Conclusion:
When exploring porch ideas, you don’t need to spend a fortune to incorporate functional and aesthetic elements. All you need to do is to plan your space and not to pile up. Keep it simple, yet creative!
Hungry for more porch ideas? Contact our experts at Extension Architecture.