Front porch ideas: tips to create a stylish and welcoming entranceway

Whether you’re adding a porch to your home or renovating an existing one, you first need to understand how much space you have to work with, and how you want it to function. Consider: 

Is your porch big enough for furniture, such as boot storage, or is there only enough room for a doormat? 

Is your porch enclosed or open to your front garden? 

Think about how you want to use your porch. If it’s enclosed, do you want to store coats and shoes there or leave your dog in there to dry off after a wet walk? If it’s open to the elements, you’ll want to ensure that it keeps you sheltered from the rain while you wait for the front door to open.  

Whether you opt for a contemporary porch with a modern front door or a more traditional look, the style of your porch should complement the architecture of your home and reflect your personal taste.  

Also, consider planning regulations that may impact the scope of your front porch design. An architect can help you understand what will and won’t be allowed. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, there may be further limits on what you can do. 

Consider the weather resistance of the materials you choose for your porch and how easy they are to maintain to avoid frequent redecorating. 

Options include: 

• Wood, for a warm and classic look 
• Aluminium or glass for a contemporary feel  

Colour plays a key role in the look and feel of your home's entrance. Choose shades that complement or contrast with the colour of your window frames and that highlight your home's architecture. 

• For a contemporary house: 
  A sage or cornflower blue front door will create a dynamic focal point on newer home. For a more sophisticated, elegant look, opt for dark hues that contrast with light coloured or concrete walls. 
• For a traditional or rustic house: 
  Deep greens and navy blues are classic front door colours that complement brick or stone facades and reinforce the traditional style of your home. 
  You can also leave the wood of your front door varnished or stained to enhance your home’s period feel. 

If you have the space, it’s nice to have a chair or bench in your porch, a place to sit to put on shoes or place bags. 

Choose a chair or bench that matches the style of your home, whether that’s rustic, contemporary or traditional. If your porch is open to the elements, choose a weather-resistant material. 

If your architecture allows, consider installing roof windows in the roof of your porch. They will bring more natural light in, reduce your need for artificial lighting and cut your energy bills. 

They will also bring more light into your hallway and link the inside of your home with the sky outside, making your whole home appear more open and spacious. 

Roof windows will bathe your porch in natural light and improve its ventilation. They instantly transform a dark and dingy porch into a warm and welcoming space. 

Your front garden should integrate with the design of your porch and help link your exterior with your interior. 

If your home's entrance gets a good amount of direct sunlight, grow sun-loving plants around it. 

Lantana, Delphinium and Verbena thrive in full sun and are resistant to drought and intense heat, dot around the entrance of your porch or, if you have an open porch, either side of your front door. 

If your front porch is mostly in the shade, choose plants that thrive in low light. 

Ferns and Hosta are shade-tolerant plants with large, decorative leaves. 

Potted plants add life to your entrance and allow you to refresh your entranceway according to the seasons. 

Pots of lavender and rosemary will add colour and a gorgeous scent.  

Climbing plants are great for adding shade and privacy to your front porch design.  

Star jasmine or clematis produce beautiful flowers and a pleasant welcoming fragrance. 

Virginia creeper is another hardy, fast-growing option that you can train around your doorway. 

Here are some bright ideas to help you choose the right lighting for your front porch design. 

There are different types of light fixtures that will brighten your entrance: 

1. Wall lights: 
   These provide general illumination and, placed either side of your front door, will add balance to your scheme.  
   For a classic-style front door, consider wall lights finished in bronze or wrought iron. 
   For a modern front door, clean-lined wall lights in contemporary materials, such as stainless steel or frosted glass, are ideal. 
2. Pendant lights: 
   Pendant lights diffuse light evenly and are ideal for a porch with a high ceiling. 
   Ensure your pendant light is proportionate to the space to avoid visual imbalance. 
3. Spotlights: 
   Use spotlights to highlight architectural details or garden features. 
   Strategically placed, they can accentuate wall textures or illuminate a specific tree by your porch for dramatic effect. 

Here are three ways to transform your home's entrance into a secure, functional and welcoming space: 

1. Balance a variety of lighting: 
   Combine soft light sources for ambience with more powerful lighting for security. For example, place soft lanterns either side of your porch and more direct pendant lighting above the door, so that you can easily see your lock on a dark night. 
2. Use dimmer units: 
   Dimmer units are useful for adjusting the intensity of your porch lighting depending on the time of day or activity. 
3. Secure the areas around your entrance: 
   Make sure the paths and driveway around your entrance are well lit to prevent accidents and enhance security, many outdoor light fixtures combine beauty and functionality. 

When choosing flooring for your home's entrance, balance aesthetics and sustainability and consider the style of your home and your local climate. 

Options include: 

Warm, natural wood adds a touch of elegance to your porch design and can be painted or stained to match your exterior decor. Wood is ideal for enclosed porches where direct exposure to rain and sun is limited. 

Apply an exterior wood varnish or stain to extend the life of your wooden floor.

Stain and scratch-resistant and available in a range of colours, patterns and textures, tiles are durable and easy to clean. They’re an ideal choice for this high-traffic area. 

If your porch is open, go for tiles suitable for outdoor use, which are resistant to water and frost.  

Here are three ways to combine decorative elements, functionality and personal touches to accessorise your porch and front door: 

Enhance your home's entrance with decorative accents that capture the attention and reflect your tastes. 

Add an interesting boot scraper or door knocker, for example. 

Go for a doormat made from a natural coir, one with the word welcome written on it or perhaps an entertaining phrase or decorative pattern. A good doormat should also let you thoroughly clean your shoes. 

Give your old furniture a makeover by transforming it for outdoor use. 

An old bench or chair can be repainted with weather-resistant paint, for example. 

When embarking on a front porch renovation, consider hiring a professional architect or garden designer. 

Here's how to find the best professionals for your project: 

For complex work, such as the construction of a new porch, choose a contractor who specialises in these spaces. 

Look for professionals with in-depth experience of the type of project you’re considering. Make sure they have good references and look at examples of their previous work. 

Ask for several quotes to compare offers and choose the contractor who offers the best value for your money. 

An interior designer or architect can add immense value to your front porch idea by ensuring that each aesthetic and functional aspect is fully considered. 

They will help you conceptualise innovative ideas that optimise your space, while respecting your budget and they can help you navigate local regulations and obtain the necessary planning permissions. 

For roof window installations, count on VELUX Certified Installers. They are trained to ensure that your roof windows fit perfectly in your porch roof, providing optimum insulation.