30+ HGTV-Approved Front Porch Ideas that Welcome You Home
Create a warm space that welcomes the neighbors and guests alike with these front porch ideas.

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A Front Porch Says 'Welcome'
The kitchen may be where family and guests tend to gather in the home, but the front porch welcomes visitors and makes a statement within the neighborhood. It also makes the first (and sometimes only) impression on passersby.
If a front porch is the face of the home, this front porch surely must express friendliness and hospitality with wide brick steps and rocking chairs that add to its appealing country style.
Whether your porch is a small entry area or a roomy wrap-around, you can create style, curb appeal and comfort in your home's welcome center. See the following front porch ideas for giving your home a friendly face.
See More Photos: 10 Things to Put on Your Front Porch
1. Welcome With a Bright Front Door
Bright front doors are the perfect way to brighten up a neutral home.
Also See: 59 Inviting Colors to Paint a Front Door
2. Stand Out With Color
Stand out from the rest of the homes on your block by painting your front door an unexpected shade. This pink Craftsman-style door stands in striking contrast to the dark red brick of the home, while the floor features a repeated stencil pattern.
3. Choose Doors for Function and Style
Consider the style of your door when designing your front porch. French doors, for example, invite light into the home's entryway and add to the welcoming personality of a front porch.
4. Use Color as a Statement
This front porch features a Dutch-style front door in navy blue, complemented by sconces and planters in a matching hue.
5. Accessorize with House Numbers
This house number planter box makes the perfect addition to any front porch.
MAKE IT: How to Make a Wall-Hanging Planter Box With House Numbers
6. DIY Your House Number
This front porch gets points for the creative use of old dishes to identify the house number.
Also See: 38 Chic Ways to Display House Numbers
7. Offer Seating for Everyone
Colonial Revival architectural details like columns and graceful railings make this porch stand out, as does the plentiful red seating.
8. Add Style with Railings
Railings play a key role in the overall look of your porch. Think about how you want to capture a view and research local building codes if you plan to add railings to your porch. This open front porch is the perfect place for catching cool evening breezes.
9. Frame With a Custom Railing
The clean lines of this cedar and steel cable porch railing creates contemporary curb appeal.
See More Photos: 30 Porch Railing Design Ideas
10. Add Charm With Your Railing
The palm tree detail on the porch railing of this coastal home adds a touch of whimsy to the home's entrance.
11. Choose a Bold Railing
The bold pattern of this railing complements the stencil pattern of the stoop as well as the color choices for the door and stucco.
12. Plan for Privacy
This charming front porch with curtains for privacy invites you to come sit awhile on the porch swing.
13. Create Privacy, Naturally
A wood slat wall on this porch adds a modern texture and provides a natural surface for plants and vines to climb. Creating a natural privacy wall with potted plants is a simple, sleek addition to a front porch that can grow with the home over time.
Also See: 15 Perennial Vines
14. Stir Up a Breeze
Often used as both a decorative and functional feature, ceiling fans are popular on front porches.
15. Hang a Swing
A hanging swing is perfect for enjoying summer afternoons under a ceiling fan — or two in this case.
16. Add Flexibility With a Screen
Screens allow you to use your porch more often and make it better suited for more activities.
17. Or, Have it Both Ways
This front porch as seen on Home Town features an open area to the left of the front door while a screened-in section of front porch to the right of the front door offers opportunities for bug-free relaxation.
18. Extend Porch Season
This cozy front porch has a built-in ceiling heater for comfortable socializing on cool evenings when views can be enjoyed from a loveseat that fits perfectly on the end of the porch.
19. Just Add Wicker
A single white wicker chair provides a comfy spot for relaxing on this clasic front porch.
20. ... Or a Few Rocking Chairs
These classic white rocking chairs allow relaxing people-watching from the front porch.
21. Go With a Classic Combo
This Asheville, North Carolina, home features a classic comfort combo: a front porch and rocking chairs.
22. Bring the Color
Stained glass windows line this porch, and the blue front door picks up their moody shades.
23. Use Colors for Contrast
The bold red of the door provides appealing contrast to the neutral brick exterior and stone walkway that leads to this small front porch.
24. Offer a Preview of What's Inside
The ceiling of the front porch was painted aqua to provide contrast to the home's deep charcoal gray exterior and give guests or passersby a preview of the strong use of color inside the home.
25. Don't Forget the Floor
This front porch feels classic and timeless with its brick floor and dark wood ceiling.
26. Style the Floor With Tile
This front porch gets a graceful contemporary nudge from its graphic tile floor, along with the striped pillows and woven chairs.
27. Add Curb Appeal With Lighting
This home's thoughtful lighting brings it curb appeal even at night. Shadowing adds to the drama and the warmth of the front porch.
28. Don't Forget the Porch Jewelry
A row of pendant lights perfectly match the Colonial farmhouse style of this front porch.
The Best Outdoor Lighting for Every Style
29. Complete the Look With Lighting
A pendant light serves as a nice accent to this Colonial home's front porch.
30. Add Texture With Lighting
Moroccan-style pendant lights cast gorgeous light shapes over the ceiling of this covered front porch. The lights create a unique finish over the texture of the wood roof and brick walls.
32. Create an Inviting Glow
Low-voltage lighting gives off an inviting glow from this front porch and makes the texture of the landscaping elements even more dramatic.
33. Light a Pathway
The brick path leading up to the blue door welcomes guests inside with gardens and subtle lighting.
34. Add Hanging Plants
Even a front porch as stunningly beautiful as this one can be dressed up with some well-placed plants.
35. Create Balance
With identical light fixtures and planters on either side of the door, this front porch exudes symmetry and balance.