Your front porch is the first impression visitors have of your home, so why not make it a welcoming and comfortable space? Since it’s the first thing people see, I wanted to set the stage for my home with a warm welcome.
house number // paint color // previous owners // personal style // front stoop // exterior paint // home project // easy DIY project // door handles // door knocker
Even small front porches can add loads of curb appeal to the front of your home, but a front porch makeover doesn’t have to be costly. With a few simple updates and changing out small details you can transform your front porch into a charming and inviting space.
A LITTLE FRONT PORCH HISTORY:
Before air-conditioning came around, front porches were a highly utilized outdoor space. A covered porch was not only a transition point from the outdoors to inside, it was a perfect place for gathering in the shade.
Artichets and homeowners at the time saw the value of these spaces in fostering community, promoting social interaction, and connecting with the neighborhood. With the rise of air conditioning people started spending more time indoors and using backyards for recreation. Porches became smaller and less prominent in architectural designs.
However, front porches have regained their prominence as welcoming and functional areas, where people can relax, enjoy the outdoors, and engage with their neighbors.
Small Front Porch makeover Ideas on a Budget
Let’s dive into and discover how you can spruce up your front porch and add loads of charm to the front of the house. This blog includes plenty of fun and easy DIY projects for a front porch refresh. Feel free to do them all, or pick and choose which projects your space in need of most.
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1) Power Wash
Before you take on any other changes, it’s crucial to start with a clean slate. First step – power washing your front porch to remove dirt and grim. You may be surprised how much this simple step along can rejuvenate the home’s exterior and provide a fresh, brighter canvas for the makeover.
I used Ryobi’s 1600 PSI Power Washer and it was a breeze to figure out and use. Its light weight design was fantastic at reducing my upper body fatigue – no one warned me that power-washing was such a workout!
2) Paint the Front Door
The front door is a focal point of your home’s exterior. So what better way to start, than with a little front door makeover. Painting your front door is an easy way to refresh your space without the cost of a new entry door. Simply choose a bold color, lay down a drop cloth, grab a paint brush, and cover your entire door with your fun new front door color. With just a little effort, your door will look as striking as a new door, transforming the entrance instantly.
Its always amazing to me a fresh coat of paint can make such a BIG impact and is a great place to start for a front porch makeover. Painting the front door is always an easy update when aiming to create a more welcoming front porch. Keep it neutral or go bold for a splash of color… there are plenty of different colors to chose from.
I highly recommend Wise Owl One Hour Enamel for a front door. It dries quickly (so you can get back to having your door closed) and because it’s an enamel base you won’t have that tacky feeling like with other low quality paint. Have a yellow house? Check out my other post “Most Welcoming Front Door Colors for Yellow Houses.”
I went with a custom color of 4 parts Abyss to 1 part Jet Black which created a beautiful deep teal color. I ended up needing 2 coats of paint. In some lighting it almost looks navy. Just painting the front door has done wonders to the front of our house! But it gets better…
WISE OWL ONE HOUR ENAMEL
Wise Owl One Hour Enamel is my go to for painting furniture! It’s incredibly durable and does not require a topcoat! Like really, no topcoat.
There are plenty of “all in one paints” that claim to have a top coat in it, but none compare to OHE. I’m a big fan!
I’ve played around with lots of latex paint and they just take too long to cure for my liking. They end up feeling “sticky”.
3) Update Exterior Handle-set
The front door handle is a prominent feature of your home’s exterior. By updating it, you can enhance the overall appearance and curb appeal of your property. A new, stylish door handle can add a touch of elegance, modernity, or character, depending on your desired aesthetic.
Entry way handle sets are a great opportunity to add a statement piece to make your front entry stand out. I wasn’t finding the quality or vintage style I wanted at stores like Home Depot so I went with Nostalgic Warehouse’s Rope Rosette with C-Stip Entry Set in Antique Brass and I’m in LOVE! The rope detail on the traditional lock makes my heart sing!
4) Update or Purchase a New Mailbox
An outdated or worn-out mailbox can detract from the overall look of your front porch. When carrying out your front porch makeover consider either updating your existing mailbox with a fresh coat of spray paint or purchasing a new one that aligns with your porch’s style. I may have been a little extra in my mailbox makeover… check out my Upcycled Mailbox Makeover to Up Your Curb Appeal post to see how I did it.
5) Replace Light Fixtures
Replacing outdated or dull light fixtures with stylish and modern alternatives can instantly uplift the ambiance of your front porch. Choose fixtures that blend well with your home’s architectural style. Adding new attractive lighting or even spray painting your existing fixtures is a small change, but small changes really add up to a dramatic makeover.
6) Add Layered Welcome Mats
Layered welcome mats are a simple yet effective way to add depth and texture to your front porch. I chose a very simple welcome mat and layered it over a black and white striped outdoor rug.
The layered look frames the front door so nicely and is more of a statement that just a welcome mat alone, in my opinion. If you have the space, I say go for a full area rug! (Again.. you large front porch people… I envy you!) A new rug or mat is a must for a front porch makeover.
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7) Introduce New Furniture
Our front porch space is quite small so we had to keep the outdoor furniture simple. I went with Adirondack rocking chairs from Lue Bona (sponsored) and used a previously owned green IKEA side table for a little pop of color.
If you have room to space YOU MUST take advantage and install a porch swing. This was my dream, but space just wouldn’t allow it. I envy you all with large front porches. Providing outdoor seating on the porch will hopefully foster more front porch hangouts and spark some neighborly conversations.
7) Add Wreath & Plants
Adding a wreath to your front door and greenery to the front stoop is a simple yet charming way to make your home feel more inviting. It sets a warm, welcoming tone for guests and adds a touch of seasonal personality.
My mom bought me this adorable lemon wreath from Grandlin Road for a spring front porch refresh. It’s adorned with lemons, feels fresh and cheerful for spring, but what I love most is how easy it is to swap out for a new look as the seasons change.
Another one of my favorite finds for the front porch, also from Grandlin Road was a classic urn and faux fern insert. If you have a black thumb, like me, you know how awesome faux greenery can be! I was blown away by all their beautiful, like-like options that are designed for exterior use.
With a small front porch makeover, you can enhance the curb appeal of your home and create an inviting space. I’m so happy with the end result! Front porch curb appeal is important for so many reasons. It influences a good first impression, adds value to your property, enhances the look of the whole neighborhood and provides additional outdoor living space.
You won’t regret investing in your front porch’s curb appeal by creating an inviting and visually appealing space that you can enjoy throughout your coming and going or even more so if you had a moment for a nice cup of coffee out on the porch.
With these simple updates even our small porch now adds so much charm to the exterior of the home. These are all great budget-friendly home projects to boost your home’s curb appeal and create a cozy, new front porch space.
I’m hoping to enjoy this space much more now that it’s pretty AND functional. Sweet tea, anyone?
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Girl Behind the Blog
I’m Jess, the creator of Oak & Grain. A mid-west girl at heart who now resides in Raleigh, NC. I love finding old things and giving them new purpose by way of refinishing or incorporating unexpected, overlooked thrift store finds in the modern home. I work full-time in medicine and I love dipping into my creative side and in the process, keeping my sanity. Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see more behind the scenes action.
Keywords: front porch makeover / front porch refresh / small front porch decorations / how to increased curb appeal / front door makeover / updating front of the house / painting front door
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