14 Front Porch Decorating Ideas For An Inviting Entry

Create A Cozy Seating Area

Even when the shades are drawn and the lights are dimmed, a well-appointed front porch will help make your home look inviting. If you only have room on your porch for rocking chairs or a bench, that'll do it. Add some cushions and a side table to bolster the effect. If you have more space, create a cozy seating area centered around a rug that can accommodate a handful of your closest friends. As true with interior design, a well-layered outdoor space looks lived-in and way more attractive than something stark and bare.

Let There Be Light

Ensure your outdoor living room has enough light to enjoy the space after the sun has set, but steer clear of light bulbs that are too bright. String bulb or twinkle lights along the inside of your porch ceiling (so they aren't visible from the street), or add sconces or hanging lanterns that match your front door. Bring some large, sturdy table lamps outside to reinforce the outdoor room feel or table-top lanterns make for excellent porch decor and protect your candles from the elements.

Plant Plenty Of Pots

While in some cases less is more, when it comes to brimming container gardens, there's no such thing as too many porch plants. Having plants on your front porch reinforces the signs of an active home. Add lots of colors with the plants or pots they're in. For a more minimalist look, stick with a monochrome palette with green plants and neutral planters. Place large pots or smaller groupings all around—on the stairs, by the front door, or scattered around the porch.

Think outside the standard flower pot box too. You can also add trees for height or place smaller pots on a bench or table to make them more visible. Window boxes can be a great addition if you have smaller front-facing windows (and will be much more convenient to maintain). Of course, hanging ferns or flower pots is a classic Southern porch look that'll never go out of style.

Focus On The Front Door

No matter how great of a seating area you set up on either side of your front porch, ensure your front door remains the focal point. That is what most people see when passing by, after all. Consider adding planters to flank the front door (if your door is in a corner, stagger planters out to the open side of the door), creating a funnel towards it. If your porch is on the darker side, or there's not enough contrast between the door and exterior paint, add a pop of color by changing the door paint color. You can also paint the trim around the door a different color. And, of course, remember a fun doormat.

Maintain The Lawn

Before stepping onto your front porch, the walkway and greenery can also impact a home's curb apparel. Maintaining the grass and planting flowers or bushes can help frame your front porch and house.

You can also try some low-maintenance lawn care by planting specific types of grass, adding a fence, and using garden stones for decor. There are also such things as low-maintenance plants. Adding a few around the front of your home is a great way to inject some liveliness into your yard.

Give Height With Evergreen Plants

As Southerners, we fall head-over-heels for colorful and seasonal container gardens, but a beautiful evergreen shrub or potted tree is another great way to elevate your porch year-round. Use green plants, like topiaries, potted boxwoods, or other structured greenery, to add height and interest to your entryway.

Add A Rocking Chair

There's nothing more traditionally Southern than rocking chairs or wicker furniture on a front porch. Combine the two, like these green wicker rocking chairs, and you'll have an iconic and inviting Southern porch where everyone will want to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of iced tea.

Hang Stylish Street Numbers

Pretty street numbers are a great way to distinguish your house and add a creative flair. More than just the numbers listed on your mailing address, these numbers represent your home and your family who lives there. Have fun with new or antique brass or iron, large wooden numbers, or paint them to match your house.

Upgrade Your Doormat

Just as with the interior of a home, layers make all the difference in taking a space from ho-hum to eye-catching, the same goes for the front porch. Think high and low. A welcome mat not only anchors the entry and provides service for guest to wipe off their shoes, but also adds interest in a similar way a runner does in a hallway.

Paint The Flooring

While designers recommend avoiding darker shades, paint is a great (and relatively inexpensive) way to transform any space, including the entryway. From splashing the front door in a punchy hue to coating the ceiling with a haint blue, the just-right painted floor is sure to create a warm welcome.

Flank The Door With Shutters

The architecture of a home often dictates the exterior features it needs. And shutters are one of the first accents (which are also functional) that are typically added; however, there are other ways to incorporate them beyond the windows. Consider adding shutters on either side of the doorway (use curved designs for arched entryways) as a detail that stands out.

Train Climbing Vines

Looking for a more nature-inspired approach to dressing up your front porch? Take a cue from artist Dorothy Shain Henderson's bungalow and train climbing vines. Here, she used evergreen clematis vines to frame the freshly painted white columns.

Display Seasonal Decor

Think about the holidays throughout the year when planning your front porch decor. Find seasonal accessories that compliment your home's exterior. Christmas might be the most memorable time of the year for outdoor decorations, but you can also create an inviting fall porch with pumpkins and mums or welcoming spring entry with colorful blooming containers.

Rethink The Hardware

One thing you may never think to update is the doorbell. Despite hearing it ring every time a new package is delivered, the doorbell gets little attention regarding renovations. Add some personalization to your front door by changing the hardware, including the doorbell. You can make it look modern to correspond with your newly painted front door or search for vintage-looking hardware to make your front porch distinctive.