- Claire Douglas
10 stylish & creative small front porch ideas on a budget
Updated: Jun 11
If you've been following any of my recent garden ideas posts, you'll know that I'm on a mission to improve our garden design and appeal, which have been somewhat neglected. My main focus has been on the inside of the house (namely, panelling and the DIY kitchen makeover). One of the drivers for improving the garden is to improve our curb appeal, so the front porch is also on my radar as it is looking decidedly tired.
The front porch is a space we walk in and out of sometimes several times a day, yet over the past year or so I'd failed to notice how tired and tatty it was starting to look... some flaky paint here, a bit of rust there, add in some dead plants (why am I so bad at remembering to water plants?!) and a whole bunch of weeds and you've got a less-than-inviting entrance way.
To tackle this problem area, I stood back and viewed the porch as if I were a first-time visitor and made a list of all the issues and fixes. As this is an issue for lots of people, I thought I'd share my findings. As porches vary in shape and size, not all the ideas will be relevant, but hopefully, a few will be useful for most people.
Let's take a look at small front porch ideas on a budget...
1. Fresh coat of paint on the front door
One of the easiest ways to refresh your front porch is by giving the front door a fresh coat of paint. Whether you opt for a pop of colour, which can create a welcoming front porch and enhance your home’s curb appeal, or a classic hue, a slick new paint job will freshen the look up in no time. Choose a vibrant hue that complements your home’s colour scheme.
2. Paint porch/architecture
My porch has two white metal columns that were looking decidedly off-white (aka rusty and brown). I'd put off dealing with them for the longest time, but after a burst of motivation this weekend, I sanded them down, cleaned off the dirt, and repainted them with some bargain metal paint from Amazon, and they are looking like new again.
3. Upgrade front door hardware
This is one of the best ways to make a big impact towards your goal of a beautiful front porch without spending a fortune. As we saw when replacing kitchen hardware, you can completely revitalize the look of an area with this small change. Investing in a new door knocker, letterbox, or lock is a budget-friendly way to add instant curb appeal.
4. Solar-powered garden lights
Installing outdoor lights is a simple and affordable way to add ambience to your porch space. As we saw in my post about garden pathway lighting ideas, from string lights to stake lights, there are so many options for solar-powered lights these days. You can create a warm and inviting atmosphere, making it a great place to unwind during the warmer months.
5. Painted porch slabs
This was a budget DIY project from a few years back that turned out better than expected and is a great way to elevate a front porch floor. Use a power washer on the slabs first to ensure they are clean, as this will help the paint adhesion. Use a stencil and stencil brush with masonry paint to get a high-quality finish. This project does require a lot of effort, but it saves a fortune on buying new tiles and refinishing your patio or front porch area.
6. Potted Plants or hanging baskets
Incorporate potted plants to bring a splash of colour and natural elements to your front entry area. Even small porches can benefit from the greenery, enhancing the front yard’s aesthetic. I have two lovely olive trees that were bargain finds from the supermarket. Once potted up they looked great (and a lot more expensive than they actually were).
7. Welcome mat or sign
A welcome mat and a welcome sign are easy ways to make your porch more inviting. These items can be found at discount stores and instantly boost your home’s curb appeal. This addition is easy to implement even in small front porches as everyone has space for a doormat!
8. Outdoor Furniture
Creating a compact seating area can maximize your small porch’s floor space. A small table paired with a few small chairs can create a charming seating area without overwhelming the space. If you have the space, adding furniture like a garden bench (as I did in the image above) can make a budget-friendly front porch look welcoming and like an extension of the house. Taking the indoors out and vice versa can make a huge impact when you have limited space.
9. Add trellis to the porch walls
Adding trellis either side of the door is a great way to add decorative elements that can then have trailing plants climb up them or even faux plants if you fancy a pop of colour but the area in question doesn't get the sun.
10. Clean the gutters
Cleaning the gutters isn't the most exciting of small front porch ideas on a budget but it it will help keep your porch area looking its best as well as preventing overflows and leaks. Attending to essential maintenance tasks (especially those you've been putting off!) is a great way to kick off the porch glow-up.
Small porch ideas on a budget
As you can see, when it comes to small porch ideas the key to success is attending to maintenance issues first, then enhancing the look of the area with items that suit your personal style. I love shopping at thrift stores and flea markets to get hold of high quality and unique items for a fraction of the price and then styling them with colourful plants and outdoor light fixtures.
Where next?
See below for some related blog posts that you might enjoy...
Rockery & driveway
Storage
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