A front porch adds character to any home. Whether you’re looking to add a touch of elegance or rustic charm to your custom home design or build out a renovated vision for your existing home, a front porch can add the dimension and interest you’re looking for.
Benefits of a Front Porch
Front porches have several benefits beyond looking great on your home’s exterior. Here are a few more reasons you might consider adding a front porch to your custom home design.
Entryway Protection
A front porch protects windows, doors, siding, hardware, and exterior lighting from the elements. If you live in an area that receives a lot of precipitation, it keeps the water away from the front door and threshold where it could otherwise seep in and cause damage. It will also protect you while you’re entering or leaving and any visitors waiting for you outside.
Additional Living Space
A front porch can be an extension of your living areas. It’s a great space for entertaining guests or your own household. Enjoy the nice weather while staying out of the sun, or sip some fresh air out of the rain. A front porch also keeps the rain off packages at your front door. If you aren’t there to sign for it, your package won’t be a sopping mess when you get home.
Welcoming Feature
Welcome visitors to your home with a beautiful front porch. Shelter them from weather and use this space to share conversation, stories, or even gossip. A front porch ties your custom home design together in an inviting space you and guests will love.
Front Porch Design Options
Front porches can be designed in a variety of ways to enhance your home’s appearance and add value to your property. Consider these ways to upgrade your front porch design.
Decorative Front Porch Details
Style your front porch in a way that complements your custom home design: victorian elegance, coastal cottage charm, rustic revival, or modern farmhouse. This could include decorative moldings or handrails that match the style. Handrails may be required at certain heights depending on the building codes where you live.
You can also choose from a variety of porch decking materials. Wood or composite decking might require staining and maintenance while a stone or concrete material can provide long-lasting footing with a variety of color and stamp options.
Visually Contrasting Roof
Rather than blending a porch in with your home’s design, make it stand out. Use contrasting roof materials from those of the house such as metal, copper, or wood shakes. Your porch is the focal point of your home, so draw the eye with a unique front porch design.
Front Porch Design Features
Use extra features to get the most out of your extra living space. Screen in part or all of the porch to enjoy an insect-free room, or make a three-seasons room to use throughout the majority of the year. You might add a double-sided fireplace to open onto your porch or an outdoor bar or dining area for more entertaining.
How to Add a Front Porch to Your Custom Home Design
In a new custom home design, consider the natural flow of movement. A front porch should frame the entrance to the home in a logical way where it can provide shelter for incoming and outgoing traffic. You should also factor in the common weather patterns in your area. If the wind carries up storms including rainfall, wind, hail, or snow from a similar direction, your porch can help protect the most vulnerable part of your home: the entrance.
If you’re adding a front porch to your existing home, work with an experienced builder to find the best way to incorporate the porch with your roofline to give you the most attractive and natural-looking addition to your home. Your front porch should look like it was always a part of your custom home design.
Ready to build the perfect front porch for your home? Get in touch with Konkol Custom Homes. Whether you’re starting from scratch with a brand new lot, or you’re just looking to renovate the exterior of your home with the ideal front porch design, we’re here to help. Reach out online to get started.
