Beyond a simple entryway, porches provide a brilliant first impression of a home. They bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors, offering a range of advantages that enhance both practicality and charm. From the welcoming embrace of a screened-in sunroom to the open-air grandeur of a wraparound porch, these extensions create a unique space unlike any other in the house.
Below, property and construction expert Natalie Mitchell at HomeHow.co.uk goes over all of the great benefits that come with adding a porch to your home. From the additional space to increasing kerb appeal, there are many great benefits to this type of project. Read on to find out more.
A Canvas for Kerb Appeal
The first impression a home makes is often from the kerb, and a well-designed porch sets the tone beautifully. Imagine a quaint cottage adorned with a flower-laden trellis porch or a stately Victorian residence graced by a pillared veranda.
These architectural elements add personality to your home, reflecting your taste and enhancing its overall visual appeal. The possibilities for customisation are endless, allowing you to create a porch that complements your home’s style, whether it’s a rustic farmhouse or a modern masterpiece.
The Gift of Extra Space
While not a fully-fledged room, porches offer additional space in the home and can be useful for storing things like shoes, coats, umbrellas and other things that you may need when coming in and out of the home.
Additionally, this gift of additional space can make your home more attractive to potential homebuyers. So, if you’re planning on selling your home at any point in the future, the addition of a porch could help you to gain a higher sale price.
A Shield from the Elements
Porches act as a buffer zone between your home and the outside world. During downpours, you can unload shopping bags without getting soaked or use the porch as a temporary haven while waiting for a taxi or a lift from a friend to arrive.
On scorching summer days, the porch provides a shaded refuge from the harsh sun, which can sometimes be helpful in keeping your home cooler.
A Haven for Security
An enclosed porch adds an extra layer of security to your home. With two doors separating the interior from the street, it deters potential intruders and provides an added barrier.
Additionally, some enclosed porches can have windows that allow you to see who is at your door before opening it, giving you greater control and peace of mind.
Porch Ideas
If you’re thinking about adding a porch to your home, you may be confused about which type of porch is best for you. Below is a list of some brilliant porch ideas to help inspire your decision.
Oak Framed Porch
If you have an oak framed house, an oak framed porch seems like the perfect option. However, did you know that you don’t need to have an oak framed house to take advantage of the beauty that an oak framed porch provides? Even those without oak framed houses can add some character and warmth by incorporating this beautiful timber style of a porch to their home’s entrance.
There are many different types of oak framed porches to choose from, and these all add a bit of elegant style. In many cases, these are quite easy to construct and can be relatively cheap in comparison to some other small porch styles.
Simple Overhanging Porch
If you have a modern-looking home, a simple overhang can do wonders. With this type of porch’s simplistic and minimalistic design, you can create a gorgeous contemporary entrance to your home.
Overhanging porches can be made from various materials and can come in many different colours to match the appearance of the rest of your property. Plus, due to the limited number of materials needed, this type of porch can be relatively low-cost compared to some other porch types.
Consider adding some modern porch lights to the overhang. Integrated spotlights are an excellent idea. This can help add some style to your porch during the darker hours and provide some safety elements.
Statement Porch
If you really want to have a big impact on the appearance of your home, then a unique statement porch may be the way to go. Despite the small space, think big with your ideas. You could consider creating a porch made completely out of glass. Something striking and contemporary like this can even work well in traditional homes.
A fully frameless glass porch won’t take away any of the characteristics of your existing home. Consider adding a slope to the roof which follows the same shape as your home’s roof. The more unique your porch is, the more striking and inviting it will be.
Structural Columns
For those who like the appearance of a traditional home, a porch featuring structural columns could be the best option. Columns can be made from various materials, such as wood, stone, or marble.
If you want to create a grand entrance with the small space that you have, columns can really help you achieve this. When choosing the columns, it’s important to ensure that they match well with the rest of your home.
Canopy Porch
If the front of your house is flat, you can add some element of depth by adding a canopy porch. Many new homes lack depth and may appear slightly 2D. A canopy porch can work wonders to bring your house to life and add some character.
A small timber canopy can work really well when incorporated with the same roof tiles that you have in your home. This can help it to work well with the main house. The small size of this type of porch means that no light is blocked from your main entrance.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many benefits to adding a porch to your property, from adding value to your home to adding additional space, the benefits are vast. Also, there are so many different types of porches, it’s easy to find something that suits the design and aesthetics of your home.
