122 Amazing Small Porch Ideas

They say, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.” Like a person, the front porch is a house giving its first impression. The front porch can pop, dazzle, and stun even with a small space. The ideal front porch has several styles and options, from contemporary to Craftsman, and allows you to go with several different color schemes. Sometimes it can be all too much deciding how to design and decorate your porch, so we’ve compiled the best small front porch ideas to help you create the perfect front porch. Read on and bring your front porch to life with a vibrant door, modern swing, or rustic furniture.

1. Contemporary 

In many ways, contemporary designs reflect the popular styles of the time, meaning contemporary styles are constantly changing. They borrow from various styles and designs, including art deco, futurism, and deconstructivism. The furniture for this type of porch features curves with contrasting color palettes focusing on black and white. Contemporary porches often have decorative pieces that highlight the decor, such as outdoor settings or potted plants. 

2. Craftsman

Simplicity is the key to the craftsman porch design. Instead of relying on mass-produced homes and porches, the craftsman style focuses on individuality, local natural materials, hand-crafted construction, and simplicity. A trademark of the craftsman house is wide porches, low-pitched roofs, and exposed beams. There are four main styles of craftsman homes: prairie style, mission style, four-square style, and bungalow style. Each style uses a variation of the porch designs mentioned. 

3. Deck

The deck is often a feature of the backyard. However, it’s also starting to become a hugely popular front porch design. The small coastal front deck gives the front porch a quaint feel while making the most of a small space. The front deck can create an open space where you can add a swing or patio furniture. A small deck with roof extensions provides more than enough seating without obstructing the entry. Most front decks include a cover to protect against bad weather. 

4. Enclosed Porch

An enclosed porch turns a small space into an elegant, spacious, welcoming, and stylish area. It works with limited space as an entry providing covering from lousy weather. With slightly more space, it can include a seating area and a decorative rug. An enclosed porch opens up the area with a stylish design and uniqueness. 

5. Farmhouse

Farmhouses and their porches aren’t limited to one style. They can combine a rustic and timeless feel with contemporary, modern, or craftsman styles. Many farmhouses opt for a craftsman style with added modern appeal. More than any other style, simplicity is the main theme of the farmhouse style. It’s ideal for a small space and entry. 

6. Front Door

Nowadays the front door isn’t just an entry into the house. The front porch is seen as the appetizer, with the front door leading the way to the main course. It’s a big part of your porch decor that can give a glimpse into your personality.

A great way to spruce up a small porch is with decorative pieces and fake plants. It won’t break the bank or clutter the doorway. During the holiday season, front-door decorations and ornaments are commonplace. Welcome mats are the simplest way to turn an ordinary small space into an inviting front porch. 

7. Low-Cost Styling 

Low-cost styling is ideal for a small space. It doesn’t require millions of dollars to pull off the perfect porch. All it takes is a few items to transform the small porch into an inviting and stunning area. Add a coffee table with some seating to make the front porch the coolest hangout spot in the house. If that’s not feasible, a throw blanket and cushions can spruce up the area with minimal flair. Other options include a small coffee table, potted plants, faux flowers, and other decor items. 

8. Modern 

Scandinavian designs heavily influence modern architecture, focusing on a simple layout with practical furniture. The modern style first appeared in the late 1800s, reinventing itself with each decade. Unlike contemporary, modern styles utilizes functional decor over decorative pieces. It’s perfect for a small porch since the colors are neutral with solid lines, adapting to the latest trends. 

9. Porch Swing 

The porch swing could be the missing piece that ties your front porch together. The best part is a porch swing won’t break the bank. It’s the perfect do-it-yourself project. A simple and basic porch swing requires a few 2x4s and some paint. Then there are the creative porch swings for smaller spaces that are easier to build and will cost even less.

For example, hammock swings are easy to make, inexpensive, and require little space. A pallet swing is another affordable and creative front porch swing idea. If you feel game, add a potted plant or two. It will help the outdoor space look that much bigger. 

10. Rustic

Rustic is another approach that focuses on simplicity and affordability. Potted plants and a simple throw rug can easily give any front porch a rustic feel. Reusing furniture is a staple of the rustic look. Head to your local flea market and pick up some old-timey outdoor furniture that will tie the porch together.

A repurposed coffee table with some repainted chairs will cost nothing but look like a million bucks. An old bench makes for a perfect porch swing, or an old rocking chair will fit perfectly on the porch. A rustic birdcage and windchimes will bring the porch together, as will layered rugs on the porch floor. The options are almost unlimited. 

11. Seasonal Decor

Throughout the year, seasonal decor can easily turn your front door and porch into a festive site for all to admire. It won’t even take a lot to spruce the area up. Paint the front door black in the fall and winter to let Halloween decorations pop. That classic Halloween orange stands out against the black background. The same goes for Christmas wreaths, ornaments, and other decor. For the spring and summer months, paint the door with a warm color to highlight the lanterns and potted plants. Easter wreaths pop with bright colors and make the best door decoration. Each season has a different wreath that makes for great decor. 

12. Seating 

Wicker and wood seating furniture is ideal for any front porch. These items bring a warm, nostalgic, and welcoming feel. A rocking chair with a natural finish contrasts with a wicker chair featuring a bright pillow. Even in a small space, a tiny seating area can spruce up the front porch with elegance and charm. Additionally, a wicker pair of chairs with wicker cushions, blankets, and a wicker basket with flowers will make your front porch the talk of the neighborhood. Anyone approaching the house will be impressed by what they see. 

13. Tiles

Exposed tiles and brick are one of the easiest ways to open up a small porch and make it appear bigger. This type of style goes perfectly with rustic decor and wicker furniture. In addition, paint the railings white and add a light fixture by stringing light bulbs around the beams to give the illusion of more open space. A sweet throw rug with stacked potted plants in the corner will add charm to the front porch. 

14. Timber Porch 

Timber front porches allow the homeowner to adapt various types, including modern, craftsman, and contemporary. With timber front porches, the ideas are limitless. Depending on space and price, each style has several options, including sunrooms, wraparound porches, screened-in porches, verandas, and open porches.

A small timber porch goes excellent with rustic decor, wicker furniture, or a DIY swing that used to be a bench. Potted plants, throw blankets, and pillows can make it an inviting porch. At the same time, a timber front porch goes nicely with minimal furniture and decor. It’s the ideal porch for someone looking to save while highlighting their strengths.

15. Tiny 

It might feel like there isn’t much to work with regarding a tiny front porch. Well, limited space shouldn’t get in the way of you creating the sweetest tiny front porch in your neighborhood. A great place to start is with the door. Paint the door a bright color like pink to make it pop. Get two benches for each side of the door to give the illusion of more space. Trust us, they won’t get in the way, with the seating making the tiny porch seem bigger. A small swing with two wicker chairs and a small coffee table adds charm to a tiny porch also.

16. Vaulted Porch Ceiling

Vaulted porch ceilings make a small space feel like a grand front porch. The texture and designs give the illusion of more space, drawing the eye up. Vaulted ceilings work nicely with timber porches, rustic style, and modern. It’s perfect for a small space with a swing, chairs, and a coffee table. It helps turn a tiny porch with limited space into a stunning entrance. Vaulted ceilings with potted plants, rustic decor, and wicker furniture are great ways to turn the front porch into a masterpiece.