1. Clear the Clutter
Front porches often become a catch-all for gardening supplies, hoses, lawn ornaments, toys, and sporting equipment. Not only is all that clutter unattractive, it can be difficult to maneuver around and potential visitors may think twice about knocking on your door. Move everything into the garage or shed to open up the space and create room for more appealing items.
2. Add Lighting
Bright outdoor lights let everyone know that friendly people are inside and that intruders are not welcome. A pair of lamps on either side of your front door are a simple way to add light to an otherwise shadowy area. Or, if you have an enclosed entryway, a ceiling fixture will spread the light around. You can also add solar lamps along your front walkway to lead the way to your front door in the evening hours.
3. Make Small Repairs
Peeling paint, sagging gutters, and torn screens are a sign that you're not that interested in what others think of you or your home. Taking a weekend to fix up your front porch will make your home look new again and create an inviting entryway that the neighbors will envy. If there's money left in the budget, add new house numbers, door hardware, or a new mailbox to freshen up the space.
4. Dress Up the Walkway
An inviting walkway will draw the eyes of your visitors right up to your front door, and hopefully their feet will follow. Freshen up mulch or crushed stone walkways with a few new bags of material and scrub up concrete or stone walkways to give them new life. Then, plant low-growing shrubs or flowers to line the path and give guests the red-carpet treatment.
5. Add a Focal Point
Now that you have your front porch cleared out, scrubbed down, and fixed up, and your walkway is leading visitors to the porch, it's time to give them something interesting to look at that when they get there. Add something that speaks to your personal style and have fun. Think about a rocking chair, an old-fashioned bicycle, a cozy bench and table for lemonade, or an old milk crate with seasonal decorations.
6. Container Gardens: The Final Touch
Adding a few container gardens are the perfect finishing touch for creating a welcoming front porch. For the easiest low-maintenance options, plant perennial flowers and greens that will come back year after year with little intervention. Or, plant seasonal annuals that you can change with the seasons: delicate blooms for spring, hearty greens for summer, and orange and yellow mums for the fall.
Creating a welcoming front porch may seem like a lot of hard work, but it will pay off in the end. Your entryway will be the envy of the neighborhood and your guests and visitors will be eager to come to your home to enjoy all of the effort you've put in to make them feel welcome.
