Fantastic Porch Ideas from the Road

Spring Porches of Franklin Tennessee

See Franklin TN's spring porches

Franklin Tennessee is a quaint southern town whose porches come to life in the spring.

Walking the brick lined streets and taking in the sights of beautiful dogwoods and azaleas was sure fun. And we got a myriad of porch ideas too!

See our photos spring porch pictures from lovely Franklin Tennessee.

Fredericksburg, Texas

You won't be disappointed when you visit this Texas Hill Country town. Plenty of fabulous front porches, lots of history, and that good all Texas hospitality.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Mary and I enjoyed a few days with our friends from Vintage Woodworks and toured this wonderful community There was a wonderful porch in every direction in Fredericksburg; we won't tell you how many photos we took - here's but a small sample. (Mary says I shouldn't mention that we took several hundred photos.)


We couldn't help but notice just how many porches were adorned with exterior house trim. As you will note in the following photos, the ideal exterior trim can transition your porch from quaint to spectacular!

Column brackets boost porch appeal

Note how the size of porch columns affects the overall appeal of the home. On the porch above, standard 4x4 porch columns with brackets give this porch a more "airy and open" appeal whereas, the porch columns below give this porch a bolder look. Both work well with the architecture of the homes.

Charming white display cabinet on front porch

Adding a curio cabinet or other like piece of furniture on your porch creates a nice focal point and is definitely a conversation starter for guests.


Mary and I love picket fences like the one below. There's just something about a white picket fence in front of a home - perhaps we've been influenced too much by either Huckleberry Finn or Opie!

Picket fences and porches just seem to go together

Add charm to a small porch with exterior house trim

Colorful porch landscaping

Unique picket fence design complements front porch trim

Put Fredericksburg on your "to visit" list; you won't be disappointed.

Hillsboro, Virginia

Hillsboro VA (originally Hillsborough) is located near the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northwestern part of Virginia and 10 miles south of historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This small town had no street addresses for buildings until 2000; up to then buildings were only referred to by their owner's names or purposes.

Although quite small and quaint, this Loudon County community can boast about their porches! We had a fun hour or so taking pictures and strolling with our family along Charles Town Pike. We hope these photos give you some ideas for your own porch and joy in seeing a very small town in America.

Small, quaint Virginia town, Hillsboro VA

Half round porch columns

Take special note of the decorative half round columns. Although not installed as supporting columns, they add sophistication to this porch.

We appreciate how they are painted to match the sawn balusters. Such cohesive appeal.

Charming front porch with gable roof

We found this adorable porch, complete with exterior house trim on the gable, quite charming!

Traditional chink log home in Hillsboro VA

Imagine spending a little on this traditional chink log porch. Chinking is the material between the logs and can range from mortar to other fill materials.

Traditional haint blue porch ceiling

Porch columns with ornate brackets

Want an easy way to add charm to almost any porch? Brackets are your answer. Brackets add much charm and personality to this inviting porch and are straightforward to install.

Our sponsor, Vintage Woodworks, produces beautiful handcrafted brackets and other porch parts.

Pretty cottage garden

This cottage style flower garden adds ribbons of color to the front yard landscaping. Filled with easy-to-care-for perennials, cottage gardens can be low maintenance and cost effective over the years.

We enjoyed our visit to Hillsboro VA and encourage you to stop by when you're in the area.

Holdrege, Nebraska

Holdrege, Nebraska

Holdrege, Nebraska is located almost in the geographical center of the U.S. More importantly, it is a wonderful community with quaint homes and picturesque front porches. The residents of Holdrege take great pride in maintaining and decorating their porches.

We'll not only show you some beautiful porches in Holdrege Nebraska but also offer information about porch designs and options you can use for your porch. These porches offer many ideas you can use to enhance, design, and decorate to create an amazing porch on your home.

Take a look at this pretty porch decorated for autumn. How welcoming!

Pumpkins line the porch steps

Sawn balusters like those in the photo below are ideal for adding charm to most porches. Ideally, they work best on Victorian style homes; however, you can use them quite easily on country, farmhouse, and other similar porches.

If you like the look of sawn balusters, be sure to see our entire section and photos.

Decorative sawn front porch balusters

Speaking of Victorian porches, this porch has traditional column brackets and running trim. Combined with turned balusters (railings) and aesthetically pleasing paint, this front porch is truly charming.





The paint makes this a Victorian-style front porch (below). Although it doesn't have all the ginger-bread trim, the colorful turned front porch columns are typical on Victorian homes. If you love Victorian homes and porches, be sure to see our portfolio for more ideas.

The mansard porch roof, in lieu of a shed roof, is ideal for expanding the depth of a porch (although this one is fairly shallow). It is commonly used when the slope of a shed roof is limited by the second story window above the porch.

Painted turned front porch columns

Leipers Fork TN

Leipers Fork Tennessee

Leipers Fork TN is a small rural community just outside of Nashville TN. We love its small-town feel and relaxing nature. Here even the store fronts have cozy porches.

Porches and rocking chairs galore in Leipers Fork. Living the country life seems easy here.

Visiting here takes you back to when life was a little slower and more relaxed. I think Dave and I could take up residence in Leipers Fork...you wouldn't have to break my arm.





So many of the store fronts have porches, like this one. Doesn't this inviting entrance just make you want to walk inside?





The red cushions on the wicker rockers and pretty red geranium add such spice to this pretty porch. And I would love to sit on that blue porch swing for a while, too.





This charming porch has a lot of personality. I like the mirror, the wall hangings and the cushioned Adirondack chairs. The potted ferns are nice accents.





These rocking chairs and plants just have "welcome" written all over them. Love this about Leipers Fork TN. If you get the opportunity to visit, take in their shops and art galleries.

Colorful, charming, Leipers Fork. Come and spend a day in this relaxing country town. We had a really nice visit. It's good for the soul.

Lewis Center Ohio

Lewis Center OH

Lewis Center Ohio is a bustling community on the outskirts of Columbus Ohio.

Lewis Center is home to not only tons of shopping but also located near Alum Creek State Park. We like the streets lined with well-kept landscaping and of course - porches! We hit a bonanza of small porches we know you'll love too.

See our Lewis Center Ohio porch pictures.

Lexington, VA

Tree lined streets, picket fences, and fine porches make this a neat place to visit for sure. We had the pleasure of exploring its many side streets in search of porches we know you'd enjoy too.

Lexington Virginia

You will find lots of history in this small community. Robert E. Lee and Andrew Jackson are buried here. Cyrus McCormick, whom we all read about as kids in school, and his horse-drawn mechanical reaper was invented on his farm not too far from Lexington.

But I digress, it's the porches we want to show you.

Lexington VA can boast that it is home to Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). But Mary and I know it also can be proud of its many wonderful front porches.

Located in western Virginia not far from the West Virginia border, Lexington is a wonderfully scenic and friendly small town.

Summer on the porch in Lexington VA

There's something special about a beautiful, engaging front porch. We really like the gate over the front brick steps made to match the porch balustrade.

Classic American front porch in Lexington VA

Sawn balusters, like the one below, are perfect for adding curb appeal and privacy too. Sawn balusters are normally custom made so you can assist in creating the design. You can choose either traditional sawn wood or if you prefer less maintenance, you can opt for vinyl lattice sawn panels.

Interesting sawn baluster on traditional front porch

A relatively quick and easy way to spruce up your front porch is to paint your door a vibrant color. Add cushions and other outdoor decor in complementary (or even contrasting colors) to create curb appeal envy!

This front entrance is definitely eye-catching.

Colorful front door on porch

We love finding great ideas for porches and this is one of them. This decorative lattice screen (below) is perfect for growing vines for color and/or for offering a bit of privacy.

Lynchburg, Tennessee

Dave and I took a short trip to Lynchburg recently and found all kinds of southern charm. Porches, whiskey and Tennessee summer heat. We crossed this small town on foot enjoying the many porches and shops.

Lynchburg TN is best known for it's world famous Jack Daniels Distillery. But, it also could boast about the many southern porches we discovered on our travels.

Picturesque sawn balusters on this front porch

Jack Daniel's whiskey is marketed worldwide and produced in a town with only one traffic light. What many might not know is that it is located in a 'dry' county; you cannot purchase it there.

Lynchburg trivia also includes residents Davy Crockett and Little Richard at one point in time.

Visit Lynchburg, TN and enjoy Miss Mary Bobo's front porch

We were surprised to find two porch designs that are not often seen. The combination gable with two adjoining shed roofs is an interesting design feature.

The shed roofs provide additional protection from the weather and extend the functionality of the porch.

Combination gable and shed porch roofs

The stone facade on this porch makes a bold statement and clearly defines the entrance.

Stone-faced porch entrance

Adjoining patios add additional outdoor living space.

Patios add an expansive look to the home

We also found this charming cottage style home with a craftsman-style porch columns.

Craftsman-style porch columns are a classic touch

Creative landscaping adds to the home's charm and gives it a cohesive look. A dry creek bed integrated into the landscaping is ideal for controlling drainage.

Dry creek bed landscaping

If you have the time, take a tour of the Lynchburg Jail Museum. It was in operation for about 100 years and is made of heavy oak timber and contains two 8 foot by 8 foot jail cells.

Madison, Indiana

Madison, Indiana

Charles Kuralt said of Madison that it is "The most beautiful river town in America." Mary and I fell in love with this quaint but vibrant town along the Ohio River.

Madison overflows with beautiful porches, an amazing downtown area, and events and festivals throughout the year. We found picturesque porches on every street along with some of the nicest people we've encountered.

Simple evergreen garland and bows make for a charming display

Enjoy our pictures covering spring and Christmas - Madison, Indiana.

Newport Beach and Naples California

Newport Beach is an amazing California community and host to television shows like the OC. It also has beautiful front porches too!

Newport Beach Beauty

Not only do they have lots of beach activities to include sailing, fishing, and more, but also magnificent homes and neighborhoods to explore.

Romanesque style front porch

Naples, California, is located near both Newport Beach and Long Beach and could easily remind one of Venice Italy with its picturesque canals.

Canals, boats, porches, and patios of Naples

Victorian Home and Porch in Naples

White Rose Lined Front Porch

Nice Fire pit and Patio Porch

Brick Patio Porch

Homes lining the canals have beautiful southern California porches and patios; all of which can give you lots of ideas. View our photos and discover this amazing community - Newport Beach, California.

Pacific Grove California

California's Pacific Grove

Pacific Grove California is home to a massive monarch butterfly migration and fabulous porches. Although known for its Victorian porches, we focused on small porch ideas and they were abundant.

The porches in Pacific Grove were very colorful on restored vintage wooden bungalows. It was evident that homeowners took pride in making their front porches something to behold. We know you will enjoy the information we share; you will get plenty of ideas for your own porch too.

Beautiful combination of green and soft pink

Green colors, like on the porch above, are used on small homes or bungalows. It blends in nicely in natural settings.

Victorian appeal

Victorian-style homes often use what is called triadic colors (or three color combinations). It is said that a red/violet, yellow/orange, or blue/green combination are perfect examples of triadic colors.

Pretty in pink

For small porches, consider using combinations of white, pastels, neutral, and beige colors which will make your porch appear larger. A darker trim color helps also. You might consider these possible combinations: pale yellow or white with dark green or yellow with dark brown trim.