By Dave and Mary

Small Front Porch Makeover

Use Your Porch to Help Sell Your Home

Mary and I were asked to add curb appeal to a small front porch. The homeowners wanted to sell their home and needed porch decorating ideas to add instant curb appeal for prospective buyers.

Like most of us, they didn't want to spend a lot of money and they needed their small porch to be appealing right away.

And remember a first rule of business - you can't sell until you get them in the door!


A Small Front Porch Makeover

Small Porch Needing Curb Appeal


Start with Color

This particular home was a light yellow with white shutters and white trim. It was also the beginning of spring. What better color to complement yellow and white than purple. Once we decided on the primary decorating color we needed a focal point.


Create a Focal Point

Small Porch Wreath We knew a beautiful spring wreath on a white front door would stand out on this small front porch.

So off to the craft store we went and luckily the spring wreaths were on sale. We quickly saw a beautiful decorative wreath that had just the right colors, purples and yellows.

We contemplated making the wreath ourselves but the sale price made it an easy decision. Plus it saved us time for another project we had in mind.

Use the Senses

Small Porch Flag Since the porch sits some distance from the street we wanted to have something to catch people's eyes as they drove by.

Another very good front porch decorating idea is to create movement. A colorful spring flag would do the trick.

We chose this pretty spring flag because of its colors, purple, yellow and green, to carry our color theme throughout the small porch.

Our flag pole was a boring brown. A few minutes with a can of purple spray paint quickly color coordinated the pole to complement the flag's colors.


Painted pots

We still needed a little more pizzazz. The owners had planted pansies, violas and snap dragons in a planting area adjacent to the small front porch. We carried that theme to the porch by planting pansies and snap dragons in purple pots.


Dress Up the Porch with Plants and New Doormat

We purchased some inexpensive pots at Home Depot, and with spray paint, transformed the pots into a color coordinated array. Once the flowers grow a little, the porch will be a mass of great color.

To make a nice grouping of flowers, Dave built a small shelf for the horizontal planter to give it more appeal.


Colorful Door Mat We removed their standard black outdoor door mat and replaced it with one with vibrant spring colors to add just a little more appeal as they enter their new home!

To bring the colors higher on the porch we chose a hanging basket. We used silk flowers to add immediate color and virtually no maintenance. We wired the flowers into the pot to withstand the spring rains and wind.


Small Porch Basket


A Bench for Comfort and Convenience

Small Porch Bench Even a small front porch can accommodate some creature comforts. Hence, the bench.

We had several reasons for making the bench. First, we wanted to add another spring color, green, to complement the purple and yellow.

Second, we needed something with a little height to visually balance the flag.

Most importantly, we wanted a place where parents could sit and visualize their kids playing in the driveway. Remember, our purpose was to help sell the home.

The bench cost less than $25 to make and I designed it so anyone could easily make it. It took just a few hours to make and only requires cross-cuts. You only need a hand saw, a drill, and screw driver or hammer.


Paint Worn Concrete

After we did all of the above and stepped back to take an overall look at our efforts, we realized we had to address the concrete porch floor. It really detracted from the overall look. So off to Home Depot for concrete paint.


Paint for Porch


The Front Door

We also needed to break the large wall-look from the door to the picture window. It was just too much vacant space and drew your eyes away from the porch itself.

We found this sign at Michaels on sale and knew it would do the trick. Mary added the porch colors to it using craft paints.


Small Porch Sign


Results of Our Small Front Porch Makeover

small porch after


The porch is now much more inviting to someone looking for their new home.

Front Porch Decorating Question from a Reader

Applies to Any Size Porch

Farmers porch decorated beautifully - belongs to Todd at Front Steps Media

Hardly a small front porch, but the decorating question would apply no matter what size porch you have.


One of Our Readers Asks: "I have a front porch decorating question. I have a gray house (siding) with black shutters with white columns on the porch which has a mahagony floor. I have white craftsman style garage doors. The house design is colonial. My questions are:

--- Should I get a white or black front entry door?
--- Should I get white or black rocking chairs?"


Our Reply: Thanks for your fun question and for visiting our site. Both Dave and I think you can't go wrong with either black or white for your porch rocking chairs and front door, but here are some suggestions we think you will like.

  • Select a bright accent color for the door
  • Choose either the black or white chairs
  • Bring the door color onto the chairs with weatherproof accent pillows or hanging baskets


We would love seeing a picture of your porch when your porch decorating is done. Thank you so much for writing us.

Just coincidentally, our friend, Todd from Home Construction Improvement shared these wonderful pictures of his farmer's porch. Is this similar to your home? Thought you would enjoy it.


Farmers porch decorated beautifully - belongs to Todd at Front Steps Media

Besides this being a beautiful home with an amazing farmers porch, the hanging baskets are lovely, too.


You Can Do It

We had a great time adding some curb appeal to this small front porch and know it will draw the eye of potential buyers. Whether you are selling your home or just want to add appeal be sure to check the many decorating and design ideas on our site.




Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.

Our Sponsors
The Porch Store


Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.


Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

End Sponsors



Helpful Links

Enjoy shopping Amazon (affiliate link)

Popular Pages

What's New

Join Our Newsletter Family

Porch Designs

Porch Ideas for Mobile Homes

Find a Local Contractor

Build a Porch | Small Porches

Porch Columns | Porch Railings

Screened Porches

Porch Curtains | Porch Enclosures

Porch Landscaping | Vinyl Lattice

Porch Decorating | Porch Ideas

Shop

Navigation Aids

Home | Top of Page

Site Search | Site Map

Contact Us

Policies

Disclosure Policy | Privacy Policy

Legal Info


Please Join Us Here Also

Join us on Facebook for porch talk Join us on Pinterest Subscribe to get our updates. Thank you!


Get in touch with pre-screened local professionals for work you need done
Find a Trusted Local Pro




Copyright© 2008-2024
Front-Porch-Ideas-and-More.com All rights reserved.
No content or photos may be reused or reproduced in any way without our express written permission.

At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.


Thank you for taking your time to stop by. See what's popular and new here.

small rocking chair



Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
--- Our Sponsors ---
The Porch Store

Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.

--- End Sponsors ---
Find Top-Rated Service Pros
Get in touch with pre-screened local professionals for work you need done

Our Newsletter, Front Porch Appeal
Learn more!


Thank you for being here!


small rocking chair
At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.


Front Porch Home | Return to Top
Contact Us | About Us | Advertise with Us | Search | Site Map
Media | Privacy Policy | Disclosure | Legal Notice | What's New

XML RSS   Add to My Yahoo!  
By Mary and Dave Morris, Copyright © 2008-2024 Front-Porch-Ideas-and-More.com. All rights reserved.
No content or photos may be reproduced or copied in any way without our express written permission.


Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape