How many different types of porches are there? What are the latest railing designs for porch safety that also look ultra-modern? Which front porch designs offer the most privacy?
These are great questions we hear from homeowners all the time! Whether you’re building your dream house from scratch or turning your current house into your dream home with renovations, the right porch design can completely change how you see and use your property.
The experts at Weaver Custom Homes love a good front porch remodel – and we just adore designing a front porch or back porch that adds the finishing touch to a new build. Whichever way you’re going, we’ve put together this guide to help you choose the right porch design for your lifestyle, budget and style preferences.
Let’s dig into the different types of porches out there, then we’ll lay out some key points of front porch design, back porch design and custom elements that help make either outdoor space truly special.
Different Types of Porches
Designing a front or back porch that’s useful, beautiful and durable takes a lot of planning. We’ve built many a porch in our day, so we’re familiar with many different types of porches, from stoops to wraparounds.
For front porch designs, you can choose from types that include:
- Open Porch: Also known as a farmer’s porch, this porch design typically features elevated support from the ground and offers open space across the entire front of the home or wrapped around multiple sides of the home.
- Bungalow Porch: This porch design serves as an extension of the entryway with columns and a finished roof.
- Portico: Porticos are the smallest front porch design, offering simple cover for people entering or leaving a home.
- Gable Roof Porch: Homeowners looking for a big effect in a small footprint often opt for gable roof porches for their eye-catching triangular construction that lends itself to exposed wood beams and a rustic character.
- Front Entry Porch: Also called a stoop, this type of porch includes a poured cement slab without covering and a couple of steps that can be enhanced with paint or tilework.
Back porches differ from patios in the fact that they are typically attached to the house, whereas a patio is its own separate space. Other than that distinction, the types of back porches mirror front porch designs, though most homeowners prefer a larger footprint for a back porch.
Front Porch Design
Your front porch is key to achieving ultimate curb appeal for your home. It’s typically visible from the street, so it creates the first impression for passersby and sets the tone for guests. Many homeowners like the way a front porch connects them to the wider neighborhood with a welcoming vibe and a comfortable place to view comings and goings. Others appreciate the way front porch designs can add privacy to a home’s entryway by creating space or even a physical barrier between a walkway and the front door.
Either way, designing a front porch that reflects your family’s style and attitude is key to achieving your ideal home aesthetic. Whether you’re refreshing an existing porch design, renovating a simple cement stoop into a more open expanse or choosing from different types of porches for your custom new build, considering how you’ll use the space and what message you want it to convey should guide your choices.
Custom Front Porch Details
As you nail down your home’s overall aesthetic, you’ll have an easier time deciding on the details for your front porch design. It’s great to think about architectural features that dovetail with your house’s style, like archways, stone columns or wood-clad pillars. These elements can help your front porch skew more traditional or contemporary, depending on the type and color of materials used. One of the reasons to choose Weaver Custom Homes for help designing a front porch is our experience and insight into making these important decisions!
Details to consider when designing a front porch include:
- A welcoming front door in a vibrant color to make a fun statement
- Seating for two or more that allows comfortable people-watching
- Lighting besides the overhead light to create a soft, inviting glow
- Screening to keep insects at bay for a more enjoyable front porch experience
- Greenery to set a lively tone and integrate the porch with your landscaping
Back Porch Design
The back of your home typically affords more privacy and a wider range of porch design options. Many homeowners go big with their back porch to accommodate outdoor living areas, like an alfresco kitchen or extensive grilling station. Others like to create a sanctuary of nature by integrating their back porch into flower beds, vegetable gardens or wildlife-friendly landscaping. Another choice is to capitalize on a back porch as a connector between the indoors and an outdoor deck with a view by incorporating tiers, stone pathways or pavers into the design.
If you start by considering your family’s lifestyle and priorities for the backyard, you’re sure to hit on ideas for porch design that will elevate your everyday experience. Because the back porch is typically less visible than the front porch, you can feel freer to experiment with more unique elements, like transparent railing designs for porch safety that won’t obstruct the view.
Custom Back Porch Features
Designing a back porch that not only suits your home’s aesthetic but elevates and supports your family’s lifestyle can be tricky. That’s where finding a home builder you’ll love becomes really important! Trusted experts like Weaver Custom Homes listen to your needs and work to understand your vision for the perfect porch design – then walk you through the different types of porches that can make that vision a reality.
To get the most from your back porch – and by extension, your backyard – consider these custom porch design options:
- Connect to nature with built-in planters that segue seamlessly into your landscaping.
- Entertain in style with a back porch that links to an in-ground pool and additional amenities.
- Extend your interior design to the outdoors with sliding or folding glass doors blur the line between living room and porch.
- Layer the lighting with overhead fixtures, wall sconces and table or floor lamps for a cozier feel.
- Embrace all seasons with ceiling fans, integrated heaters or an outdoor fireplace added to your porch design.
Designing a Custom Porch With Weaver
Whether you’re designing a front porch for curb appeal or a back porch for alfresco living, you’ll need to choose materials that not only complement your home’s architecture but can stand up to the elements in style. Weaver Custom Homes does more than build dream homes – we also take on custom renovation and addition projects, like adding a front porch to an existing house or reimagining a tired and worn back porch. We’re ready to help you hone in on the best choices for a one-of-a-kind outdoor space that reflects your personality and supports your lifestyle.
Adding Custom Detailing to Your Porch
Custom front and back porches include many of the same elements – like skirting, railings, steps and grounded electrical outlets. But they differ in purpose and visibility, so they each require thoughtful consideration. Browse our 3D gallery for inspiration from custom porch designs we implemented for other homeowners. Consider these ideas for integrating unique details that elevate your custom porch’s design and function:
Update Stairs & Railing
Uneven steps and wobbly railings are more than eyesores – they present real safety hazards for your family and guests. We can reinforce the structural integrity of the stairs to your porch and update them with a creative paint job or luxury tiling. We can also show you some of the coolest new railing designs for porches, like key-link cabling, laser-cut metal and more.
Set up Sconces
Wall-mount lighting helps create a soft, inviting glow for any porch design. But it’s never a good idea to DIY electrical wiring! The pros at Weaver partner with skilled tradespeople who know how to safely install sconces in outdoor spaces. Plus, when you visit our Design Center in historic Wooster, Ohio, you’ll have the opportunity to explore outdoor-rated fixtures in a wide range of styles and materials that will complement your home’s aesthetic, as well as your ideal porch design.
Install New Flooring
The most traditional front porch designs feature a plain cement slab. Think outside that tired box by designing a front porch with flooring that complements either your home’s architectural style or your interior design. Colorful ceramic tiles or rugged stone flooring add eye-catching character to craftsman and Cape Cod style homes. Wood or wood-look flooring that’s rated for outdoor installation brings warmth and comfort to colonial and farmhouse exterior spaces.
Hang a Porch Swing
A porch swing elevates outdoor seating like nothing else. It allows for both relaxing movement and a sweet addition to lots of porch design styles, from tried-and-true traditional to sleekly contemporary. Your Weaver design expert can help you choose materials and size elements for a porch swing that fits your space and aesthetic with charming results.
Screen It In
Get an instant upgrade to your home’s overall value by screening in either your front or back porch. Your family and friends will enjoy a much more comfortable experience when they don’t have to contend with annoying bugs, and the entire space becomes more private and useful when it’s enclosed in screens. At Weaver, we’re well-versed in the most modern screening options that are discrete and minimalist for a seamless addition to your overall porch design.
Let Weaver Elevate Your Home Porch Design
One of the wonderful things about custom building is that you’ll have the power to invest in the features and finishes that make sense for you. Whether you prioritize front vs. back porch design or decide to include both, Weaver’s expert craftsmanship and personable design expertise will guide you toward the custom home porch design of your dreams. Reach out today to learn more about our process and get started on the path to an exquisite custom back or front porch design.
