A front porch can either have railings or not. People often prefer a porch with railings because of the safety it offers, especially in a home with kids. However, a porch with no railing can equally be very safe even in a more beautiful way. Gorgeous accents can be used to mark the edges of the porch to enforce safety.
A front porch without a railing offers unique opportunities to create amazing and highly appealing designs for your home. There are numerous great design ideas for the front porch.
Design Ideas for Front Porch With No Railing
Before highlighting some of the best front porch designs without railing, let’s consider key basic things to start with:
Neat
The very first thing to pay attention to about your front porch, as well as every part of your home, is neatness. This is the most basic consideration but holds the power to mar whatever great plans you have without it. Your front porch should be properly washed to remove dust, dirt, spider webs, etc. Also, your front porch isn’t a garbage bin hence old shoes, toys, etc. should be removed.
Repairs
Necessary repairs should also be done including painting any chipped board and trim.
Furniture
Furniture pieces are a central part of front porch design but can easily go wrong if not done properly.
Often, people set what can be considered an entire parlor on their front porch but this isn’t necessary. Comfortable armchairs or wing chairs are usually sufficient for front porches. However, if you are looking to have a nice time with a companion, it’s okay to add a lightweight and simple sofa to your porch. Also, a simple Adirondack-style seat is a good sturdier option if that’s your preference. The most important factor here is that whatever chair you choose should not make your porch look or feel cramped. A complimentary table for a plate of treats or a glass of your favorite juice can also be added.
Note: your furniture pieces should be positioned clearly off the edge of the porch to eliminate any safety concerns.
Plants
Plants are another essential design idea for a front porch. Adding the right plant to your porch will significantly lift the outlook. The first consideration here is the amount of sunlight your porch receives – mostly sunny, mildly sunny, or generally under shade. This will inform the kind of plant you choose. To add a plant to your porch, you can either go for multiple small pots or one huge pot. For shady porches, it is advised to add more bloom. The pots of blooms can be used to mark the edges porch for safety reasons.
Banner
The addition of a banner to the external part of the front porch is a fast decorating idea. This is particularly good for occasions. You can as well fly a flag.
Light
Old porch lights that are outdated should be replaced with a new fixture that is gleaming. You can install lit numerals to make your house number plate visible, especially during the evening time.
Now to design ideas:
Open Entryway
This front porch design is perfect for a porch that spans the house’s width. Create a great blend of relaxation and invite by putting a pot of plants on either side of the front door and a sofa on any side you prefer.
Old School Walkup
This is perfect for different sizes of homes, from small to large ones. Railings would be provided for the front stairs, a perfect addition for kids and people with mobility issues.
Contemporary Country
This ranch-style porch has simple sitting areas, French doorways, and a well-trimmed landscape.
Color by Numbers
This front porch style is suitable for houses with old estate looks. Complimentary colors are used to create a welcoming porch for guests.
Level Ground
It is not necessary for a porch to be raised; you can design your level patio porch to provide a beautiful view of the full-length windows.
Elegant Outdoors
This type of front porch design significantly takes a porch from just being a welcoming entry point to an outdoor living space. Electric lighting and a fireplace can be included in this design.
Pillared Places
Here, you can combine different materials and colors to create well-balanced lines and designs that will have your visitors admiring your home from the first look.
Curb Appeal
This is a very simple porch design with lush vegetation and simple decoration that will have the eyes checking every detail.
Effortless Blending
This porch design style is all about blending the patio into the landscape design, creating a focal point for the clean lines and simple materials. This is a more intimate and welcoming space than most porch designs.
Stone Luxury
This design idea combines modern materials designs with natural materials. Some could have stone pillars and railings for privacy.
These are some of the most popular and best front porch designs you can use for your home. Most other front porch designs without railings are simply a modification of the list above.
How to Decorate Your Front Porch to Sell Your Home
It is one thing to design your front porch for yourself but it is another thing to design it when selling your home. In the case of the latter, it becomes even more imperative to make a great first impression otherwise potential buyers won’t even give it a thought. However, the design ideas are basically the same except for the fact whatever you do here is not about your taste but what is generally acceptable or what you think potential buyers may find very appealing.
Clean it up: this is perhaps the same as if you were to clean the porch for yourself however you still have to pay more attention. Wash all the details properly, including doors and windows overseeing the porch.
Note: Remove everything that does not belong on the porch.
Paint and lighting: when putting your home for sale, you do not need to paint the whole house but you don’t want to miss out on renewing the outlook of your front porch. First, peel dirt or get rid of rough spots then paint your front porch. Here, it is not about the color you consider best but the color you think your potential buyers will find appealing. You can find this out by checking trendy porch colors. Also, old and rusty porch light fixtures should be replaced with modern, classic fixtures.
Note: you should equally change your doorbell if it is not working.
Plants: no matter how small your front porch is, it is imperative to bring in flowers. A larger porch can have multiple bright flower pots. You can also add one or two baskets of trailing plants. This addition of bright colors will significantly enhance your chances of getting a buyer in such a competitive house sale market.
Keep it simple: the tendency to overdo the decorations of your front porch in a bid to impress your buyer is high. Therefore, it is vital to keep it as simple as possible. Do not for any reason clutter your front porch; the walkway must be very free. Keep very few furniture pieces on your front porch no matter how large it is. You may also want to change your address plate and doormat.
Conclusion
Whether you are designing your front porch without railings for yourself or to attract potential buyers, the basic elements of the design are the same except that it moves from what you like to what your potential buyers like. Amazing front porch designs for different home styles are provided above; you can use them as they are or adapt them to suit your preferences.