Introduction
Based on how a person likes to spend his free time, their front porch can become a place for gatherings, solitude time, or a meeting spot of neighbors. You might choose the spot to sip coffee or regularly chat with friends and family members. If the space is big enough, you might want the guests to gather and like the surrounding spots outside the house.
Even some kids like to study in areas where they can get fresh air. In case you get the views of mountains from the porch, the family members will definitely spend more time there.
For instance, people who live near mountaineering areas are likely to get a view of the beautiful landscapes as soon as they step outside their homes. You will spend time near the porch even when there are no such views. There is a need to upgrade the porch because people see your house from the street and can get instantly delighted to meet when the porch looks entertaining.
Build a Larger Porch
A large porch can surely transform the front of your home. However, the porch must follow the house’s architectural style. The porch of a modern house will have a different look than the one created for a farmhouse or a brick cottage home. Generally, a large porch for outdoor living will be expensive.
Installing a 16-foot-by-20-foot porch can cost around $21,500 with railings and a gable roof. However, the price can increase based on the design. You have to focus on other details while including the porch. For instance, lightning, heating, and cooling options should be kept in mind during the porch installation process.
Add or Upgrade the Roof
Individuals whose porch qualifies as a stoop can think about adding some appeal by covering the porch. Over the present porch, you can include a road to protect packages during the rainy season. In the midst of a downpour, a roof can make the place more comfortable.
Those who already have a roof over the porch can do some renovation. You can expand the roof with a bigger overhang. You will be able to keep the place dry even when it’s raining heavily.
Bring in New Seating
Upgrading outdoor seating is one of the cost-friendly ways to make the porch look welcoming. Generally, plastic and collapsible lawn chairs make the porch appear uninteresting. You can think about including wicker furniture, Adirondack chairs or metal seating, and tables that are created particularly for the porch.
Mix and match cushions and throw pillows
Finding chair cushions for the porch can be difficult. You need to look for cute, durable, and relaxing ones. There are not too many cushions that maintain a perfect balance between simplicity, boldness, and uniqueness. You can try combining various colors and patterns to get the desired level of style. However, make sure the pillows match or enhance the look of curtains, wall art, rugs, and furniture.
While selecting cushion material, you should ensure it is durable, water-resistant, and provides protection against UV rays. Avoid choosing a material that can tear and wear out during bad weather conditions. After choosing the material, you need to match the colors, styles, and patterns. The fabric should make the porch feel luxurious and make the furniture’s décor look comfortable.
Bring in New Cushions
There are different types of fabric found for outdoor furniture cushions. Hence, finding the right one can be difficult for the porch. Acrylic, cotton canvas, Olefin, and PU-coated polyester are some of the popular materials that are used to create outdoor seat cushions. These fabrics generally go through special treatments to become resistant to mildew, mold, UV rays, and water.
Potted Plants
Probably, the inside of your house is filled with a plethora of houseplants that reflect the personality of family members. However, your porch definitely needs some potted plants. The area can be shady or sunny. You should still include favorite or desired plants to add a little extra life to the home.
Screen in the Porch
Those who want to use their porch as an outdoor living space for daily use should consider screening their porch to limit the bugs and include privacy in the space.
Install a Swing
Regular seating can be replaced by a porch swing. Since you have to attach the swing to the roof of the porch, it needs more work than simply putting a bench or chair. There are eye bolts that let you hang the chains of the swing from the roof. Make sure those eye bolts are solidly screwed into ceiling joists.
Put in Fans or Heating
Generally, the good-quality ceiling fan can cost between $150 and $500, excluding the fees of the electrician who will wire the porch. Remember to purchase exterior fans because the fan’s blades for interiors droop in humid conditions.
Fireplaces are also becoming popular on front porches. Alternatively, infrared heating can assist in making the porch comfortable in the winter season. You have both gas and electric options to make the space warm.
Lighting
Based on the porch’s size, you should consider adding lighting. You can contact a lighting design to explore various options. Some lantern-style lights can be added to the steps. However, don’t forget to include LED light that suits the space. Either you can choose a few lights of higher wattage or more lights of lower wattage.
Front Porch Lighting Ideas
1. Layer up Lighting
Identical lights can be added on both sides of the porch. However, you can think about unique ways to add lights based on the pattern, style, and furniture. You might want to add some light in the area where the seating arrangement has been made.
2. Light Architectural Features
Since historical features should be showcased, you should make the lightning designer has included ways to highlight those details.
3. Bring the Indoors Out
Those who are fortunate to have a fully covered porch with a luxurious deck should include lighting that is softer and stylish.
4. Use Uplighters
Consult a garden designer about lighting. He will draw attention to the items on the porch in an inviting manner.
5. Embrace Spotlights
Directional lighting can be used to showcase some areas like favorite plants or trees. You need extra light to make an area center of attention.
6. Choose a hanging lantern
You will need larger light when the ceiling of the porch is extremely high. These lanterns can match the pattern and design of the space, the wall, and furniture.
Stain or Paint the Existing Porch
Without spending a lot of money you can freshen up the porch by using a coat of paint. Those who have an unsightly concrete block in the porch can make the area look polished by staining the concrete. Staining concrete can cost you around $4 per square foot.
Paint Your Concrete or Wood Porch
1. Prep the Surface
You should take everything off the porch before beginning the work. Take protective cloths to cover all the delicate ground plants near the porch. Use a broom to sweep away loose debris near the wooden porch. You should clean between the cracks with the help of a tool or slender stick. Using a pressure washer all the dirt, grease, and oil can be instantly removed.
2. Etch the Surface
You will have to etch the concrete surface using 7% muriatic acid and water solution. This process can assist in properly adhering to the primer and paint. A professional person should be hired for this job. If you have some experience, be careful while etching the concrete surface.
3. Use a primer
Once the porch’s surface has been cleaned, you can use a primer. Those who have wood porches should use 2 coats of exterior primer. Apply them with an extension pole or a roller applicator. For inaccessible areas, you can use a small brush instead of the roller. You should leave the coating to dry for 8 hours.
4. Choose Paint
You should select a paint color that compliments or looks similar to the color of the exterior walls. Commonly, people choose muted shades for porches. A lighter color will not emphasize the porch like a darker shade. You can select a paint that is particularly created for floors.
5. Start Painting
One requires using 2 coats of paint for a wood porch. The first coat of acrylic latex floor paint should be applied using a roller applicator with a sprayer or extension pole. You can use a brush for covering spots that are hard to reach or need a more precise application.
Before applying another coat, you should let it dry completely. Generally, it will take 2 days to dry. After applying another coating of paint, you should again leave the floor to dry and don’t let anyone walk on it.
6. Clean up
Use water or paint thinner to rinse the roller covers till the solvent or water starts running clear. Then, keep applicators in a plastic bag. Alternatively, you can hang them on nails or hooks to dry. After checking the porch has completely dried, you can pick up drop cloths and replace the furniture on the porch. Great! You have completed painting the wood porch or concrete surface.
Add a Railing
You can easily add a railing down the steps to the walkway and around the porch. When there is no specific code required for your porch railing, lower it to 30 inches to view it over the railing. Avoid the porch that looks cheaply made or flimsy. The end pieces and support for the railing should be broader than 4 inches by 4 inches. Check for a post that measures bigger, like 8 inches by 10 inches.
Update Your Stairs and Railings
Stairs are an extremely essential part of your renovation process. You will find it a part of all renovating projects that involve multiple floors. You can either have the budget to refinish them or completely rebuild the stairs. However, you should not ignore the stairs. Here are some tips to update the stairs:
1. Don’t Replace, Refinish
Refinishing is the most cost-effective way of updating an older staircase. You can transform the entire staircase by choosing the right colors. Just like your trim, paint the risers with the same color. Then, refinish the risers. To update the railing, you have to refinish the handrail and paint the balusters. Choose a modern carpet runner when you want a contemporary look.
2. Bold on a Budget
Painting all surfaces including risers and treads is the least expensive method of updating new or old stairs. To create instant drama, you can choose contrasting colors like black and white.
3. Cost-effective Cladding
Cladding stairs with new treads and risers are another popular, budget-worthy approach. Without spending money on rebuilding or tearing out, you can start with the top of the present stairs. If you want to change the look of the porch from traditional to modern, then use this opportunity.
4. Material Matters
Getting a new material for the balusters is the best way to spruce up a modern or traditional-looking staircase. To transform the complete appeal of the stairs, you can add iron or steel to the railing.
5. A Glass Act
Although we like glass railing and guards, there are certain to remember. Firstly, you have to regularly clean the glass that shows fingerprints. Additionally, having a glass railing is never enough. On top of glass railings, you will require a handrail. Hence, you should check the options for getting that and the way it will appear.
6. Horizontal Railings
Even though horizontal railing has been popularly constructed outside modern homes, there might some laws in your province that don’t allow the construction of such railings. Therefore, you should learn about the laws for construction based on location.
These laws are made for the safety of children who try to climb this type of railing or guard. You should keep in mind there are no children who will attempt to climb on these railings before starting the construction process. Those who have small children in their homes should choose a different option.
7. A Safer Horizontal Option
You can choose a horizontal railing that doesn’t give anyone the option to climb over it. These railings go all the way up to the ceiling. Moreover, these railing walls make a stunning and fantastic backdrop to their adjoining rooms.
8. Add Oomph with Open Risers
Getting this look might be a bit expensive. You need a steel structure for supporting an open and floating staircase. The distance between the treads should be less than 5 inches so that the crawling child can’t squeeze through.
9. Get Creative
Those who live in a place with a strict stair-railing code should use creative methods of achieving a real-looking staircase. You can use steel balusters to make a slim and minimal appearance.
10. Customize it
There are various methods of meeting code without sticking with a traditional railing. You can add interest to any kind of home by using custom steel or wood railings.
11. Dig the Drywall
People used to build extremely boring guards around stairs with drywall. However, now drywall can provide a ribbon effect around the spiral staircase that can’t be achieved using other materials.
12. Storage Solutions
Even though storage is not related to treads, risers, or railing, it is worth mentioning here. Since nowadays stairs are engineered differently, you can take the advantage of storage beneath the stairs.
13. Have Fun With It
Best stairs include elements of art and whimsy. You can try winding a staircase, illuminating it, or simply focus on the traditional architectural features of the staircase. However, you must try to be creative while updating the staircase.
Paint steps or add grit to steps
Although including safety treads on stairs is a great approach, there are certain situations where metal treads or self-adhesives are not considered practical. In such a situation, one should select nonslip paint products that can create a safer set of steps.
Generally, stair traction paint contains the elements that lead to traction. However, you might have to add sand or grit to the paint to cause traction. In any way, the process of application is simple and fast.
Steps
1. Use a paint scraper or putty knife to scrape loose paint from the stairs. You should wear protective eyewear. Sand the surface that needs to be painted. Keep the stairs clean. Take dish detergent with a bucket filled with warm water and wash the surface. After rinsing with water, leave the stairs to become completely dry.
2. You need to mask off the parts that don’t need to be painted. Use painter’s tape to attach to the edges of the stairs. Wear chemical-resistant gloves to protect your hands from getting affected. To allow proper ventilation, keep the windows open.
3. With the epoxy hardener from the kit, you have to combine equal parts of epoxy resin in the bucket. Take a stirring stick and mix them properly. Use a solvent-resistant roller or a paintbrush to apply paint with a nap.
4. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer. Then, add sand or grit across the wet paint’s surface. Generally, sand or grit comes with an assembly kit and paint. When grit is included in the paint, you can skip this step.
5. When the paint or resin is still wet, you can remove the tape of the painter. Don’t allow even light traffic until the painted surface has cured. Normally, it takes 12 hours. When the stairs are in a high-traffic area, you should avoid walking there for more than 24 hours. The humidity and temperature can increase or decrease drying time.
Add Art
Outdoor wall ideas made porch decorating extremely easy. You can turn a normal porch into a stunning one with outdoor wall art that is unique and extraordinary. One needs to be a creative genius to get compliments regarding their outdoor artwork. Whenever someone visits your home, they will notice the porch.
You can utilize various art pieces separately or with each other on larger porches. Nowadays, wall art is available in unique designs and by using different materials. Outdoor metal wall art can surely be added as art on the porch.
Add Curtains
With outdoor curtains, you can turn the outdoor space as well as the porch into a cozy retreat. You can add privacy and colors to the balcony, porch, and covered patio using curtains. Don’t forget to use an outdoor-rated curtain rod with the hanging outdoor curtains. These rods can extend quite far. When the ends are flat, they can go right into the corners.
Conclusion
We hope now you understand the best ways to upgrade the porch and turn the outdoor area into a lively space. Before starting the renovating process, you should check different arts, colors, and curtains to find the best ideas. You should learn about lighting so that it enhances the look of the porch.
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