Small Front Porch Decorating Ideas

1. Paint the Front Door A New Color

Choosing a new hue is fun whether choosing paint colors for your home or choosing paint color for your front door.

The most popular door paint colors:

• Black
• Dark Grey
• Dark Blue or Navy
• Pastels (Aqua, Yellow, Pale Pink)
• Warm Natural Stain

Looking for something more dazzling? Choose a door color that is opposite your house’s main shade on the color wheel.

Pro Tip: Paint colors often look much lighter or brighter/bolder outdoors than the sample on a paint card appears. Try a sample swatch and be prepared to go darker than your original choice.

2. Add a Fun Wreath

A new wreath is the most cost effective way to decorate your front porch. With my tutorial, make a hoop wreath for less than $35, even if you don’t think of yourself as crafty.

3. Hanging Baskets

Bringing plants up to eye level makes an instant impression and is an efficient use of space. One of my favorite ways to use a hanging basket is on a mailbox. It’s a super easy and fast way to brighten up the lowly mailbox.

4. Window Boxes

Enjoy the sight of flowering blooms peeking through your windows inside with window boxes. Or plant herbs, hanging vines, or seasonal annuals. You can find the plans for these adorable window boxes from Pretty Handy Girl.

5. Personalized House Numbers

Personalized house numbers add stylish charm to your front porch. Choose a color that has enough contrast with your home or mailbox to maximize visibility.

6. A Welcome Sign

Give your small porch decor a cozy but uncluttered vibe by focusing with just a few accessories. Choose one or two items that reflect your esthetic and build from there. Craft a DIY welcome sign to warmly greet visitors.

7. Hanging Wall

Don’t neglect your vertical space! A plant/herb wall like this pallet hanging wall from Jenna Burger Design is suitable for almost any size abode and works especially well for a small front porch. Repurpose a pallet or old fence gate for a creative DIY take, or purchase flush planters crafted specifically for the purpose.

8. Unexpected Finds Small Porch Decor Ideas

There’s no rule against showing off your favorite thrift hauls or affinity for antiques from the safety of your front porch, as long as it is well covered.

• Use an old buffet as an outdoor serving station or as a handy place to stash package deliveries.
• Flank your door with a set of antique urns.
• A vintage sign or mirror make great conversation pieces.
• My friend, Roxanne, is flawless with her vintage porch decorating like using an old milk jug as a side table.

9. Play up Architectural Features

Some houses are blessed with columns, archways, or balanced steps that create height and symmetry to draw the eye. If, like me, you don’t have beautiful columns or a natural framework for your front porch, it’s easy to achieve the appearance with planters, window boxes, or shutters to add height.

10. Add a Unique Doormat

Rugs bring warmth and texture to a porch. Whether you have brick, tile, or concrete slab flooring, the right rug can anchor the space and pull your décor together. 

11. Curtains

Saw Nails and Paint created a stunning summer seating area above with soothing colors natural textures. I especially love the outdoor curtain that provides privacy and a bit of protection.

12. Elevate your Outdoor Lighting

Modern lighting solutions are so fun and one of my favorite front porch decor ideas. It’s also easy to draw inspiration for your porch light scheme from entryway lighting ideas.

Not all lighting choices have to be practical! A combination of lanterns, battery-operated candles, and votives placed strategically creates a warm welcome. Don’t leave your garden or walkway area in the dark either. Spotlights, spike lights and floodlights help to illuminate your landscaping feats.

13. Stencil the Floor

Transform a bland cement porch into a visually dazzling work of art like BrePurposed did here. Stencil patterns are the perfect way to achieve the look of tile at a fraction of the cost. With an array of designs available for purchase, your porch makeover will be far from cookie cutter.

14. Rustic or Cottage Vibe

Avoid getting lost in the details and overwhelming the porch with accessories. Streamline your focus and simplify your decor by choosing a theme. For a rustic aesthetic, think cozy blankets, stacked logs, a natural jute rug, and perhaps this fun wooden moose head or a set of antlers.

16. Colorful Greenery

The front porch is an outdoor space. Featuring fresh flowers and potted plants is a no brainer. Lush greenery enhances any area.

Easy Perennials for beginners:

• Ferns (annual in some areas)
• Hostas
• Succulents
• Bulbs like Irises, Tulips and Lilies
• Hydrangeas
• Boxwood

Pro Tip: I make all of my pots into self-watering planters with this tutorial, and I love them. They are virtually maintenance free. Our concrete planters are also a fun DIY to create custom planters without the hefty price tag.

17. Add a Pop of Color

Budget friendly ways to add color:

• Paint your house numbers or doorbell. Break the rules a little.
• A bold front porch rug.
• Spruce up flea market finds with an eye-pleasing color paint palette.
• Outdoor throw pillows are an affordable way to play with color year-round on the porch.
• Draw inspiration from your plants. If you want your accent colors to pop, play off what’s blooming in your garden.

18. Refresh your Walkway

A little maintenance can go a long way to freshening up a space. We pressure wash our concrete every-other-year. If your walkway area needs a bit more love than that, repair and paint the concrete walkway. We also built this super budget friendly walkway for my parents.