15 small front porch ideas to make even the most compact of entrances look stylish and welcoming

Front porches are not an extra space that makes any home more elevated and stylish, it’s also a practical area that protects you from the elements and can provide anything from extra storage space to seating – even if it’s on the smaller side. And that’s exactly where our small front porch ideas come in.

Working with a small space can be more challenging – but it’s also the perfect opportunity to get creative, put that problem-solving hat on and think outside the box a little. These expert-recommended front porch ideas are the perfect place to start and source inspiration from.

‘Even a small front porch boosts kerb appeal and creates a welcoming first impression,’ says Emma Bestley, co-founder and creative director of YesColours. ‘It’s often the first thing potential buyers will see, and a well-maintained porch shows that the house is cared for.’

Small front porch ideas

Even if your front porch is small, that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate and/or kit it out to make it as stylish and functional for your lifestyle as possible. From some front door ideas to porch seating tips suitable for compact spaces, this is how to elevate your front porch and perhaps even make it appear larger than it is in the process.

1. Add clever storage

You can expand your hallway storage ideas to your front porch and incorporate some clever storage solutions there – don’t let any space go to waste but also make sure the area doesn’t look cramped or cluttered.

‘A small porch can be the perfect addition to any home, a place to store shoes, coats and umbrellas,’ says Danielle Le Vaillant, head of photography and film at Cox & Cox. ‘Consider a storage box that can house winter coats that are not in use but also work as a bench to pop your shoes on each morning.’

Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James, agrees, ‘Opt for multi-functional storage like a bench topped with a stylish cushion that also opens up to store shoes. This is both practical and attractive, as people can sit down to remove shoes and the space above still feels light and open.’

2. Brighten up the space

One of the ways to make your porch look expensive is by giving it a new lick of paint. But with small porches, it’s best to keep to a light and muted colour palette to visually open up the space.

‘When it comes to colour choices, I always recommend steering clear of darker shades in a small space. Neutrals and pastels are a far better option for opening up the space. Matcha green or butter yellow are great on-trend examples at the moment, but you also can’t go wrong with a timeless off-white or beige. For anyone considering selling in the near future, neutral colours are ideal in a porch, as they help buyers imagine how they could make the space their own, and it offers a great first impression,’ Chloe at Laura James says.

3. Hang a mirror

You may have heard of ways to make a small living room look bigger with mirrors., or perhaps even tried some of them. And similar principals work with mirrors and small front porches.

‘Another way to open up a small porch area is by hanging a mirror. Not only does this add depth and dimension to a space, but also reflects the light, creating an open and airy space that feels bigger than it is,’ Danielle at Cox & Cox says.

4. Incorporate a pop of colour

If you have a small porch but love colour and therefore don’t want to restrict yourself to a neutral or pastel colour scheme, you can add pops of colour through accessories like plant pots or your front door – vibrant shades make for lovely front door colour ideas after all.

‘If you want to inject a bit more personality, consider a pop of colour, whether through a statement door or bright accessories like a stained glass fanlight. The key is balance: keep the base colours calming and incorporate vibrant touches thoughtfully to avoid overwhelming the space,’ Emma at YesColours says.

5. Keep the area open

Just keep in mind that the area you’re working with is small – and nothing looks worse than a small space cluttered with bulky pieces of furniture and too many accessories. So strive to keep the porch looking open.

‘A porch can be brilliant for keeping the rest of your home’s entryway clutter-free, but when it’s on the smaller side and crammed with coats and shoes, it can quickly start to feel overcrowded and uninviting. If you’re looking to maximise space in a small porch, my biggest piece of advice would be to avoid filling it with a cabinet or any kind of floor-to-ceiling storage. While it might seem like the easiest solution, you’ll actually want to keep as much open space as possible so the area feels larger,’ Chloe at Laura James warns.

6. Match the door and woodwork

Some small front porches can be dark, so highlighting your door and frame by painting them the same colour, will give depth to the overall look of your porch whilst making it feel welcoming. 

'Consider painting both the door and surrounding frame in one shade, this can create a trompe l’oeil effect by drawing the eye beyond the framework of the door and making the entrance appear larger as well as delivering an impactful finish,' says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. 

Darker colours will recede whereas lighter shades will pop forward, so consider which kind of look you prefer when choosing your colours. 

7. Add seating

If you're lucky enough to have a pretty country cottage that comes with an overhanging roof, and therefore a ready-made cute little porch, make the most of the space you have. 

Adding in seating will be practical and pretty when positioned next to the front door. Depending on the available space this could be one of the best garden benches or some fold-up garden chairs – either will be sufficient enough to use to pop off muddy shoes or perch with a coffee.

8. Consider a glazed porch

If you're not keen on a fully covered up porch, then consider a glazed design – and it could double as a mini greenhouse too! 

We really like the idea of this kind of porch as it's instantly light and airy whilst still keeping you dry from the elements. Choose decorative tiles to add pattern and remember to add some lighting, a single wall light will suffice that's on a sensor for those darker evenings. 

9. Add cladding

Love New England-style porches? Exterior cladding will give your small porch a new lease of life whilst adding a stylish exterior that's hard-wearing. 

'Not everyone is fortunate to live in an authentic country cottage or New England-style property – but the beauty of today’s approach to design is that anything is possible. Cladding can cleverly transform a 1970s semi into the country-style cottage you always dreamed of,' says Lisa Grosse from Cedral. 

This includes porches too – nothing beats shiplap for adding character to a space, however small. 

10. Perk up with plants

Even the tiniest of porches could benefit from a little love and colour. Painting your masonry a different colour to your front door will add character and contrast depending on which shade you choose. 

Container garden ideas will help no end, place small designs on the steps and have a large selection next to the steps. Plants to consider that will add instant colour and volume are hydrangeas and geraniums.

11. Opt for a two-tone effect

When your small front porch is also narrow, it pays to come up with some design tricks to make it feel lighter yet still stylish.

One idea is to tile the sides halfway up, they will protect the walls from bumps and scrapes, add a tactile element and colour to your scheme. Also, extend the front door colour further out so the shade you've chosen blends with the tiles. 

‘Your front door is an excellent place to create a strong first impression, and an inky dark blue such as Kigali is a really smart alternative to black. Because Paint & Paper Library’s Architectural paints can be applied directly to almost any surface, you can use the paint directly from the same tin, or take a related colour such as Mockingbird, to paint all adjacent surfaces, whether it’s rendered masonry, brick, woodwork and even tiles,' says Andy Greenall, head of design Paint & Paper Library. 

12. Pair up your trees

Symmetry is a fabulous design tool that helps to trick the eye whilst creating balance. 

A pair of bay trees on either side of your front door within your small porch, will distract from the size of your space. This unfussy yet stylish idea has an elegance that works well with period properties. However, bay trees aren't the only option, their are plenty of small trees you can grow in pots to flank your front door. You can pick up a fig tree like the Brown Turkey dwarf variety from Thompson & Morgan or we've seen olive trees going for bargain prices at Asda and Costco at the moment.

13. Squeeze in vertical storage

If your small porch has some depth to the sides, then you can utilise the space by having shelves put in or pile some crates on top of each other instead and use the full vertical space.

You can use them to store wellies, throws for cooler evenings, picnic blankets and cushions for outdoor entertaining. The trick is to use the full height to make the most out of the available space. 

14. Tile the floor

Floor tiles are a great addition to a small porch, they add pattern and colour to a scheme. Match them to your front garden path ideas to create a seamless flow from one to the other.

‘Opting for a beautiful, tiled path that brings character and interest is an excellent way to create design impact at your front door,' agrees Caroline Milns, head of interior design at Zulufish. 'Consider leading those tiles from the exterior into the interior and through to your hallway to create a sense of flow. This can also be very effective in smaller porches where it will elongate the space by naturally draw the eye beyond the porch framework.' 

15. Create a feature with double doors

For extra security (and a super stylish option) have you considered putting a door on your porch? 

It does mean you have 'double doors' but this is where you can get creative with glazing and framing. A large glazed front door will offer glimpses into a pretty enclosed porch and of the front door beyond. Their is also the added perk that it will help keep your hallway insulated from drafts in winter.

FAQs

What is the smallest a porch can be? 

The point of a porch is to give you cover whilst you enter your home, so if it doesn't do that then it's not essentially a porch. As long as it gives you some protection from the elements then it's doing its job. 

A small canopy or wall mounted porch added to the exterior of your house above the front door will help in this instance. The best part about a small porch is that you shouldn't need to get planning permission for a porch to add it in, but do check the regulations before embarking on a project.

How narrow can a front porch be? 

Most porches won't be narrower than a front door, otherwise it will be deemed as impractical – in terms of walking into one. 

The smallest would be around 3 foot in depth and up to 8 feet in width. If you're looking to add one then make sure it's in proportion to the front of your house. 

So now you can go and give your small front porch a stylish makeover, just in time for a new season.