By Dave and Mary

Beach Houses and Coastal Houses

Porches with a View

Beach houses, also known as coastal houses, are primarily homes designed to be built near the water, capturing the beauty of a landscape. They are typically contemporary or modern with plenty of open space.

Dave and I have friends in Maine who have an awesome beach home. It's a place where you make memories in the summer and cozy-up in the winter.


wonderful beach home design with massive front porch

Although some beach homes may be built on pilings, most are of conventional construction. The common feature to most beach house plans are great porches to capture the sights, sounds, and sea breezes.


Beach and Coastal Porch Pictures

screened in beach home front porch
Expansive screened in front porch from which to view in comfort
The simple addition of porch curtains or shades can add an increased level of comfort and extend your outdoor time.


Contemporary beach house with porch
A little contemporary look makes for an aesthetically pleasing porch.



Beach house porch with romansque style columns
We love the Romanesque style columns and wide sweeping front steps.



very colorful beach house and large front porch
Beautifully painted beach house and front porch
Adding the right colors can easily turn the ordinary home into an eye-catching structure



double front porch stair case on beach house design
A double stair-case adds lots of interest and special appeal



two - two story front porches on beach home
Choose either porch depending on the view!
Use wide steps whenever feasible - makes your porch seem larger.


large beach home and porch with minimal porch railngs
Select porch railings that will not block your view.



double entry porch stairs
Nice stair design that adds interest - note the porch railing design too.


As a leisure home most beach house porches are casual and informal in design and usually have a nautical appeal. Like beach houses, coastal houses may also be found in the same category, however there are differences.

These type homes are prevalent in the mid-Atlantic and southeast Atlantic coasts. They are often shingle style homes, raised on high foundations for flood protection. Large porches are a prominent feature.


Beach and Coastal Porches
Capture Essence of the Sea

The very essence of a beach or coastal porch is to bring the outside onto your porch. Comfort and relaxation should be your major goal. A great tip we learned was to make sure you collect the feel of the geographical area around you.

An Oregon coastal porch will have a different feel than one from South Carolina beach porch. Decorating a beach porch can be great fun trying to find just the right look.

Don't forget to use natural materials from your area as well on your porch like driftwood or amenities that reflect the culture of your area.

Your furniture also plays a huge role. New England coastal porches may use Adirondack chairs whereas a Southern beach porch may opt for wicker. Select furniture that is conducive to your area as well and that will hold up to weather and salt water.

Don't forget the porch hammock! What better way to relax than to sway in the gentle sea breeze sippin' on a mint julep on a hot summer day!




family home plans logo Would you like to get more details of these plans? Great!

Simply go here and jot down the plan numbers you see with some of our pictures.



Don't Forget Your Porch Options

Beach and coastal porches are quite adaptable to a 3-season and four season porches. Many of these porches are large and can accommodate an additional feature such as a 3-season porch.

Depending on its geographical location, New England or the Northwest coast, a four season porch will extend your pleasure of the view all year round in comfort.

People in Southern California, Texas, and the Gulf coast for example would probably benefit from a 3-season porch. In kit form or built from scratch, these add-on porch features make entertaining and just plain relaxing that much more enjoyable!


And more line

Let's Party!

Beach houses party
Photo courtesy of Ella Novak
  • Coffee for two at a small bistro table with paper in hand first thing in the morning or how about roasting those dogs and burgers while watching a great baseball game?
  • Games on the porch in the evening as the sun sets over the ocean? Or how about a candlelight dinner while listening to romantic music?
  • Gather the family on a dark starry night and listen to an old radio mystery show.
  • With a beautiful outdoor home theater on your porch you all gather for a great movie while the waves crash the rocks below!

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Search House Plans

If you see a house plan you like on our site, jot down the plan # and have it handy for when you visit Family Home Plans. They have a wonderful collection of plans and many can be modified to fit your needs. Search to your heart's content.

Are you looking specifically for a PORCH PLAN? Great, then please take a look at these porch plans they offer (very popular with our readers!)


Looking for GARAGE PLANS? Great, then please take a look at these garage plans they offer We may receive a commission if you purchase a plan through our link. The price is the same to you. See our full affiliate disclosure policy.




Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.

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Mary and Dave, Founders of Front Porch Ideas and More
Hi! We're Mary and Dave, lifelong DIYers, high school sweethearts, and we both love porches. You've come to the right place for thousands of porch ideas.
--- Our Sponsors ---
Use the PCA Visualizer to design your screen door

Shop for Porch Parts at Vintage Woodworks.

The Porch Store

--- End Sponsors ---


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At no extra cost to you, we earn a commission by referring you to some products on merchant sites. See our disclosure policy.
We, Front Porch Ideas and More, confirm, as stated on our privacy policy, that we do not sell personal information.

All content here is solely for presenting ideas. We recommend consulting with a licensed, experienced contractor before you begin your project.
We make no guarantees of accuracy or completeness of information on our site or any links to other websites contained here.

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