Great Front Porch Designs

It is not easy to visualize how these homes would look with different styles of porches.
But we make it easy for you to see. Follow the steps below.

Step 1 - Welcome to Our Great Front Porch Designs Illustrator

How to Use the Illustrator

Just click on the "Next" button beneath the large picture below and allow a moment for each picture to load.

- We add everything from a small porch roof to a full size front porch ideal for making memories.
- We explore different roof styles, porch flooring and walkway options.
- Descriptive captions are included with each picture
- We also give you many different front porch landscaping ideas too.

Optional: See the same home with siding rather than brick

Take a Closer Look at Two Porches

The two of us chose two of the above porches to give you a much more in-depth look. Using the "next" button below the picture, scroll through the pictures below.

You will see the porches from various angles - from the street, from up-close, either side and even from above. We want you to feel as if you're actually there!

Full Front Porch with Flat Roof
Porch TS14-view 4 Porch TS14-view 1 Porch TS14-view 2 Porch TS14-view 5 Porch TS14-view 6 Porch TS14-view 9 Porch TS14-view 4 Porch TS14-view 10 Porch TS14-view 11 Porch TS14-view 7 Porch TS14-view 8
Click the 'Next' button to scroll through different styles of porches for this home As you click, please allow a moment for each picture to load Notice the descriptive text displayed below each picture

About Porch TS14: A classic two story home with a wonderful full-sized front porch. This inviting porch is topped with a painted ceiling and flat roof. Take note of the square columns and balusters. The entrance is flanked by attractive posts.

The porch flooring and walkway are done in random ashlar and the updated front porch landscaping is outlined with cast edging.

The size of this porch accommodates two comfortable seating areas. We love the porch swing. Don't you?

Identifier: Great front porch designs - Porch TS14 (Two Story 02A)

Front Porch with Combination Pergola and Flat Roof
Porch TS9-view 4 Porch TS9-view 1 Porch TS9-view 2 Porch TS9-view 8 Porch TS9-view 7 Porch TS9-view 12 Porch TS9-view 4 Porch TS9-view 13 Porch TS9-view 10 Porch TS9-view 11 Porch TS9-view 6 Porch TS9-view 9
Click the 'Next' button to scroll through different styles of porches for this home As you click, please allow a moment for each picture to load Notice the descriptive text displayed below each picture

About Porch TS9: Here you see an off-centered porch on this attractive brick two-story home. The beauty of this design is the pergola-style roof and flat roof combination. The pergola roof allows streams of light on the porch yet gives some shade.

The flat roof (with a tray ceiling) provides protection from rain and hot sun at the front door. It's a very pleasing combination, don't you think?

This open porch has columns that are square and tapered with square recessed bases. The porch floor and walkway are attractively finished in random ashlar. Notice how the porch is fully landscaped with colorful foundation plants. Imagine how different this scene would look without the landscaping.

Identifier: Great front porch designs - Porch TS9 (Two Story 03B)

Important Elements for the Perfect Front Porch

Include the following front porch design considerations when planning to build a new porch or replacing your existing one.

Think About the Pitch or Slope of Your Roof

Ideally, you want your porch design to blend seamlessly with your home's architectural style rather than appearing as an add-on.

So generally speaking, the steeper the pitch of your roof, the more design options you may have to integrate a porch roof and maintain the required slope. However, there are exceptions depending on your preferred porch roof design.

Porch roofs, like your home's roof, normally must comply with local building codes. These codes vary depending on your geographical area and may limit your porch roof design options.

Steep house roof allows for wider gable roof

Become familiar with different porch roof designs

Your Geographical Location is Key

Your geographical location may dictate the type of porch roof and construction materials that are best suited for your area.

For example, a hip roof is better suited for areas that experience high winds while gable roofs can handle heavy snows.

Again, local building codes may require specific construction practices or materials like hurricane straps as an example. Other codes could include roofing materials, depth of footers, and even the strength of porch columns.

Additional structural materials may be required depending on where you live

Don't Overlook Local Setback Requirements

Setback requirements, meaning the distance a structure can be located from the street, are usually established by local governing bodies through ordinances and building codes. Because porches are attached to the home, the setback requirement can limit the depth of your porch which in turn could affect the porch roof design.

Know your local setback requirements before beginning any project on the front of your home.

Setback requirements can limit both home and porch placement

Consider Height Restrictions Also

The distance between the top of your windows and front door to the eaves of your home may affect your porch roof options or styles. The greater the distance between the two, the more options you may have.

Insufficient height limits this shed roof from being extended

Note in the photo above that there is minimal distance between the tops of the windows and door to the eaves. The shed roof cannot be extended to create additional porch depth because there would be insufficient headroom on the porch due to the roof's slope.

However, while there isn't enough height to extend the shed roof on the above porch, there is a potential alternative solution. The porch's shed roof could possibly be removed and the gable roof extended to achieve more porch depth and maintain sufficient headroom on the porch.

See how a porch roof is constructed

What's Your Available Space for a Porch?

Another front porch design consideration is the space you have available for a porch. Perhaps you have trees, landscaping or walk ways that you want to retain or have a steep slope that could limit the depth of your porch.

Keeping these trees here will limit the size of a front porch

Below is a rendering of the same home with the trees removed and a large front porch attached. Note that the dormers on the roof, landscaping, and nice walk way add additional curb appeal.

Trees were removed to facilitate a front porch

Traffic Patterns - An Important Front Porch Design Consideration

Consider how you, your family, or friends will travel across or through your porch to the front door. You may also want to consider how your porch will be used. This is especially important for determining the location of steps in conjunction with your front door.

For example, placing porch steps in the middle of the porch will cut the porch's functionality into halves.

If you want an area for conversation and a separate area for reading a good book, then placing the steps in the middle or off-setting the step location may be a wise choice.

Give thought to your front porch design in terms of how you will use your porch.

Front porch divided in half by the porch steps

Locating the steps on or toward the end of a porch usually offers the most usable space but may lengthen the distance to the front door depending on its location.

Steps on one end allows for more continuous floor space

The location of porch steps can also affect your walk way and landscaping designs in addition to defining how your porch will be used. Often, it's a preference where you place your porch steps, but always good to think through it.

Get some front porch step designs

Keep Porch Railing Requirements in Mind

Did you know...
Many local building codes require a balustrade (railings) if the porch floor is 30 inches or more above the ground. This requirement can prevent an open style porch (no balustrade) if your porch design is over 30 inches.

Many people opt for an open porch especially if they do not want anything to interfere with a pleasing view. Open porches also make small porch appear larger.

If you desire an open porch and your porch floor is a few inches over 30 inches from the ground, you might be able to raise the ground level adjacent to your porch using creative landscaping or hardscaping to meet that requirement.

Open porch with gingerbread trim

Victorian front porch with painted balustrade

You're in the right place for porch railing ideas

Credits

- Our thanks to ricocheting.com for creating the slideshow viewers for showing off our great front porch designs.
- Cumberland Landesign created the 3D conceptual drawings you see on this page. They are no longer offering this service.

We hope our Porch Illustrator gives you some great front porch design ideas!

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