Designing Porch and Patio Areas

Porches and patios should set the scene for the style, colors, and feel of your home. Does your porch offer welcoming first impressions?

The porch sets up the feel and styling of the home, expressing your personality and offering a welcoming atmosphere to visitors. The tone you set at the front door should flow seamlessly through your home and out onto your roofed patios. Create the perfect hub for welcoming family and friends with these awe-inspiring design ideas that ooze style and comfort.

Porches or Patios?

Believe it or not, there is a difference between porches and patios. A porch is a constructed extension of your home sheltered from the weather by a roof, providing the perfect solution for relaxing and entertaining. You have protection from the sun and rain while still enjoying your garden. On the other hand, a patio generally doesn't have a roof and offers more of a courtyard feel.

Both porches and patios can be key architectural features that add great appeal to your home if well designed.

Porch Designs Perfect for Your Patio

While not all porch designs can be carried through to your patio, you can still extend the overall feel of your entry porch into a stylish patio extension. Here are some simple and easy ideas for creating patios that will get your creative juices flowing:

1. Create a Warm, Cozy Atmosphere:

   • Purchase or make your own stylish fire pit. Position comfortable chairs around it so friends can gather. Fire creates a relaxed, moody ambiance and is perfect for warming outdoor spaces.

2. Add Some Sparkle:

   • String lights can add extra sparkle to your patio and porch, creating a magical and inviting environment.

3. Outdoor Dining:

   • Add a pine table and some comfortable wicker chairs. Upholster cushions in outdoor fabric that blends with the color scheme of your home. This setting is perfect for early-morning breakfast or weekend brunches.

4. Rough and Edgy:

   • Use iron for a bold statement. Match a marble-topped table with upholstered wrought iron chairs. Add wrought iron pendant lights or candles to create a high-end urban feel.

5. Planters and Pots:

   • Furnish your patio with pots or planters that blend with your overall theme. Plant evergreen foliage and flowering plants in colors that complement your home. Strategically placed pots can soften and relax a space, cooling it on hot days.

6. Comfortable Seating:

   • Accessorise your porch with comfortable chairs and colorful upholstered cushions. Add smaller tables, themed pots, plants, and lighting to set the mood at night. The key to creating a harmonious porch and patio is a single theme that is stylish, flexible, and comfortable.