A front porch can invite people to visit or turn people away. The concept of a front porch evokes neighbors and friends gathering to say hello for a bit. A front porch can remain steady year over year or be dressed up seasonally. A friend seasonally designs her porch to invite joy, visits, and smiles!
Nineteen years ago, my front porch was really a concrete step/stoop that lead to the front door. It was function but did not invite people to come for a visit. The front stoop/step was merely a way to enter the house. Then, a deck was built for the purpose of adding two chairs and inviting front porch visits. With the added steps, some elderly neighbor ladies requested a handrail for support. A functional handrail was added – they expressed appreciation. In 2018, I realized that a friend is an artist-blacksmith who makes gates, stair-rails, fireplace screens and more. I spent a year saving funds to have a new front porch handrail added to finish the inviting space and pull the entire front of the house together. This week, it got installed. The front porch looks complete, dressed-up, and inviting! (See photo.) Thanks Susan Bond (Bond with Iron) for this amazing addition to my home.
What are you doing to invite people to your front porch and your home? Here are some ideas.
An Inviting Front Porch:
- Cheerful colors on the front door and trim.
- Seasonal wreath or decorations on the front door.
- Doormats and arrangements that reflect your personality year-round or that change seasonally.
- Swing – with or without pillows.
- Chairs for staying awhile to visit.
- Handrails for support up and down steps or ramps.
- Living things bring warmth to the fronts of our homes.
Not inviting:
- Someone we know had so many cats that their smell could be sensed from the sidewalk and driveway – which was not inviting.
- No decorations, doormats, or living things at the front door or porch.
- “No Soliciting” signs.
- “Go Away” messages at the front door – yes, I’ve seen them.
- Someone answering the door and saying: “Get the hell off of my property.” Yes, a neighbor said that when a pair of us were canvasing to find home-owner’s association board members. Sadly, he was found dead six months later in his living room chair by a neighbor who hadn’t seen him in a few days.
- Always going through the garage to get into the house such that neighbors never see each other to get acquainted.
How is your front porch appeal? What do you want it to be?
Whatever you choose for your front porch, let it reflect who you are and how you would like people to feel when they come to visit you. Your front porch is a part of your nesting experience.
Nesting is about the objects and experiences that create a sense of home. Without home, it is difficult to maintain health, find joy, or to be productive. Enjoy the Nesting series of blogs on your search for and creation of a deep sense of home. –Jana
Jana Kemp
