How to brighten up your porch

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A practical entrance to your home is so useful. Somewhere to put damp coats and muddy shoes, and a way to keep out draughts. Or simply shelter you from the elements as you fumble around for your door keys. So, building a new porch is a great way to improve the entrance to your home and add real value.

But even if it has a characterful wooden frame or plenty of glazing, a porch can sometimes look a bit dull and functional. Thankfully, there are lots of inexpensive ways to brighten up your porch and create an attractive entrance that you can be proud of. Here are a few ideas that might just do the trick:

Patterned floor tiles

Flooring does need to be practical in a porch, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be bright and cheerful. And patterned tiles are a great way to add a bit of character and fun while also being easy to maintain.

There are lots of different styles to choose from, including floral, geometric and vintage. So, it should be easy to find a pattern that you like. You could make a statement with bold colour choices such as teal or yellow or go for more mellow pastel tones.

But do be sure to pick the right type of tiles for your porch. If your porch is enclosed, then standard floor tiles are fine to use. However, if your porch is open, outdoor tiles will be necessary. Outdoor tiles are usually made from porcelain, so they’re weather and slip resistant.

Bright lighting

Choosing the right lighting will also help to create a brighter porch. If your porch is small and enclosed, then wall lights with glass shades will keep it bright at night without impinging on the sense of space too much. And wall lights with beams that shine both up and down, are another good option for increasing brightness.

For open porches, one or two wall lanterns, in a traditional or modern style, will keep your entrance illuminated nicely. Lanterns aren’t the only option. But whatever you choose, make sure it has a high ingress protection rating. So, it stands up to the worst of the weather.

Plenty of paint

It’s amazing the effect that a splash of paint has on any space, so it can certainly enhance a porch. And the great thing about paint, is it can brighten both the inside and outside of a porch. You’re likely to need one paint for the exterior and one for the interior. But some paint brands such as Frenchic’s Al Fresco range are suitable for both.

Bright white will undoubtedly perk up a dull entrance, but pale blues, greens and pinks can add a sense of calm too. And if you fancy a more eye-catching approach, try painting the door and framework in complementary or contrasting colours.

Flowers and foliage

Any porch that has plants or flowers will seem instantly brighter and more welcoming, so adding a natural element is a great idea. Add greenery to enclosed porches with dragon trees, palms or snake plants. And decorate open porches with ornamental fruit trees or pots brimming with bright flowers.

If you’re not green-fingered or there’s a lack of natural light, faux plants can create the same effect. And if space is too tight to house plants, why not try botanical-themed wallpaper, blinds or window film instead?

Of course, there’s one more way to introduce flowers and foliage to your porch without taking up space. And that’s by hanging a wreath. You can keep it fresh and interesting by modifying it to suit each season.

A decorative doormat

And finally, one sure-fire way to brighten up any porch is laying down a decorative doormat. Doormats always used to be brown and ‘welcome’ the only words emblazoned on them. But now you can get them in almost any colour, with patterns, funny words and more printed onto them. And the great thing about a doormat is it’s both practical and affordable. Plus, it’s easy to change when you get bored of it.