6 Creative Ways to Freshen Up Your Front Porch (On a Budget!)
Get that dreamy curb appeal without dropping an entire paycheck.

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When it comes to transforming any space, the little things can go a long way. It’s no different for your front porch. There are plenty of ways to liven up your home’s exterior without breaking the bank. Here are seven creative ways to jazz up your front porch so when you come home after a long day of work, you’re excited to walk through that front door.
1. Paint the Door
Let's start with the front door: it's typically the first thing the eye is drawn to when looking at a home's front exterior. That's why painting it is an easy and affordable way to instantly add some character. Go for a bold color, or give it a fresh coat of paint. Get tips and tricks on painting a front door here.
Fresh Front Door Color Ideas
See All PhotosPretty in Pink
The innovative color palette for this Craftsman home combines navy blue, white and pink for a look that feels both masculine and feminine at the same time. “The whole idea was to pack the exterior with colors that people would really stop and look at and also think about,” says designer Brian Patrick Flynn.
Photo By: Robert Peterson; Rustic White Photography
Unique Coral
You might think coral would be a tough color to pull off, but it looks right at home paired with the dark slate gray siding of HGTV Urban Oasis 2020.
Photo By: Robert Peterson, Rustic White
Green Light
According to Feng Shui principles, you can’t go wrong with green, the color of balance and renewal. Don’t worry that it will blend in with your landscaping — using green can actually draw out the different shades that are found naturally in your yard. The saturated hue shown is Behr’s Precious Emerald.
©Behr
Mediterranean Sea
Inspired by the architecture in Greece or coastal Spain, the homeowner painted the stucco exterior pure white accented in black with a bold pop of an Aegean-like blue.
Paint colors: Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa + Sherwin-Williams Caviar + Do-It-Best Quality Paints French Valley Blue
Photo By: Agnes Lopez
Spice Things Up
Everybody knows and loves the classic red front door — but the shade people usually pick is cranberry, which has blue undertones. To turn the temperature up a notch, push your red towards orange instead.
Photo By: Rustic White Photography
Forest Green
The sharp-pitched roof on this 1937 home gives it a quaint English cottage vibe, so the landscaping and color scheme was kept informal. The dark green was inspired by the Green Bay Packers, the homeowners' favorite football team.
Paint colors: Benjamin Moore Golden Lab + Benjamin Moore Lafayette Green + Benjamin Moore Atrium White
Photo By: Jennifer Hughes
Trendy Tan
On any other house, a tan or dark beige door may look bland. But against the dark navy of this stylish cottage from Kate Marker Interiors, this paint color gives off cozy, laid-back beach vibes.
Photo By: Margaret Rajic
Gorgeous Gray
This 1935 home keeps its style crisp and classic with a white exterior and gray accents.
Paint colors: Benjamin Moore Spanish White (siding and trim) + Benjamin Moore Rodeo (shutters) + Benjamin Moore Northern Cliffs (front door)
Photo By: Moya McAllister
Slice of Lime
It's hard to resist painting a contemporary door a vibrant shade, like this delicious Overt Green by Sherwin-Williams. The simplicity of the clean, modern style door acts as a great blank canvas to apply a bold citrusy color.
Photo By: Dionel Fisher- The Mittentog
Easy Breezy White
A half-glass door and sidelights painted a pure, clean white augment the white shiplap ceiling of this breezy front patio, enhancing the beauty of the pale cedar shake shingle on the home's exterior. Multitoned flagstone draws hues from both while a pair of pretty ficus trees add natural color.
Photo By: Jessica Alexander
Grape Expectations
DIY blogger Brittany Bailey (prettyhandygirl.com) knows a thing or two about home improvement, but for this project, she didn’t have to lift a finger. She inherited this purple front door from the previous owners of her home and decided to keep it as is. The color, unique to Bailey’s neighborhood, pops against white trim and also picks up the color in the mosaic tile on the brick porch.
©Brittany Bailey
Golden Green
The classic black-and-white color combo on this farmhouse-style home is given a boost of personality with the vibrant gold-green front door.
Paint colors: Sherwin-Williams Pure White + Sherwin-Williams Black of Night (shutters) + Sherwin-Williams Independent Gold
Photo By: Ashley Gieseking
Soft Salmon
Built in 1929, this white stucco Tudor-style home with fairytale charm is given an extra shot of personality thanks to the pale pink door and shutters.
Paint colors: Benjamin Moore Standish White + Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray + Benjamin Moore Crimson
Photo By: Moya McAllister
Pretty Peacock
Built in 1940, this home's gorgeous stonework is accented with white and gray trim, but it's the jewel-toned, deep green-blue shutters and door that amplify its unique personality.
Paint colors: Valspar Sequoia Glade (front door and shutters) + Valspar Pam’s Lace (trim) + Valspar Ivory Brown (siding)
Photo By: Jennifer Hughes
Cool Turquoise
Inspired by an antique cabinet she saw, Beyond the Screen Door blogger and designer Sonya Hamilton painted her own front door a brilliant blue-green and applied a glaze to get an antique effect. This color is Sherwin-Williams Nifty Turquoise.
Whipped Coffee
This historic home was built in 1869. “This blue beauty has seen a lot! We love its historic Colonial style and the copper portico roof with its blue-green patina,” say homeowners.
Paint colors: Valspar Sharkfin + Valspar Quarry Pond (shutters) + Valspar Wave’s Crest (trim) + Valspar Coffee Whip (door)
Photo By: Ashley Gieseking
Elegant Indigo
A Victorian home is a license to indulge in brilliant paint and trim choices. "This style of architecture has so much detail that it takes a dark or bold color to draw your attention to the front door as a focal point," says Jackie Jordan, Director of Color Marketing for Sherwin-Williams. This shade, Sherwin-Williams Indigo, harmonizes with the copper trim above and the brass hardware and kickplate below.
Energetic Orange
The color orange is associated with vibrant energy, according to award-winning designer Lori Dennis, ASID. For that reason, orange can be hard to pull off — but pairing it with a cool gray exterior keeps the mood balanced and bright.
Muted Oak
If you have a Craftsman-style home, you'll want the intricate architectural details to stand out. With a rich wood color like Sherwin-Williams' Cut the Mustard, your front door will complement your home's design instead of taking away the spotlight.
Photo By: Frontier Group ©Photographed by Frontier Group
Ruby Red
The arched ruby-red door is the perfect contrast to the traditional dark-brown timber and white stucco Tudor-style palette.
Paint colors: Sherwin-Williams Navajo White + Sherwin-Williams Black Bean + Behr Ruby Ring
Photo By: Photography by Ashley Gieseking
Minty Fresh
This confection of a front door was snapped by DIY blogger Brittany Bailey (prettyhandygirl.com) on a neighborhood stroll. The pale Jordan-almond color is a close match, she suggests, for the Sherwin-Williams shade Aqua Tint.
©Brittany Bailey
Rustic Red
This eye-catching traditional exterior is rooted in its landscape with an earthy palette. The rustic red door and matching shutters stand out against the muted hues, bringing a warm, sun-baked look to this home. Try Sherwin-Williams' Rustic Red to pull this look together.
Photo By: Sherwin-Williams
Bold Blue
Got a stodgy brick facade on your hands? An electric-blue front door will certainly breathe some life into the picture — and knock your neighbors’ socks off. DIY blogger Brittany Bailey (prettyhandygirl.com) spotted this one on vacation in the United Kingdom.
©Brittany Bailey
Put It in Neutral
If your house has a neutral color palette and you’re squeamish about bright hues — not everyone can handle a candy-apple red or a neon green front door — try a paint color that is also neutral but has the opposite “temperature.” That is, choose a warm door to go with a cool house or vice versa. Here, taupe siding with warm yellow undertones is nicely complemented by a charcoal gray with a cool-bluish tone.
©Sherwin Williams
A Ray of Sunshine
This sweet-as-can-be mountain cottage is a study in contrast — the cedar shake roof and gray-stained wood siding get a heavy dose of cheer from a sunshine-yellow front door.
Photo By: Alexandra Haynes
“M” Is for “Marvelous”
If you’re going to paint your front door, why not go all out? Lifestyle blogger Jill McKee, who dishes on DIY home decor at meandjilly.blogspot.com, gave her door a much-needed makeover with a strip of crown molding and a can of Benjamin Moore's Iron Mountain. Then she took it up a notch by painting a houndstooth pattern on a papier-mache “M” in a lighter shade of gray, distressing it with sandpaper and attaching it to the door to achieve the final look.
©Jill McKee
Powder Blue Meets Stripes
Blogger Ellen Mallernee Barnes (blackandwhiteandlovedallover.com) got so inspired while she was painting her front door blue — that’s Benjamin Moore’s Wythe Blue — that she decided to go all out with porch stripes. Those colors are from Sherwin-Williams' Perfect Greige and Antique Ivory. “It turned out so fun and bright,” Barnes says. “I love pulling into my driveway now.”
©Ellen Mallernee Barnes
Dark Chocolate
High-contrast landscapes call for high-contrast color palettes. This desert ranch stays cool with a white exterior and an accent of chocolate brown trim and door. The beauty of this color combo? Any accent color can be chosen for outdoor furniture and decorations. Use Behr's Divine Wine to achieve this look.
Photo By: Behr
Candy Red
A red front door may seem awfully dramatic when you're looking at paint swatches, but don't fear it. Red is such a popular way to add interest to a neutral exterior that it's now considered a classic choice. This shade, Behr's Licorice Stick, is a source of energy and an instant cure for "the taupes."
Sunny Yellow
Cass, blogger from That Old House, describes the hue of her front door as "summer squash yellow." It's actually Benjamin Moore's Imperial Yellow, which pops out like a happy surprise from behind the charcoal-colored screen door frame and trim.
One of a Kind
Interior designer Lucy Williams paired one of her clients with a custom millwork company to build this fabulous wood door. The intense turquoise color makes a strong statement against the soft-yellow brick, especially flanked by mirror-backed lanterns.
©Lucy Williams
2. Add Porch Drapes
I love the instant change a set of outdoor curtains can make to a porch. It's a great way to add visual interest and in this case, a lot of color. If your porch allows for a seating area, curtains can offer privacy and shade for the days when you want to curl up with a good book.

Vibrant Outdoor Space With Hanging Daybed and Draperies
Quick and easy updates brought springtime charm to the covered deck of the 2015 HGTV Spring House.

Photo by: Flynnside Out Productions
Flynnside Out Productions
3. Update Your House Numbers
Here's a cheap, easy and fun way too add a little spunk to your home's front porch. Freshen up the exterior with new house numbers. Explore all the options and pick or mix-and-match a set of exciting numbers. Don't feel confined to placing them on your wall or mailbox! Hang them on a planter box and add plants for a fresh look.

Modern Seattle Courtyard with Metal Planter and Concrete Wall
A metal planter displays the house number just outside this modern courtyard. Drought-resistant plants fill the rustic container, which accents the contemporary concrete wall that separates the patio from the street.

Photo by: Coreen Schmidt Photography
Coreen Schmidt Photography
House Number Ideas
See All PhotosWall Planter
A metal planter displays the house number just outside this modern courtyard. Drought-resistant plants fill the rustic container, which accents the contemporary concrete wall that separates the patio from the street.
Photo By: Coreen Schmidt Photography
Put Your House in Lights
Be the brightest house on the block with fresh, fun neon address numbers like the ones featured here, from HGTV Smart Home 2015. Not only do they make a bold, stylish statement but you can rest assured that guests will always find their way to the front door. Win-win.
Photo By: Jason Kisner
Flower-Filled Front Door Basket
Give a front door basket double usefulness by adding house numbers. Make the addition permanent by attaching metal versions with heavy-duty outdoor adhesive, or opt for a temporary fix, like these budget-friendly vinyl stickers. Tip: Make it easier to visually align the numbers by noting the basket's center with a piece of removable painter's tape.
Photo By: Sarah Busby; Styling by H. Camille Smith
DIY Cement Board
Heavy-duty cement board is long-lasting, affordable and you can make them in any font you wish.
Photo By: Emily Fazio
Fishing Cottage
Joan from Scavenger Chic made her house numbers using upcycled pallet wood, rope and driftwood. Create a silhouette that matches your home's style and use it to display your number.
Photo By: Scavenger Chic
Oar Inspiring
Krista from the Happy Housie blog upcycled an old boat paddle into a nautical-inspired way to display her house number.
Photo By: Krista Aasen
Upcycled Wine Bottles
A variety of wine bottles were melted down flat then adored with numbers. Project by Glass With a Past.
Photo By: Jodi McRaney Rusho
4. Flourish With Flora
Get creative with your plants and flowers. While the flower pot route is a great one, and I highly recommend adding them around the porch, get creative with your flower containers. Use pitchers, wheelbarrows, old cans and sprinkle them throughout the exterior. It is an easy way to bring life and color to the front of your home. Check out fresh and fun DIY planter ideas here.

Clever Vessels
Interior designers arrange objects with a range of heights and widths to keep the overall look balanced. To add height to potted evergreens or planted winter floral, try placing vessels on top of vintage stands, chairs or stools.

Photo by: Flynnside Out Productions
Flynnside Out Productions
5. Create a Seating Space
If your front porch has the space for one, consider adding a small seating area outside for entertaining. Patio furniture can get a little pricey, but there are some great steals at estate sales that would be perfect DIY projects. Add benches, chairs, tables and an outdoor rug to cozy up the space.
6. Install a Porch Swing
It's the classic front porch element and you should definitely have one if you have the place for it! This is on the higher end of the budget but it can make a big difference with a few pillows and a cushion, so it's worth considering. Learn how to install a porch swing here.

Vibrant Color and Pattern Enliven Classic Porch
Bold patterns and vivid colors bring life and personality to this charming front porch. A white swing is adorned with pillows for ultimate comfort, and yellow ottomans serve multiple functions as foot rests, coffee tables or extra seating.

Photo by: D2 Interieurs
D2 Interieurs