The porch is the first thing a visitor will see when setting their eyes upon your home, so it’s important to get things right. Not only will an aesthetically pleasing porch make a good impression on your guests, it will also help to drive up the value of your property (by a significant amount) when it comes time to sell. Investing in your porch doesn’t have to be expensive, and the returns in the long-run are more than worth the short-term financial sacrifice – providing you get the design elements correct! Here are some of the things you can do to make the portal of your home look welcoming and impressive.
Add a canopy
Having a canopy installed can dramatically improve the appearance of the front of your property. Whether your house is traditional or modern, there are guaranteed to be canopies which are a perfect stylistic match. At Unicorn Windows, we offer a selection of high-quality canopies in a range of styles, from classic timber to more modern designs. Having a canopy installed is relatively inexpensive. However, just like with other structural changes to the property, please ensure that you have got planning permission before the work commences.
Choose an appropriate front door
There are a multitude of options when it comes to choosing your front door, and deciding on the material for the doorframe is arguably the most important part of the process. Other than the unique aesthetic appeal of each material, some materials are more durable than others and differences in price are a factor to consider as well. For instance, aluminium doors are extremely durable and do not require painting; however, they are not stylistically appropriate for every property.
The quality of the glass on the window panels is also crucial, particularly if you live on a main street and desire to keep the noise from outside to a minimum. In such cases, ensure that the glass on your front door is double-glazed (or even triple-glazed), since this will not only help with the noise, it will help to keep the home insulated too. At Unicorn Windows, all of our front doors are constructed with high quality materials, so you won’t have to worry about them falling apart any time in the near future! For more information about choosing the correct front door, please view this informative guide produced by Consumer Reports (the contents include pros and cons of different materials, energy efficiency, costs and more).
Decoration
Once the structural elements of your porch are complete, you’re free to focus on the bells and whistles of the operation and start decorating. Potted plants are an excellent way to add some character to your porch, whether you have them hanging from the canopy or presented in exquisite urns. One word of warning however – since the UK is notoriously cold, research the plants carefully and don’t purchase those which are too reliant on natural sunlight (as they will be in the shade most of the time anyway). Popular types of plants for porch decorations include: ferns, petunias, geraniums and marigolds. When the summer hits, some hanging lanterns and a sofa with swinging seats (provided you have enough room) can really help to make your porch look welcoming and homely.
(Photo by taliesin)