It’s a mistake to become so preoccupied with staging the interior of a home that you neglect to spruce up the front porch. But even though it’s the first space buyers will see during a showing, many real estate pros overlook the front porch, Dawn T. Totty, a designer in Chattanooga, Tenn., told realtor.com®. “Designing a well-curated front porch not only adds value to your home, but it also creates another opportunity for you to increase your living space,” Totty says. “Think of it as your outdoor living room.”
Realtor.com® offered a few ideas, including:
1. Set a table. If there’s space, add a cocktail and side table to add coziness to the front porch. A bistro table with two to four chairs may work as well.
2. Add some artwork. “Artwork, or even a mirror placed on an inside wall, can create interest and give the look of an indoor living space,” Totty says. Just make sure to place it in a weather-proofed spot so it doesn’t get damaged.
3. Upgrade the lighting. “Flush-mount lighting is not the only option,” Totty says. She recommends a modern semiflush-mount light or a pendant light.
4. Bring in some furnishings. If space isn’t an issue, choose some sturdy, weather-proofed furnishings, such as a sofa, love seat, or arm chair. Make sure it’s upholstered in outdoor-friendly fabric. Then, add a throw blanket along the side. You want to create “a living room aesthetic for year-round use,” Totty says.
5. Paint the ceiling. Try a color like sky blue on the ceiling of the front porch to “increase the depth of the space and ensure the architecture remains the focal point,” suggests Dee Schlotter, senior color marketing manager at paint company PPG. Pick a color that will harmonize with the surrounding landscape, she suggests.
Source: “7 Front Porch Ideas That’ll Help You Make a Good Impression,” realtor.com® (March 28, 2018)
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online, March 2018, with permission of the National Association of REALTORS®. Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.