Designing your porch can be a fun and very challenging project for your home. A porch is much more than just an entryway into your home. A porch provides you with a place for relaxation and entertaining. It also adds a touch of style to your home as well as adding value to your home. Some factors you need to consider when you are planning your porch will include the size of the porch, the design of the roof, the wall design and the decking.

When you first begin planning your porch, the size will be the most important consideration. There's a saying that goes, "bigger is not necessarily better…it's just bigger". This comes into play when considering the size of your porch. Even if you have a large home, you don't need a large porch for it to look nice. It's more important that the size of your porch be in proportion to the rest of your home. Keep in mind, also, that you will not as much furniture in your porch as your living room, so you don't it that large. If you have a large home, you may want a large porch that will extend across the entire width or length, but big is not a necessity. A porch will most likely be where you spend your leisure time getting fresh air and sunshine or visiting with guests. Therefore, you don't need a real large porch for it to be stylish, functional and attractive.

Building Your Porch

Too many people design porches with style in mind and yet have a roof installed that does not go with their home roof. This totally takes away any sense of style. A porch should be considered an addition to the home yet should blend well with the decor of the home. The best way for this to happen is to have the same roof style on your porch and home, whether it's sloping or flat. The porch columns should also match the style of your home. If your home is large, you porch will look better with thicker columns or thin columns placed closed together. Deck railings will also look better on large homes if they are wider as well. This tends to give your porch a large appearance. The walls of your porch may be higher than normal to give it a taller look as well as a giving it a high visual appeal.

The deck you use on your porch is important for the overall appearance of your home. Composite or wood decking are two popular choices. When choosing wood, make sure you use the style that is resistant to rot, pests and decay. Keeping this in mind, composite decks work excellently. When the porch is complete, the finish you choose will make or break the appearance of your deck. The best style of finishes are polyurethane finishes. They compliment the wood while letting the grains of the wood shine through.