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Besides making your home look more inviting, a covered front porch boosts home values to your property and can create curb appeal. For house plans that don’t already feature a covered front porch, adding one can boost home values by providing an average return on investment of 84%.
However, covered front porches can add much more to your home. With a few neat design ideas like comfortable wicker chairs and potted plants, even a small front porch can become a haven for outdoor living.
Additions like sunrooms or a screen room for a front porch can also increase the living space and protect your home’s entryway from the elements.
There are some house plans that are ideal for covered front porches. Learn more about the history and design of these cozy and creative outdoor spaces.
Read MoreToday’s house plans with front porch designs began their inception as Roman-era porticos. They link us to an idealized past and act as open invitations for neighborly visits and community “people-watching.”
However, the history of American architecture, and especially covered front porch designs, finds its true roots in colonists more than in European traditions. Island architecture in the Carribean often featured house plans with breezy porches to offset the humid climate.
This trend drifted north, towards the United States as landowners moved between their American homes and island properties. The similarity in climate is also why most, if not all, of the homes in the southern parts of the United States have large porches.
Soon, front porch designs began to take center stage and were adaptable to different styles. For example, Victorian houses have wraparound porches while the last American house style to incorporate porches, the bungalow, features an instantly recognizable deep and wide front porch.
Since it’s the first thing you see, covered front porches easily capture the imagination of American homeowners who are looking to build the home of their dreams. You can, of course, add a covered front porch to almost any style of home.
However, some house plans are more suited for porch designs because the original architects working in the style intended this feature to be a part of a home’s overall landscape design. Take advantage of these floor plans and pictures to help inspire your own remodeling or porch upgrade.
The modern farmhouse style is an updated version of the classic farmhouse style home. Instead of using more “rustic” outfits, the modern farmhouse includes luxurious details like stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, lofted spaces, and sleek lighting for the interiors.
The exteriors can feature a large, covered front porch, whitewashed walls, exposed wood or timber cladding, lots of windows, and, quite often, an almost barn-like design. Because of the emphasis on the outdoors, these homes also focus on enhancing curb appeal with impeccable landscaping.
The modern farmhouse porch is wide and right at ground level. This means it doesn't often feature too many front porch steps. It's large and wide enough to comfortably accommodate additional seating like patio chairs, a rocking chair, and even a porch swing without feeling too busy.
Green Revival homes are impactful and ostentatious. Rather like the imposing and ornate architecture of Victorian-style homes, the Greek Revival home’s exterior draws the eye upward and across owing to its almost colonial-style symmetrical shape.
The generous covered porch is the home's focal point and it leads to an entry door flanked by columns that stand still like watchful sentries.
The design also includes quite a few windows and plain or highly decorated cornices and friezes. The covered front porch on this particular architect’s design doubles up the living space as it also acts as a base for the large, symmetrical terrace above.
There’s something very familiar and welcoming about the character of a traditional ranch-style house. As an offshoot of the Craftsman-style movement, the ranch-style home's appearance is also about blending the indoors and the outdoors. That makes it the perfect purveyor of the classic covered front porch.
While there are quite a few “sub-” styles of the ranch home design, such as the California ranch, this type of floor plan is made for a family that will enjoy single-story living.
It has a long, low-pitch roofline and relies on a mix of simple design and materials such as wood, brick, and stone. Sometimes it can also use timber cladding, like the modern farmhouse style.
Its deep, overhanging eaves and large windows set the stage for a spacious covered front porch, which is often wide enough to be called a veranda. It also features cross-gabled roofs that mold the overall shape of the ranch-style home into an “L” or a “U” shaped design.
Whether you have a specific style in mind for your home or you’re looking to start from scratch, use Monster House Plans’ innovative features to bring your next property alive.
Start with our granular Advanced Search functionality, which puts the power of detailed search options in your hands. You can choose from various styles and elevations, and add in elements like Jack-and-Jill baths, multi-generational designs, detached garages, A-frames, sunrooms, vaulted ceilings, and so much more.
Next, get instant access to a comprehensive list of materials, costs, and use our Ask The Architect feature for expert guidance on a floor plan’s specifications. From start to finish, Monster House Plans has got you covered. Browse our online collection of 30,000+ floor plans and see for yourself.