Before-and-After Porch Makeovers That You Need to See to Believe

Prior to the renovation, the entrance to the 600-square-foot cottage was just a stoop.

The homeowner widened and deepened the front stoop, turning it into a porch that’s 28 by 8 feet. Rather than crowd the porch with furniture, dueling porch swings were hung and guests are encouraged to pull out chairs.

Tour the 660-square-foot cottage.

An old carport and shed were waiting to be reimagined.

Draperies made of Sunbrella fabric give the cabana an outdoor-room feel. Artificial turf anchors the space and serves as an unexpected area rug.

The patio wasn’t connected to the house and big bulky air conditioner units took up valuable real estate.

The square seems like an outdoor family room and has a definitive European flair.

With no shade, the backyard needed a covered gathering spot.

The homeowner installed a 10-foot-wide by 30-foot-long iron pergola and planted wisteria, which would turn into a beautiful canopy. She made the overhead lights by transforming pickle jars into pendants.

A large family congregates on this this historic country house each year for Thanksgiving. Prior to the renovation, they had to keep the festivities indoors.

The new space includes an outdoor kitchen, a dining area, and sitting room anchored by a stately brick fireplace.

The homeowner wanted the space to be an extension of the house.

No mowing here! Evergreen ground cover, bluestone tiles, and a pea gravel drive keep things simple and work well with the Cape Cod-style home.

We spend a lot of time on our front porches, whether socializing, entertaining, relaxing, or eating. For this reason, it's important that our porches get just as much attention as the other parts of our houses. We think these five porch staples – including plenty of seating and a strategically placed ceiling fan – are a must for any Southern home.

The deck was small, lacked a focal point, and needed an upgrade.

French doors were added to allow people to move more easily between the indoors and outdoors. Replacing the wood deck with pavers give the space a feeling of permanence.

The homeowners used the space to collect furniture that they couldn’t find a home for.

An outdoor rug from Dash & Albert, a white wicker sofa, and wicker chairs create a comfortable spot for chatting. Pink-hued pillows and a variety of vibrant container gardens bring lots of color.

The 130-square-foot space was too small for a dining table or sofa, but was the ideal spot for an afternoon cocktail.

Four chairs and a table seems like a no-brainer, but gives the space a true sense of purpose. Two 6-foot fiddleleaf fig trees bring life to the porch.

A leaky roof, structural issues, and termite damage made this porch one nail short of a total tear down.

In addition to restoring the logs, fixing the foundation, adding stone steps, and reviving the porch in period-perfect style, the homeowners screened it in to make it more usable year-round.

The double front porches brought classic farmhouse style to the exterior, but they were termite-damaged and desperately in need of love.

The 19th century home has new porch that deliver farmhouse style in a beautiful way.

Before the renovation, there was no outdoor living space.

The L-shaped screened porch creates a space for relaxing and gathering.

A large cabinet serving as a focal point was a tad boring and cold winter weather without a heat source made this porch unusable part of the year.

The stacked stone fireplace not only serves as a heat source, but also creates a much-needed focal point.