Bringing Back the Front Porch

 “Nobody thought much about the front porch when most Americans had them and used them.  The great American front porch was just there, open and sociable, an unassigned part of the house that belonged to everyone and no one, a place for family and friends to pass the time.”                                      

--Rochlin, The Front Porch, in Home, Sweet Home

The front porch has traditionally been a symbol of community and neighborliness; a place where people passing by feel free to stop and visit.  Unfortunately, many modern homes have been designed without a front porch, as backyard patios have become the more popular outdoor living space.  However, a backyard patio is a private space, and few people feel comfortable enough to trapes through one’s yard in order to stop and say hello.  Truly, few structures are as inviting and friendly as a front porch.

If you long to return to the simpler, friendlier front-porch culture of the past, but cannot afford such a costly addition, consider adding a front yard patio.  Instead of the traditional grass, shrubs and landscaping rocks which often border the front of the house, you can install pavers and seating walls, complete with comfortable patio furniture.  Such a design in the front of your house will send a welcoming message to all who pass by.