Front Porch Columns: Ideas and Design Inspiration to Transform Your Exterior

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Transforming your home’s exterior can be as simple as adding or reimagining the role of your front porch columns. These architectural elements are a key feature that can redefine the entire look of your façade and functionality of your porch. From classic styles to modern designs, front porch columns offer a myriad of possibilities to enhance your curb appeal. Read on for some of our favorite front porch column ideas to get you inspired.

Whether you’re looking for ways to revamp your front porch with columns or you have other exterior design dreams, we’re here to help. Our expert designers will work with you to understand your goals and design style. We even offer a paint visualization service for clients who just want to see what their exterior would look like in a different color. Whatever you’re imagining for your exterior, we will partner with you to achieve it. Learn more about our services.
before-and-after rendering of a ranch house with wood front porch columns

#1 // Build upon the other accents

From wood and stone to painted beams, there are several porch column styles to choose from. As our exterior designers reimagined this simple, traditional ranch, we were intentional with texture to accomplish a dynamic facelift. Among the shake siding, vertical siding, and painted brick, we integrated wood accents for even more textural contrast. Our exterior designers broke up the straight roofline by carving out a gabled portico, framed with wood porch columns. 

In addition to the columns used to support the portico, we extended them evenly along the rest of the porch. The wood on the columns blends seamlessly with the wood porch ceiling, front door, and decorative trim, achieving subtle contrast without overcomplicating the design.

before-and-after rendering of a quaint house with a portico with wood columns

#2 // Amplify a smaller space 

Porch columns do not exclusively belong on grandiose porches. In the before photo shown above, the entry had a one-dimensional appearance. The homeowner wanted to expand the quaint stoop surrounding the entry, so our designers transformed the space into a small porch. Drawing the eye to the front door, we implemented a peaked portico with a hanging light fixture and flanked the space with dual wood columns.

Tying the columns together with the exterior, we used the same ledgestone for the bases and caps of the posts that we featured on the bottom portion of the house. We also replaced the tall shrubs and evergreens with smaller plants and Corten steel planters, creating a warm, welcoming vibe.

before-and-after rendering of a traditional home with white porch columns with stone bases

#3 // Complement the overall design

At brick&batten, our designers are skilled at ensuring every element works in tandem to add to the overall aesthetic. Here, we transformed the existing traditional design into a breathtaking façade with a modern farmhouse flare. We appreciated the existing architecture, from the porch columns to the dormer windows, but we made some updates to infuse more texture and dimension into the design. We went with wider, tapered white porch columns with lovely cultured stone bases to match the bottom of the exterior.

The gray tones of the cultured stone used on both the house and columns mesh effortlessly with the siding and shutters. We widened the walkway leading up to the porch and surrounded the space with landscaping, creating an oasis worthy of porch lounging.

before-and-after rendering of a traditional home with a balcony and a porch with wood columns

#4 // Accentuate the architecture

From the balcony to the cupola, this traditional exterior showcased some unique architectural components, but it was missing something to draw the eye upward. In our redesign, we extended a metal roof out from the balcony and implemented wood porch columns. Here, the columns add both structural support and aesthetic appeal. Because of their vertical format, the wood posts emphasize height and act as visual anchors for the entire façade.

before-and-after rendering of a small home with dusty blue shutters and wood front porch columns

#5 // Open things up

In the before photo shown above, the front door was not visible from the curb. The doorway’s shielded layout didn’t offer a space for the homeowners to take in the views of their front yard. Our designers opened the face of the home, creating a front porch grounded by wood porch columns. Working with the existing gable, we evened out the front of the design, using the columns to break up the previously flat façade.

Visually, the columns create a sense of depth and dimension. Plus, by extending the roofline, we created a covered outdoor space to relax, providing a welcoming transition between the outside and the interior.

before-and-after rendering of a red brick house with a new covered porch supported by columns

#6 // Add coverage to your entrance 

Think of your entry not just as the focal point of your exterior, but as the piece that connects the interior to the great outdoors. For this design, we focused on transforming the entrance. Before, the front door was uncovered, leaving the entry vulnerable to the elements.

We used porch columns to support a roof to cover the space and define the parameters of the porch. This coverage enhanced the look of the exterior and created new functional benefits, too. No more fumbling for the keys at the front door during a rainstorm or foregoing front yard relaxation because of the weather.

before-and-after rendering of a red brick ranch with neutral columns and olive green trim on the portico

#7 // Add symmetry to the façade

Porch columns are an excellent way to create cohesion and symmetry. In this existing design, the front door was accessed by a small set of steps just big enough to stand on and open the door. This section of the house was set slightly behind the two red brick portions on the right and left, nudging the entrance a bit to the background.

Our designers added porch columns along the perimeter, building out a sprawling front porch. Adding some contrast to the roofline, we implemented a peak around the entrance. We matched the color of the columns to the siding around the entrance, switching the color of the trim on the gable to match the window trim. These intentional design moves transformed the entrance into a statement piece, tied together cohesively.

A before and after photo of a brick home with modern front porch columns

#8 // Modernize the aesthetic

Not only did we use columns to create a covered front porch for this exterior, we also used them to achieve a modern look. We transformed the existing traditional exterior with moody olive siding and bold black accents. Blending with the shutters, trim, and double doors, we went with black metal columns with concrete bases. These modern front porch columns lean into an industrial vibe, which gives the porch a striking, edgy appeal.

before-and-after rendering of a gray house with stone columns on the porch

#9 // Keep it cohesive 

The existing porch columns for this design were so subtle they were hard to notice from the curb. In our modern overhaul, we revamped the entry space with a peaked portico, supported by wide modern porch columns covered in cultured stone. We used the same material for the column on the end of the porch and the bay window, maintaining a cohesive appearance.

before-and-after rendering of a light, airy coastal home with wood shutters and white porch columns

#10 // Brighten the entryway 

For this design, we maintained the privacy of the front door and used porch columns to create a focal point. This lead-in to the front door is light and bright with white columns that stretch the whole porch. We also used a white X-railing with wood accents and wood shutters on the windows to enhance the airy aesthetic. 

house with stone and siding with wood columns on the porch

Considering columns for curb appeal?

Are you looking to reimagine your existing porch columns to breathe new life into your curb appeal? Maybe you’re considering adding columns to amplify your porch or create a new one. Whichever way porch columns are running through your thoughts, our designers can help you hone in. 

Are you thinking about adding columns to your porch? Maybe you’re inspired to start tackling a variety of design goals. We’re here to help every step of the way. Get started today!

Author

brick&batten Contributor

Mackenzie has been writing for brick&batten for three years, and most of her exterior design knowledge comes from renovating her own home. She purchased a log home that was stuck in the '90s and the previous owners were unable to keep up with exterior maintenance. From reimagining the landscaping and hardscaping to revamping the porch and logs, Mackenzie and her family approached the entire project DIY-style. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys cooking and spending time with her family of six on their farm, which includes cows, chickens, rabbits, dogs, and cats. She has been writing for 12 years and has explored a variety of materials from food writing to lifestyle pieces and, of course, virtual exterior design.