Porch Styles on Modern Colonial Homes

Small Covered Porch

• Many colonial homes have a small covered area directly in front of the front door. This may consist of an extended pediment with a ceiling overhead. This area may have a gabled roof and eaves that extend past the roof line. The flooring may be made out of concrete or wood. Large two-story columns or pilasters may flank the doorway. Dutch colonials may have thinner columns called Doric columns. Ornate doors, decorations over the door and prominent windows near the entrance help to make this small porch stand out.

Large Covered Porch

• A more modern take on the covered porch is to expand the covered area so it covers a larger portion of the front of the home. The porch may run the entire width of the house or cover half of the front of the home. This more substantial porch may contain columns beside the porch steps. A second story balcony may extend the same width of the house to mimic the lower level porch. White decorative railings and spindles draw attention to the porch. Larger covered porches are more common for farmhouse or country-style colonial homes.

Wrap-Around Porch

• A wrap-around porch can be added to a modern colonial home. This large feature models the substantial stature of a colonial home. The wrap-around porch may extend from the front of the home to one side. It may also go around all four sides of the house.

Sunroom

• A porch that functions as its own room is a modern version for a colonial home. A sunroom or screened-in porch provides extra square footage that protects inhabitants from the elements. A neutral color palette from the walls and floors provides a coordinating background to a colonial home with a brick or siding facade.

Side Porch

• Some modern colonial homes feature a side porch, rather than a front porch. This porch extends from the side of the home and may wrap around to the front door. Some modern Spanish colonial homes have this feature.