32 DIY Porch Ideas That Are Actually Doable

Porches are a place to gather, laugh, and relax. They're an outside extension of your home, and most of the time, they're the first part of your home that visitors get to see. The porch needs to be a place where visitors are welcome, but also a place you know you can go for some rest and relaxation. These DIY porch ideas will help transform your porch into a place where you and all your loved ones want to spend time.

There are all kinds of DIY porch ideas here, from simple projects that will take you a few minutes to a complete transformation that might take you a weekend. Whatever projects you decide to tackle, make them your own so you can create a porch that you'll love.

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House Doormat

The Merrythought

Start out with a plain doormat and add some paint, make a few cuts, and you have this adorable house doormat. You could customize it to look like your home or follow the directions to create this mid-century home doormat. It's a simple DIY project for your porch that will really let your creativity flow.

House Doormat from The Merrythought
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Porch Swing

A Beautiful Mess

You can make a big impact on your porch by adding a porch swing. This project doesn't just have you put up a porch swing: It shows you how to build one, too. A little bit of building experience is needed, but this is a straightforward project with all the directions included.

Porch Swing from A Beautiful Mess
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Porch Pillows

A Beautiful Mess

If you have any kind of seating on your front porch, you can easily add porch pillows to introduce a pop of color. You could buy pillows for your front porch or you can make your own with this tutorial. Follow the painting directions to get the same look, or choose your own outdoor fabric.

Porch Pillows from A Beautiful Mess
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Large Outdoor Monogram Letter Planter Box

Remodelaholic

Isn't this a clever DIY porch idea! You get the building plan for the letter you'd like to showcase on the side of your porch and then build it. It's an easy build that confident beginners can handle. You then fill the letter frame full of flowers or plants or decorate it seasonally. It's a great project that's sure to impress the neighbors.

Large Outdoor Monogram Letter Planter Box from Remodelaholic

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Modern House Number Sign

Little House of Four

Replacing your house letters can give the whole front of your home an instant facelift. This project uses square dowels for the wooden frame and then a coat of stain to finish it off. Pre-purchased house numbers are then added to the plaque.

Modern House Number Sign from Little House of Four
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Outdoor Bar Cart

The Inspired Hive

Greet your neighbors and visitors with a beverage from your outdoor bar cart. This project uses a laundry basket frame for the bottom and then the top is built from wood. It's a simple cart that's great for a smaller porch.

Outdoor Bar Cart from The Inspired Hive
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Macramé Plant Hanger

The Inspired Hive

Even if you're working with a small porch, you should still have some hanging room. That's the perfect place for a DIY plant hanger. This simple one uses jute and a metal container, giving it a casual rustic look. Basic macrame knots are used to create the rope basket.

Macramé Plant Hanger from The Inspired Hive
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Ikea Rast Hack

Chatfield Court

This DIY porch idea is an easy IKEA hack that you can have finished in an afternoon. You'll paint it, add some wheels, and then add some interesting handles. You can sit it on your porch and use it for extra storage.

Ikea Rast Hack from Chatfield Court

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Screened-In Porch

EricVega/Getty Images

If you're looking to really give your porch a facelift, consider adding a screen to your porch. It protects against bugs and allows you to easily add curtains or shades to the area. This project will take you through each step of building a screened-in porch.

Screened-In Porch from The Spruce
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Outdoor Side Table

Girl, Just DIY!

Whether you're looking for a plant stand or a small table, this outdoor side table can do both. It's built completely out of 2x4s, making it a great beginner project. You'll need a few tools and supplies, but you'll be delighted with this little table.

Outdoor Side Table from Girl, Just DIY!
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Raised Planter Box

Chatfield Court

Planter boxes go great on porches, and this one would especially elevate the area. This raised planter box also has a shelf near the bottom for storage or a place for decorations. You can finish it with any stain or paint so it goes with your porch decor.

Raised Planter Box from Chatfield Court
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Spray Painted and Stenciled Outdoor Rug

A Joyful Riot

Adding a rug to your porch is a great way to make it feel more like an extension of your home. This DIY project has you take an existing rug and then shows you how to add stencils and spray paint to it. What you get is a one-of-a-kind rug that's perfect for your porch.

Spray Painted and Stenciled Outdoor Rug from A Joyful Riot

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Printable Porch Rules Farmhouse Sign

Lolly Jane

Establish your porch as the place to be with this Porch Rules sign. This adorable project has you get the sign printed and then gives you tips on how to frame it. It's a simple project that really makes a big statement.

Printable Porch Rules Farmhouse Sign from Lolly Jane
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Modern Boxwood Wreath

A Pretty Fix

This boxwood wreath would look great on any style of porch. When the holidays come around, you can even add some flowers that are in season or other holiday decorations. The rest of the year it stays a modern wreath, perfect for greeting your visitors.

Modern Boxwood Wreath from A Pretty Fix
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Simple Modern Bird Feeder

Delia Creates

Here's another DIY porch idea that's so small it can fit in any space. It's a small bird feeder made with just a few supplies. It has a modern look to it and would look good on just about any porch. Not only does it make a nice decoration, but it also serves as a spot for birds to perch and visit.

Simple Modern Bird Feeder from Delia Creates
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Outdoor Platform Couch

Vintage Revivals

If you have a large porch, you may want to consider adding additional seating. This project shows you how to build a platform couch that you can use inside or out. You'll need to know a little about building, but this is a good intermediate project to try out.

Outdoor Platform Couch from Vintage Revivals

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Planter Box for Porch Rails

Checking in with Chelsea

Do you have railings on your porch? If you do, you should consider adding planter boxes to them. You can buy this already built or, if you're feeling a little adventurous, you can build this one yourself. It's a super simple project that even a beginner can build.

Planter Box for Porch Rails from Checking in with Chelsea
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West Elm Bench Knock-Off

Homemade by Carmona

Adding a bench to your porch is a great way to add extra seating without giving up a lot of space. With this DIY, you can build this stylish bench yourself for a fraction of what it would cost to buy it.

West Elm Bench Knock-Off from Homemade by Carmona
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Paint Can Herb Garden

Simple Stylings

Adding an herb garden to your porch is a great idea! It adds greenery, and you can use some to cook with whenever you want. The best thing about this herb garden is that it hangs on a wall, so it doesn't take up extra room. This project has all the directions you need to create the paint cans and the rest of the herb garden.

Paint Can Herb Garden from Simple Stylings
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Whitewashed Terracotta Pots

Tidbits

Give terracotta pots new life with a stylish whitewash treatment. This is a super simple project that anyone can do. Whitewash a few or a bunch and then fill them with flowers and plants for your front porch.

Whitewashed Terra Cotta Pots from Tidbits

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Wooden Welcome Mat

Domestic Imperfection

Here's another idea for a doormat, but this one uses wood to make a welcome mat. Wood is cut, stained, and then strung together to form a mat. It would be great to sit this outside on a front or back porch, particularly at a lake or beach house where you want a welcome mat that helps reduce the amount of dirt, sand, and more that gets tracked into the house.

Wooden Welcome Mat from Domestic Imperfection
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Cinder Block Planters

The Garden Glove

Here's a DIY porch idea that's really budget-friendly. You'll just need some cinder blocks and some strong glue. Arrange the blocks vertically in a design you like and you have part sculpture, part planter.

Cinder Block Planters from The Garden Glove
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Pallet Loveseat

Funky Junk Interiors

If you're after the rustic look, you're going to want to check out this loveseat. Believe it or not, it's built almost entirely from wood pallets! There are also lots of tips for how to style the loveseat to get a similar look.

Pallet Loveseat from Funky Junk Interiors
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Hanging Mason Jar Lights

A Piece of Rainbow

These hanging mason jar lights will give you a nice soft light as you enjoy an evening out on the porch. They're made from a few supplies you probably already have and they can be put together in minutes.

Hanging Mason Jar Lights from A Piece of Rainbow

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Crate Ottoman

Beyond the Picket Fence

There's been plenty of ideas for porch seating, but what about if you want to put your feet up? This DIY porch idea has you build a small ottoman that can be placed under a table when not in use. The ottoman is actually made out of a small crate and transformed with some paint and fabric.

Crate Ottoman from Beyond the Picket Fence
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Outdoor Curtains and Curtain Rods

Polkadot Chair

Update your porch instantly by adding some curtains. This is a great way to add privacy and create a cozy outdoor room that you'll never want to leave. This DIY porch project shows you how to make your own rods for the curtains, which you could buy or sew yourself.

Outdoor Curtains and Curtain Rods from Polkadot Chair
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Drink Station

I Should Be Mopping the Floor

This rustic drink station has a bucket to hold ice and drinks, as well as two shelves to hold extra drinks or snacks. This DIY porch project transforms a basic side table into a drink station. It's also just small enough that you can tuck it away when you're not using it.

Drink Station from I Should Be Mopping the Floor
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Outdoor Chandelier

Hey There, Home

Add some elegance to your porch with an outdoor chandelier. You could buy one that's already done or use this project to upcycle your own. This tutorial shows you how to take apart a chandelier, spray paint it, and put it back together again.

Outdoor Chandelier from Hey There, Home

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Corner Bench With Built-In Table

Remodelaholic

If you're looking to add more seating to your porch, you can do that with this DIY corner bench with a built-in table. This cute bench and table would look perfect in the corner of a porch. Throw on some pillows and other decor and you've got a whole new look.

Corner Bench with Built-In Table from Remodelaholic
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Upcycled Drawer Planter

Beyond the Picket Fence

Here's another idea for a porch planter. This one upcycles drawers and some scrap wood and transforms them into this unique planter. You could paint or stain the planter to match the rest of your decor.

Upcycled Drawer Planter from Beyond the Picket Fence
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Hanging Star Luminaries

Polkadot Chair

These hanging star luminaries are meant to be holiday decorations, but there's no reason you can't have them up year-round. This project starts with paper lantern stars and calls for a bundle of lights to be inserted inside.

Hanging Star Luminaries from Polkadot Chair
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Timber Side Table

Francois et Moi

Small side tables make a great addition to a porch. They're able to hold a drink or a book without taking up too much space. This project takes a piece of timber and transforms it into this side table, which would look great in any outdoor porch or patio space.

Timber Side Table from Francois et Moi