Victorian homes often feature intricate decorations and colorful paint schemes.
The cool restraint of mid-century modern houses appeals to the intellect, but ebullient, ornate Victorian homes tug at your heart. Victorian-style houses often have large covered porches. Add charm and curb appeal to your home by making your porch as appealing as its interior. Add decorative woodwork to reflect the style of the period. Victorian porches are often deep and spacious. Create an outdoor living area by adding comfortable cushioned seating. Hanging plants beautify a porch and also provide some privacy.
Colors
Victorian homes often have colorful paint schemes. Select a color scheme for your porch that complements the rest of the house. Lighten up your covered porch by painting its ceiling a light sky-blue. Rich purples and greens work well on cement porch floors. Match your porch paint colors to the rest of the home, but don't be afraid to add a different hue to railings or screen doors. Choose pastel yellows blues and greens for light colored homes, or rich burgundies and purples for brown or dark green exteriors.
Woodwork
Decorative painted woodwork decorates Victorian homes.
Gingerbread and Queen Ann Victorians often feature intricate woodwork. Add decorative carved fretwork to your porch. Spandrels are woodwork pieces that span the horizontal space between porch balusters (posts). Add brackets to connect the horizontal spandrels with the vertical posts, to add additional decorative appeal. Victorian railings--or newels--often feature carving and wooden appliques on their surface. Finish off your filigree by adding a carved wooden sign and paint your house number on it.
Furniture and Materials
Make your porch a summer retreat, where you can watch your neighbors walk by. Add comfortable deep-seating wicker chairs, a love seat and a small table. Weather-proof man-made wicker looks authentic but endures sun and rain. Add comfortable cushions covered in a weather-resistant fabric. Use smaller velvet pillows that you can bring inside in case of rain. Fabrics featuring fruits and flowering vines or paisley reflect Victorian design's emphasis on pattern and detail. Store magazines or pet leashes out of view in brass or metal umbrella holders (or put your umbrellas in them) and add softness and luxury underfoot with a small oriental-style rug. Add an outdoor-rated lamp if you have an electrical outlet available.
Plants
Porches look more inviting with some plants. Select hanging planters and add cascading ferns. Hang them under porch overhangs that provide some shade. Place potted ferns in decorative urns in corners. Use delicate African violets on tabletops where you can appreciate their fuzzy round leaves, delicate flowers and scent up close.
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