Enhance your homes curb appeal with these decorative and welcoming ideas for materials and styles for front porch columns.
Front porch column ideas are used in various ways on homes of allsizes and styles.
When choosing the best material for your porch columns, consider durability, cost, and aesthetic appeal.
Credit: Julie Soefer
Choose from traditional ormodern front porch columnsto reflectthe home’s overall style.
Depending on the desired effect, the columns can be rounded, square, tapered, or ornately decorated.
Each has advantages and disadvantages, which are essential to consider before choosing a material for your home.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
When made of very strong hardwood types, porch columns are remarkably resilient.
However, some wood columns are hollow, which might make them less sturdy.
Wood porch columns can be prefabricated in a specific design or crafted on-site.
Credit: Brie Williams
Fiberglass Porch Columns
This front porch column idea often mimics the graining and detail of wood.
Fiberglass porch columnscan also be painted, and they’re more resistant to insects or rot than wood varieties.
However, fiberglass may not be as aesthetically pleasing to some as natural wood.
Credit: Greg Scheidemann
However, thesespecialty materialstend to cost more than wood or fiberglass.
Many modern interpretations will evoke these classic styles with tweaks and individual adaptations.
Doric Columns
These Greek-style columns have fluted sides and a smooth top.
Credit: Colleen Duffley
Doric columns are often used on elegant,Neoclassical-stylehomes.
Egyptian Columns
These columns typically taper at the top.
They are sometimes decorated with leaves as well as horizontal rings at various intervals.
Credit: Emily Followill
The style can be found on Egyptian Revival homes built throughout the 1800s.
The shafts are typically fluted with a more slender, graceful profile than Doric columns.
Romanesque Columns
These columns are often squat and square with large bases.
Credit: Emily Followill
They might also feature organic decorative elements on their tops.
These square porch columns are sometimes seen in mission orcraftsman-style homesin a simplified profile.
Personalized designs can include painting, turning, carving, and a mix-and-match of styles and materials.
Mostmaterials can be paintedwith the right product.
Credit: Laura Moss
