5 Genius Ways to Give Concrete Porches a Gorgeous Summer Glow Up

If you live in a home built anytime in the past 50 years, you are likely all too familiar with the concrete front porch. While lauded for their durability and affordability, these basic front porches are anything but inspiring — particularly once they start to show some wear. However, the good thing about concrete front porches is they are the perfect blank slate for numerous DIY and professional projects and upgrades. If your boring front porch is getting you down, consider one (or more!) of these eight stylish, smart ways to give your outdated concrete front porch a makeover.

An oldie idea but a goodie, painting your concrete front porch is one of the easiest ways to transform it. Whether you’re going from an outdated color to a modern, minimalist shade that’ll better blend in with your surroundings, like Yardzen’s head of brand, Kendra Poppy, did to her home (as shown here) — or you’re interested in a bolder, more colorful mural-inspired look — your options are limited only by your own creativity. Consider using painter’s tape to create a unique color-blocked design or a geometric pattern. For color that’ll stand up to the elements, you’ll likely achieve results with epoxy-based pigments, specialty porch and patio formulas, or outdoor acrylic paints.

If you’re feeling done with your concrete porch entirely but want to avoid a huge demolition, covering it with wood or composite decking is a great option. Plus, if you’re handy, it’s a relatively straightforward DIY project, and you’re free to add to the size of your porch or steps without having to remove the existing concrete, says Chrissy Arsenault, owner and designer of Live Original Design based in Ontario, Canada.

“Don’t forget to add a picture-frame border around the porch surface and each step to avoid any exposed cut ends, and a vertical board skirting detail around the face surfaces (sides and stair risers) for a finished look,” she adds.

If an overlay isn’t in the budget, follow the lead of home DIY expert Sheli Bungard, aka House on Wilshire (@houseonwilshire on Instagram), who found an ingenious way to get the aged brick paver look for less. She used a brick stencil, concrete skim coat, some serious color-matching skills, and a little artistic flair to create a faux brick pattern on her concrete front patio that would make anyone do a double take. “It’s coming up on four years since I completed this project, and it has held up beautifully,” says Bungard. “The more it gets worn and distressed, the more authentic it looks.” 

This one doesn’t even require refacing your concrete porch at all! Yardzen expert Kristin Swenson says choosing a bright or bold color for your front door “draws the eyes up instead of down at your tired, seen-better-days concrete porch.” Instead of the standard white or builder’s beige door, consider going for something unexpected like red, blue, green, yellow, or even black. No one will notice your concrete patio anymore — I promise!

Another way to give your concrete front porch a facelift without pulling out your tools? Use outdoor decor to divert guests’ and onlookers’ attention from what’s underfoot. Try flanking your doorway with large, statement planters then swap in new outdoor light fixtures — or bring in string lights for extra ambiance after dark.

“Another affordable way to update a concrete front porch and give it more life is simply to add an outdoor rug,” says Swenson. A rug is “a simple fix for covering up cracks in the concrete, or giving what can sometimes feel like a cold, unwelcoming material a little personality and a more inviting feel,” she adds.