Thinking about adding outdoor living space but not sure where to put your investment? Both front porches and back decks offer unique benefits, but they serve different purposes and provide different returns. Here's how to decide which is right for your home.

Curb Appeal: Front Porches Take the Lead
A well-designed front porch dramatically improves your home's street presence. It's the first thing visitors and potential buyers see, creating that welcoming "home sweet home" feeling that's hard to quantify but impossible to ignore.

Front porches work especially well on colonial, craftsman, and farmhouse-style homes. They can make a small house feel more substantial and give a newer home some vintage charm.

Privacy and Relaxation: Back Decks Win
If your priority is creating a private retreat for your family, a back deck is usually the better choice. You can relax without feeling like you're on display for the neighborhood, and it's easier to create intimate seating areas and outdoor dining spaces.

Back decks also integrate better with existing patios, fire pits, and landscaping to create a complete outdoor living experience.

Return on Investment
Here's where it gets interesting. Front porches typically recoup 60-70% of their cost in added home value, while back decks usually return 65-75%. The difference often comes down to your specific neighborhood and local buyer preferences.

Maintenance Considerations
Front porches face more weather exposure and public scrutiny, so material choice matters more. Back decks can be more forgiving if you want to experiment with different design elements or materials.

Our Recommendation
Consider your lifestyle first. Do you enjoy greeting neighbors and watching the world go by? Go with a front porch. Do you prefer private family barbecues and quiet morning coffee? A back deck is your answer.

Better yet, many of our clients find that starting with one outdoor space makes them appreciate outdoor living so much that they add the other within a few years. There's no rule that says you can't have both!