THE DECLINE OF THE FRONT PORCH

Is it time to Reinvent the Porch with a Welcome Sign?

by Thom Inman - Master Craftsman Carving Custom Wood Signs for 60 years

The American front porch has monopolized lucid memories for generations of families. The number of greetings and partings, comings and goings, hugs and kisses that have taken place on the porches of our lives are as countless as the tears. The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but the porch is the soul. Porch sitting is the ultimate remedy to the strife, haste, and harried lifestyle of modern living. Although our porches are nearly iconic, they are slowly receding from the substance of our lives. Homeowners are nearly clamoring for comfort, yet often overlook the obvious and abiding pleasures of the porch.

As a boy, the door between our kitchen and the screened porch, what my Mom called the "Summer Kitchen," was opened and remained that way until deep into September and early October. For many of us, our porches became outdoor living rooms. They represented the ideal place for folks to spend hours sitting and talking with friends and family. So, if the porch was such an important part of our lives, why has it started to disappear?

Technological change is one of the main things that advanced the abandonment of the front porch. As the growing number of automobiles flooded the streets, the front porch gradually failed to be the idyllic setting. Air conditioning has contributed its share of the spoilage as well. A cool environment indoors negates the need to take advantage of a shady area outdoors on the porch. Of course, television and its accouterments now focus on family life indoors more and more.

Isn't it time to reinvent your porch? No matter what size your porch is, big or small, with a little creativity, you can send out a warm welcome to guests and neighbors again. Do you have a cheerful porch? Does it say welcome? Your porch is your personality! One of the most effective ways to go about doing this is to create a carved outdoor custom wood sign that says "Hello & Welcome!"

A well-designed and crafted carved wood sign can come in a range of styles, sizes, and designs. You can have names, slogans, text, and fonts carved into them. If you want truly personalized impact, you can add an image to the sign as well. You may wish to have the names of all your family members suspended from your sign in a legacy fashion. You may want to give your property a quirky name accompanied by an image that uniquely identifies and speaks for you.

You'll be amazed at the difference a welcome sign will make to your entrance—porch or not. Put out the flag and add some potted plants. It'll make your property more homey and say to your neighbors, "Come on over!" It really is the perfect thing to bring your porch back to life so you can start enjoying and relaxing outdoors more, back in the company of your friends and family where you belong.


May the Forest be with You!