You already know that your oak porch will be a great addition to your home, bringing curb appeal and extra space to the deal. But did you know it’s also a great way to expand on existing storage options in your home, too? Today the Oak Porches UK team takes a look at just some of the many storage ideas for your porch you can use to clear clutter and make your home feel great again.
Log Stores
One of the most obvious storage options for a porch is a log store. You’re able to keep the worst of the weather off of your kindling and firewood, without having to bring it fully inside, where it might attract pests you don’t want. Plus, you don’t have to trek out into the dark and wet to grab some when you need it.
Log stores can be artfully added to any porch design, including open porches, in anything from an artisanal rack to a custom-designed lock box, so this is a great value-add for any oak porch.
Cold Storage
This one is likely less obvious- but can be a great addition to your home. If you’re unfamiliar with the idea of a ‘root cellar’, this was once a separate, basement-level room added to homes before refrigeration became commonplace. Something like the extension to a pantry. Here, you could store root veggies and other items that benefit from a cool, dark space for a lot longer.
Today, few homes come with a root cellar included, or even the space to add one retroactively. And unlike a standard pantry, they don’t do well on the ‘living levels’ of your home. The reason root cellars were designed underground was to benefit from less fluctuation in temperature and year-round coolness. Not so easy in a home with central heating keeping you toasty!
Your porch is a great space to leverage as a veggie store, however. Even if it is enclosed, you typically heat the area less, and it lets veggies stay crisp and cool while being safely under lock-and-key.
Boot Racks/Mini Mud Rooms
Another feature sadly lost to time and shrinking home spaces is the mud room. Yet the UK hasn’t got any less muddy! If you’re looking to create the perfect space to shed all those grungy outer layers without tracking dirt into your home, look no further.
For some homes, installing a convenient boot rack might be all you need. As you come home, you can swap them for house shoes and carry on, with no risk of theft or loss. Add a coat rack or two, and you have convenience at your fingertips.
If you want to get truly arty, however, you can look at expanding your plumbing to the area. Hose off shoes (or your dogs) before they get manky and unpleasant to handle, and keep your home spotless and gleaming. It’s a win-win. Who said mud rooms are only for the largest homes?
Car Essentials
While you’re probably not going to want to store your car and house keys on your porch, we’ve all been guilty of running off without thinking on a busy morning and leaving the essentials behind. Whether you never quite remember to take your reusable shopping bags back to the car, or need to have a nappy back ready to go at any moment, building a ‘car station’ into your oak porch can help you keep yourself and the family organised and ready to go, no matter how late your alarm goes off.
Tool Caddy
Most thieves go looking for high-value tools in the garage or any outbuildings you have. As part of your home, it’s possible to add better security to your porch, and a discrete tool crate can look fantastic too. If you’re looking for a smart spot to stash your tools, your oak porch could be the place.
Entertainment Extras
Everyone wants to be a fantastic host when the weather is up to it, but what do you do with those picnic blankets, seat cushions, and umbrellas when the depths of winter roll in? Keeping them out the way, but easily accessible when you need them, is a smart idea.
What’s even better? You can often build storage into window-seat-like benches, meaning you can create an attractive place to relax and remove your coat and boots, knowing you can pull up the lid and entertain whenever you need it, too. You could even create a toy box for the littlest family members, helping them to know what they’re allowed to take outside and what’s best kept in the home. If the kids are into mini-motorcycles and rolling cars, you can expand this idea and turn your porch into a neat ‘kiddie garage’ for their outside toys. Or, hey, in an active family, add the bike racks here- it will keep them out of the garage but safe from theft and damage.
Garden Centre
Open oak porches are also a great excuse to create a mini ‘garden centre’. From discrete hose storage to giving your tender seedlings somewhere to winter without too much frost damage, you can use smart porch design to help you create a neater, more practical home to showcase your green thumbs with.
As you can see, there’s a ton of opportunity to leverage your oak porch for some added storage room. Not only will it keep clutter at bay, but you’ll also have the chance to design smart storage that enhances your life and makes it easier to do the things you love.
Keen to get the perfect oak porch for your home installed today? The helpful team at Oak Porches UK are always here to help!