What Do You Call a Small Porch?

Small porches serve a variety of purposes.

Victorian homes often feature generous wraparound porches furnished with wicker chairs and porch swings. Farmhouses have large front porches that invite you to sit awhile in wooden rocking chairs, and Southern homes often sport screened porches that let you enjoy nature while protecting you from the elements. A porch doesn't have to be grand to be useful, however.

Balcony

Balconies are small porches that extend from a building's upper stories. In the Victorian era, people believed in the health benefits of fresh air, and in Victorian homes balconies are often located above the front porch and are extensions of a bedroom or upstairs landing. These small porches were sometimes protected by awnings and featured solid fronts rather than spindles, making them a spot where family members could enjoy the fresh air in relative privacy. Today, balconies are often found in condominiums and apartment buildings where they are generally only large enough to accommodate a couple of chairs or a bistro set.

Balconette

Also called a Juliet balcony because they evoke scenes from Shakespeare's play, this petite porch is smaller than a balcony, often with only room enough for one or two people to stand up on. Their fronts are constructed of wrought iron or steel railings for safety. Like a balcony, balconettes are found on the upper levels of a building. In modern homes, Juliet balconies are sometimes situated in the interior of a home above a family room with a two-story ceiling.

Entry

At its most basic, an entry porch is a sheltered area designed to protect you from the elements as you enter your home. Entries can be as simple as a shed roof projecting from the house and supported by wooden or metal poles. Front entries, sometimes called porticoes, are generally more substantial than that, featuring columns, decorative stairways and lighting and perhaps enough space for a chair or bench. Attractive front entries can add curb appeal as well as value to your home.

Side Porch

Smaller then a welcoming front porch, side porches in vintage homes, also called service porches, were where deliveries were made, household goods were sometimes stored, laundry was hung and, if the household employed servants, where they entered the home, Today side porches are often connected to areas removed from the main living space of the house like mud rooms, laundry rooms and potting areas.

References

• Ontario Architecture: The Porch
• Advance Remodeling: Types of Porches
• Front Porch Ideas and More: Small Porch Designs