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I have a comfy outdoor sofa on my front porch, a porch I enlarged when we bought the house. In New England porches are common although people seldom use them. On my street no one else does. But they walk their kids and dogs and you exchange pleasantries with them as they pass by. That's how I grew up-only the conversations were way too long and obligatory. I now live in a small college town and I bought my house in large part because of the view from the front. It's a comfy peaceful porch where I nap like I did as a child but the adults don't walk by and talk to you for hours. People are cordial, and there for you if needed, but never overstep and overstay their welcome.
Guests love it. Lots of comfy cushioned furniture makes it like an outdoor family room. We have cocktails and and hors d'oeuvres at night, watching the sun set over the mountains, or bagels & mimosas for brunch and everyone comments on the "novelty" of sitting on a front porch.
Most of America has drifted to back yard decks and fences. Not really conducive to knowing your neighbors.
Strangely, I am a very private, and not terribly social person, but I like having a slightly more than passing acquaintance with my neighbors and, to me, nothing facilitates that more naturally than a front porch.
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Originally Posted by NRaleigh Mom
Most people in our neighborhood have front porches. I am on mine several times a day.
For me there is nothing better than having a cup of coffee and listening to the birds in the morning or watching a thunderstorm off in the distance. I can hear the children ride by and play and say hello to my neighbors as they are taking their morning or nightly stroll.
I used to have lounge chairs out there and would even take an afternoon nap. However I replaced those a couple years ago with rocking chairs and absolutely HATE the rocking chairs so I will put the lounge chairs back as soon as I can get someone to make me new pad covers since the neighbors cat tore mine all up. I even enjoy just sitting on the brick porch stairs and would have our dogs lay out there right next to me.
I'm a big fan of full-length front porches. It increases your relaxation space, and porches foster community-building by getting to know your neighbors when they walk by and stop to chat.
For my money, front porches are preferable to back decks, where the homeowner disappears and you never see or get to know the household. Sad.
We have both a front porch, and a back deck.....only things we like about our house. We always have the choice to sit in the sun, or shade. Watch the cars go by, or the wildlife out back.
Just glass in the darn thing so you can "chill" in the cool air!
That's exactly what my grandparents did when they quit smoking and no longer needed the screened-in porch to be an "outside" area.
Nah. Once you glass it in, it's just not the same. With a screened porch, I still feel comfortable waving and even occasionally talking to neighbors who walk by.
A porch in the southeast is doable if it's screened in. And has a ceiling fan. And you don't move a muscle. And have a cold drink.
Ohhh YEAH!!! Love love love having the fan! And the cold drink. And maybe a screen (although I don't have one now. But I can see having one.).
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Porch with a sofa
Love love love having the fan! And the cold drink. And maybe a screen (although I don't have one now. But I can see having one.). 
