There are many reasons why we should keep the front of our houses neat, not least of which is to improve curb appeal. You may be looking to sell the property or, at the very least, keep the homeowners’ association off your doorstep. Some items are also not designed to survive in outdoor conditions.
Certain porch features may increase the risk of stealing, a trend brought to universal attention through social media “porch pirates.” There’s a difference between maintaining good aesthetics and deterring robbers, but both lead to the same outcome — an uncluttered porch. What items should we avoid leaving outside the front door?
1. Ladders or Stepladders
If you really want to invite the criminal world into your home, the next best thing to an open door would be a ladder. There may be occasions when, after a long day of home improvement, the porch makes a care-free storage solution.
However, a ladder is unsightly anywhere other than safely tucked away, and other problems may arise — U.K. firm Brown’s Ladders concurs. “This is not only a risk for passers-by; it’s also damaging for a ladder’s longevity and can lead to deterioration and rotting,” reads its safety guide.
2. Garish Statues or Sculptures
Other than during Halloween, it’s hard to think of a good reason to put any sculpture or statue on one’s porch. A Wall Street Journal post once asked a pertinent question. Rima Suqi’s article “Are Animal Statues by a Front Door Always Pretentious?” tackled the issue by asking pros for their opinions.
Chicago-based designer Jessica Lagrange said, “You have a pretty house and you put that out front? I don’t want to see that.”
3. Indoor Furniture
Those with a large, covered porch may be tempted to cut costs, placing indoor furniture outdoors. Home living platform Homary insists that while it’s possible, there are many factors to consider.
There are three prime reasons outdoor furniture is for the outdoors: weather resistance, design materials, and visual appeal. Indoor furniture just looks weird outdoors; what’s more, it will be more vulnerable to pests and insects.
4. Empty Bottles
In Spain, people sometimes leave large bottles of water outside their street-adjacent townhouses, which baffles visitors. Locals will tell you it is to deter cats or dogs from relieving themselves by one’s front door.
In the U.S., such a practice might raise neighborly eyebrows. Worse still, having bottles dangle from the porch roof truss adds an extra layer of creepy — if not done right. Maybe there is an argument for minimalist glass designs, though these could alert light-fingered passers-by.
5. Bicycles
It is obvious why you should never leave a bike locked up on your front porch. Depending on your zip code, that bike might become a magnet for thieves.
Bike enthusiasm blog Lovely Bicycle shares tips for porch bike storage — if all other options are gone. “The best candidates for porch living are either beater bikes that you do not care about damaging,” reads the advice, “or heavy-duty utility bikes with thick tubing, durable paint, and rust-resistant components.”
6. Certain Climbing Plants and Vines
While climbing plants across your porch can look wonderful, the wrong types take a lot of work to keep in check. Garden expert site Bob Vila warns against planting invasive vines anywhere, and he champions easier-to-control species like clematis.
“This flowering climber is a popular trellis plant because it grows quickly and easily grabs hold of surfaces with its clingy tendrils,” they advise.
7. Personal Clutter
Nothing screams “Wait til you see the indoors” more than an array of personal effects on one’s front porch. It pays to keep your front porch in order; it is often a portal into how your life is going.
Tara King of Homes & Garden shares tips on keeping a porch clutter-free. Top of the list is to “invest in dual-function furniture.” Such a move provides a perfect solution to a cluttered space.
8. Delivery Packages
It can be disheartening seeing all the Amazon packages stolen — even in seemingly pleasant neighborhoods. Ring doorbell cameras have been an excellent home security addition, revealing that even delivery drivers are culpable.
Of course, a delivery is a temporary porch addition. However, unless you have good neighbors or a foolproof hiding spot, it may be more temporary than desired.
9. Wind Chimes
Don’t get me wrong, wind chimes are a peace-inducing natural sound that works for any back garden. When I say back garden, I mean way back — right at the end and away from anyone else living nearby.
If you live in a tightly packed street, putting wind chimes right next to a door will irritate anyone within earshot, especially on a windy night. Clear Space Living’s Karen Kingston writes, “It’s a form of noise pollution that most people don’t welcome at all.”
10. Yard Debris
During springtime, you might spend the day mowing the lawn or cutting back shrubs, and then you are left with the aftermath. The temptation to stash this garden waste on the porch may be strong, but it would also be a mistake.
It isn’t just the appearance that suffers; garden refuse may provide a nesting place for unwanted rodents. Moreover, if you love planting, this waste may provide good composting material, reports the North Carolina Composting Council.
11. Grocery Orders
Another category for trespassing strangers would be grocery orders. We sadly live in tough economic times for many, which means the front porch makes for an easy target.
Capital One Shopping reviewed nationwide package delivery theft figures. A staggering one in seven Americans reported a package stolen in 2022. It’s tolerable to have your $30 Amazon package taken, but not when it is a $200 grocery bill. It pays to be there when any grocery delivery arrives.
12. Sporting Equipment
We can probably agree that most sporting equipment belongs in a shed or storeroom, not on a porch. Who needs to see your surfboard or crossbow stacked against the wall, especially if you have a shed? Notwithstanding the obvious criminal risks, it just looks wrong.
On the flip side, some fitness sites, such as Fitness Town advocate for using the porch as a workout space. “It’s important to have a dedicated space where you can work towards your health and fitness goals,” reads an article on the matter. This one just depends on the homeowner.
13. Pet Supplies
Dog owners fall into a spectrum of dedication. At one end, they treat their pets like children and are clearly all-in. These owners are probably less likely to care what neighbors think and will happily store their pet supplies outside.
The FDA warns against storing pet food outdoors, as its nutrients may break down somewhat. I would be more worried about raccoons or other curious nocturnal critters.
14. Cushion-Covered Couches or Chairs
Nothing beats reclining on a soft-cushioned outdoor chair on summer’s evening, though how many of us think to bring them indoors each night? Unless you live in the Atacama Desert (the driest place on Earth), cushion-covered seating can be a nuisance.
FC Dry Cleaners confirms in a website blog that leaving cushions outdoors all year will cause weather damage, not least mildew growth.
15. Important Mail
Those with a wall-mounted mailbox can rest assured their mail is in no danger. Also, such a design looks cool, argues Postal Supply’s aptly named contributor, Nicole Post. However, the same can’t be said of the other contingent, who risk having oversized or junk mail left on the doorstep.
Investing in a secured mailbox reduces the chances of theft, but another danger with junk mail is when it piles up on your doorstep. Being away on vacation might cause a mail pile-up, alerting intruders to your lack of presence.
16. Children’s Toys
Another doorstep candidate that speaks volumes about what to expect inside is children’s toys — or worse, dolls. “Hey, that house with the baby dolls scattered across the porch looks inviting,” said nobody ever.
While it might not be the best look, there are many storage ideas for kids play things. Homestyle and living expert Andrea Dekker shares great examples of kids’ toy storage solutions.
17. Power Tools
Like expensive bikes, leaving any power tools on a porch presents a theft risk, not to mention the visual impact.
In most of the world, power devices are a target for thieves. Nothing hurts a tradesperson more than having their tools stolen; the cost and lost wages incurred might be life-changing.
18. Expensive Furniture
Having the latest outdoor furniture with memory foam cushions sounds appealing to anyone, though this probably only applies to a back porch. What’s more, unless you live in a dry climate, the chances are you won’t be using them much.
Some Nashville residents had a scare when reviewing their security camera footage in 2024, as they watched thieves steal their beloved porch seats. “If we want to put some nice stuff out, we’re going to put it out,” said a resident in a 4-SMV news interview. “But I’m going to have to lock it to my porch so you can’t leave with it.”
19. Valuable Plants
Having stunning potted plants on one’s porch should be a right for anybody. While it continues to be the norm in some parts, other plant lovers have to fend off insurgents. Unfortunately, it would be a mistake to put pricey members like a bird of paradise plant outside your front door.
A marvelous Daily Mail article shows how a plucky Australian botanist used Apple Air Tags to track repeat offenders who kept stealing her plants.
20. Gardening Equipment
Nobody wants to see your lawnmower, leaf blower, or garden rake on the front porch. Unless there happens to be some form of agricultural festival happening, this must be a no-no.
Of course, some are quite happy cluttering up their outdoor decking or front porch with gardening materials, and why not? Gardening website Burpee lays out some beneficial patio garden transformation ideas in this useful blog post.
21. Clothes or Laundry
We can’t be too judgmental about seeing people’s laundry; however, the taboo of “airing one’s dirty laundry in public” may apply here. The term is about not sharing unpleasant personal matters with strangers or acquaintances.
There is a metaphor here for the physical action of hanging laundry on the porch. It doesn’t mean you are sharing any details, but it can look “unpleasant and shabby,” according to facilities platform PICA Group.
22. Exposed Wires
Two obvious reasons come to mind with seeing exposed wires on one’s porch: liability issues and aesthetics. More importantly, those entering your property will feel unnerved if they see any dangers outside.
Electrical experts at Mr Electric published some guidance on what to do if you find any exposed wiring outside your property.
23. Past Holiday Decorations
Most of us love putting up seasonal decorations, but some of us take a little too long to remove them. You know you are one of these people if there is any trace of Halloween on your doorstep come Thanksgiving.
Seeing Christmas decorations up anytime after New Year’s Day makes some places look a little off. Michigan is taking action, though not for old decorations. The state recently banned non-LED Christmas lights from people’s properties. Lights just became more expensive in the Water Winter Wonderland.
24. Unsightly Storage Containers
Ugly storage containers can tarnish the outdoor feel of any home, so finding solutions is key, especially if indoor space is limited. Using a porch may be unavoidable for some, but investing in stylish outdoor storage needn’t be expensive.
John Petersik of Young House Love shares insight in a post about renovating his porch; this includes simple pipe and electrical box coverings. Keeping things neutral is the secret to harmonizing the space.