We can’t tell how high the dropoff is - there are rules about whether you must have a safety railing.

If it’s not a safety concern (you don’t have toddlers nor elders that might be unsteady on their feet), for purely aesthetic reasons I’d go without. It doesn’t look that high.

I’m just asking for aesthetics. No kids or elderly yet. The height is not an issue. It is not tall only one step.

I like the railing because it adds some weight to the porch. I think if you leave it without, you'd want to beef up the columns. And if you did that, maybe you could eliminate two you so you only have four. I'm not an engineer though, just talking about the looks. :)

Agree with stiley! If you could eliminate the middle two columns and make the remaining ones more substantial then I think it looks fabulous without the railing. (Bonus points for eliminating posts that bisect a window....that always bugs me. :)

When those shrubs grow up, you won't see the railing (if you replace it).

How about leaving the railings off for a while, to see how you like it in use?

Depends if you like to sit out in your jammies. The railing provides some modesty and I think it adds some interest.

I would definitely put the railings back. The house looks better with them, and safety is a big issue, if you should have company and they fall off that porch.

I would keep railings off and remove columns bisecting widows and beef up columns. This is our old house. Never had railings on lower porch and never missed them.

If you don’t put back the railing, then I would add more substantial foundation plantings. The bushes you have now are dwarfed by the front of the house.

debra

Aesthetically having the railings helps disguise the mis-placed columns

The problem with your vote is the house color is not the same, so people are not comparing apples to apples.