Front porches sometimes get short shrift when it comes to creative design. One clever way to welcome guests is by dressing up that porch with a tile project.

Artistic tile patterns are most commonly found in the kitchen or bathroom, but they can also make for a beautiful accent on your home's front porch.

Here's what we learned after Consumer Report's initial testing of inexpensive snap-together patio tiles, which can cover an unsightly slab of concrete in no time.