Why Designers Love Curtains on Screened In Porches
As exciting as the warm weather can be, lounging outside all day requires setting some boundaries. Enter screened in porches! These breezy extensions of your home allow you to appreciate your outdoor space while keeping the heat and humidity at bay. The light filters through the barrier, the wind blows gently as you read—it's a Hallmark movie waiting to happen! Another reason we love screened in porch ideas is they keep bugs out. Your peace won't be interrupted by pesky flies or unwelcome mosquitoes.
Front porches have their appeal and all-season sunrooms are glorious, but a screened in porch can simultaneously keep you from getting rained on while allowing your other senses to engage with a soft summer shower. This sectioned-off hideaway can become your favorite location for getting work done if your home office feels stuffy. With stylish screened in porch decorating ideas, it also can be a stylish and welcoming place to host guests any time of the day.
If you think mesh screen porches distract from the view, simply choose another design. There are screened in porch ideas that use a range of modern materials and look totally different from what you might be picturing. Designers are peeling back the nostalgia to prove that a screened in porch can look stylish. You can hang gauzy curtains instead of using mesh, or move away from wood floors and choose colorful tile. You can even go as far as investing in the viral Costco "party porch" if you don't have the time or inclination to build a permanent addition onto your home.
Below, we've gathered 15 screened porches you'll fall in love with. They're chic enough to complement every style and flexible enough to suit practically any purpose you have in mind. Enjoy nature with a view and protection with a little inspiration from the designer screened in porch ideas ahead!
Paint the Rattan
Kevin Isbell gave this Nantucket cottage an unexpected makeover, opting for a design that leans more casual. "Because the cottage interior is so colorful, this space was deliberately left weathered and gray as a nice contrast," says Isbel.
Hang Curtains
Hadas Dembo, founder of Mise en Scène Design, saw a small cedar home for sale during a bike ride, and her life has never been the same since. Rather than screen in the porch with mesh, she left it open and framed the view with gauzy curtains that can be closed on buggy nights. They can serve other purposes too: "We would hang a sheet off the porch, and then sit on the lawn and project movies onto it," Dembo says.
Double the Breeze
For a traditional home, designer Ty Larkins created a porch with elongated curtain panels that can be closed or tied back depending on the sunlight. The subtle outdoor ceiling fan makes a breeze on warm summer afternoons.
Equip It for Fall
This three-season screened in porch in a Martha's Vineyard family home features a stone fireplace for warmth and coziness. The large stone fireplace makes it "a three season room," interior designer James Hunifod says. Guests can enjoy the view of the sprawling meadow outside whenever they visit.
Play Up a High Ceiling
In this laid-back porch by architect Bill Ryall, extra-tall screens let in tons of air and light. The design by Kris Cochran features a simple mod butterfly chair and dining set that don't distract from its clean lines.
Embrace the Light
Designed by Karen Cohen and Ani Antreasya, this screened in porch idea creates a charming backdrop for intimate dinners. After the sunset, the sconces on each wall panel illuminate the room with a moody glow.
Weatherproof It
If you have a wraparound porch that you use for dining and lounging, hang curtains that can insulate the space and keep the rain and cold air out. On this porch, designer Ken Fulk played up the slipcovered chairs and throw pillows with bold coordinating curtains.
Make Room for Everyone
Jane Hawkins Hoke converted a barn in Cashiers, North Carolina, into a year-round retreat. The screened in porch is the most-frequented room in the house! Hoke custom-made the dining table to fit in with its surroundings.
Lean Into Dark Tones
Immerse yourself in your outdoor space with dark wooden accents that echo your surroundings. Here, the chandelier and furniture stand out against the white and green decorative accents.
Use Nature as a Screen
With a swing on your side and enchanting trees blowing as a backdrop, all you need is Ryan Gosling to make your Notebook dreams come true. Add plush throw pillows to support your back while you read.
Stock It for Cocktail Hour
Ashley Gilbreath designed a four-bedroom vacation home for her family with views of a dune lake and the Gulf of Mexico. Its screened in porch is a vibrant, pattern-filled spot for happy hour with family and friends.
Paint the Wicker
Here's a quick and easy screened in porch idea: Cover white wicker in a bold coat of fresh paint. Let the painted wicker furnishings on the screened in porch of this dreamy summer home inspire you. They're from Mainly Baskets, with cushions of a Perennials fabric; the reed armchairs are antique, and the cocktail table was found at an East Hampton garage sale.
Stay Neutral
If you're not sure where to begin, continue to grow in place and start with a neutral color palette. Protect your furniture with slipcovers that can withstand any storm or season change.
Install Concrete Flooring
You'll glide across a cool concrete floor like this one all summer. They're affordable and bring depth to a traditional screened in porch. Add an indoor-outdoor rug, and you'll be dancing the night away in no time.
Go Gray
Rain or shine, gray elevates the cool factor in your home. Keep the look monochromatic, as designer Analisse Taft-Gersten did here. This screened in porch gets used from "mid-May to mid-September" for breakfast and dinner.
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