Pretty screened-in porches are among our favorite things here at Country Living—relaxing, peaceful places to enjoy early morning coffee, spirited post-supper card games, and after-dark chats. What’s more, they offer the best of both worlds: protection from the elements with a front-row seat to fresh breezes, chirping birds, and the beauty of the great outdoors.
Whether rustic or refined, a screened-in porch is a wonderfully welcoming place to dine, entertain, unwind, and escape—like a little vacation just steps from your back door. To make yours as beautiful as it is comfortable, decorate it as you would your favorite indoor living space with color, texture, and personality.
Here, we’ve gathered some of the prettiest porches featured in our favorite Country Living featured homes, along with smart decorating ideas to help transform your screened-in porch from a furniture catchall to a true extension of your home. Because this time of year, the best kind of screen time is spent on the porch.
Create a Cohesive Color Palette
Just as you would decorate any indoor living space in your home, start with a pretty color palette. For a screened-in porch, one popular idea is to take inspiration from the landscape beyond with greens, blues, and neutrals, then add complementary pops of color to your liking. Whatever your approach, keep a tight color story with furniture, accessories and vintage finds, and cushion and pillow fabrics. And remember: Outdoor spaces, including screened-in porches, are great spaces to have a little fun with your decorating style and lean more casual. Play with pattern (think stripes and plaid) while staying in the same color family.
If you’re decorating on a budget, scour thrift stores for sturdy furniture pieces, then paint them all one color, like the green wicker pieces shown here. The hunter green hue is the same as this Georgia lake house’s exterior.
PRO TIP: Paint works wonders to refresh and protect old wicker furniture. For best results, wash thoroughly with mild soap and water, allow pieces to dry completely, then paint.
Never Skip the Rug
A rug-less room tends to look and feel unfinished, and your screened-in porch is no exception. Whether made of rush, jute, sisal, or synthetic fibers like polypropylene, rugs anchor outdoor rooms, creating a sort of roadmap for placing furniture.
When choosing the right rug size, first consider the size of the room and go from there. As a general rule, a rug should be large enough for all furniture to fit on top of it, or at least the front legs of seating. As shown in this screened-in sun porch by designer Christina Salway, the rush rug covers most of the floor, leaving plenty of room for the dining table and antique chairs. A frame of bare floor around the perimeter gives the space a little breathing room.
Always Paint the Ceiling
Although wood ceilings left unpainted can lend loads of rustic country charm, a painted ceiling adds a certain finishing touch that’s intentional and elevated. Think of your screened-in porch’s ceiling as the “fifth wall.” (You wouldn’t leave a regular wall unpainted now, would you?)
Especially in the South, haint blue (a soft, pale blue-green) is a common porch ceiling paint color, but the options are truly endless. Pick a paint color that complements your walls, furniture, or other decorative details.
PRO TIP: For screened-in porches, use exterior-grade paint. It will stand up best to moisture, mildew, and temperature fluctuations.
Amy Mitchell is the managing editor for VERANDA and Country Living, where she writes articles on a variety of topics—decorating and design, gardens, and holidays. Amy’s experience in the shelter magazine category spans more than 20 years, as she’s previously held positions at Coastal Living and Cottage Living. Her personal pursuits include cooking, gardening, and hunting her favorite tag sale spots for the next piece of Pyrex for her prized collection.
