10 Elements of a Porch Paradise
If dreamy days with breezy chats and lazy lounging are your cup of tea, see how to pull your porch together to bring your vision to life
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
I've been talking porch once a week for awhile now, and I think it's time to wrap(around) it up. After looking at thousands of porches, figuring out everything I love about them, sharing them and learning from your comments, I've rounded up a few standout elements of great porches. If you're designing a new porch, freshening up your existing one or simply dreaming of a porch, consider which of the following are must-haves for you.
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| Wicker. This nostalgic cottage weave will instantly transform your porch into a comfortable and classic oasis. |
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| A ceiling fan. Enjoy your porch on a breezeless day by creating your own wafts. Fans also help keep the bugs away. |
Screens. Speaking of bugs, if mosquitos are your state's unofficial bird (I swiped that line from one of you commentors), you may need to transform your open porch or deck into a screened-in porch. Screens are especially appreciated on a sleeping porch.
Rockers. There is not a more iconic piece of porch furniture than a camp-style wooden rocking chair. When people talk about growing old with their partners, they are imagining sitting on rockers like these on a porch exactly like this one and complaining about the young whippersnappers cutting through their yard. Or at least that's how I picture it.
A porch swing. I lied. There is one piece of porch furniture that screams porch even louder than the aforementioned rocker. It's the porch swing. Just make sure you know what you're doing or hire someone who does to hang it safely.
Lighting. It doesn't matter if it you choose onion lanterns, a shapely Moroccan pendant, marine sconces or candles, but that glaring motion-activated spotlight on the side of the house is not going to cut it. The right lighting lets you enjoy your porch on hot summer nights.
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| Standout ceilings. Exposed rafters, beadboard and the famous Haint Blue hue draw attention to this often-overlooked porch design opportunity. |
Plants. Porch conditions are just right for growing plants. Hang them, place them in urns, group a few planters together and enjoy the foliage.
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| Outdoor rugs. Beautiful outdoor rug options offer an opportunity to add a layer of style underfoot. Outdoor rugs can define spaces, cover up an unattractive floor and add color and pattern to the porch. |
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| A dining table. Enjoying a meal outdoors is one of the best ways to use a porch. Even if your porch is very small, a petite café table for two will do. Porch lovers, tell us: Have I missed any aspects of porch life you'd like to read about in this series? Let me know in the Comments section! More: Wraparound Porches | Sleeping Porches | Screened-In Porches | Modern Porches | Banishing the Bugs | Dining on the Porch | Color on the Porch | Small Porches |
Ideabook updated on May 28, 2012.
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One item I miss is the easily accessible fridge. Lounging on a porch on a hot summer day without an icecold lemonade is unimaginable.
We broke through our south-facing kitchen wall to create an easy wide entrance to our now screened-in porch. Furniture includes a cupboard (we use it as a liquor cabinet); an art table for grandchildren--they love working away at their table where they can keep an eye on deer, foxes, rabbits, etc., but are getting too big for the child-sized table so the table will soon be replaced with a art table for grown-ups or with a rattan chair and matching ottoman; our dining room table; and a side/serving table. My husband loves this space so much that he now uses it as his home office, using the dining table as his desk. The bumped-out/bay eastern window has a blue stone sill, wonderful for plants or for a window seat.
The stone floor is heated.