I don't see any vents in the deck skirt. How are you going to prevent moisture buildup under the deck? Is there a vent where I don't see it?

Any planting against the boards will only contribute to the problem.

Are we talking the evergreen twining vine, Trachelospermum jasminoides, that star jasmine? Are these going to be in pots or planted in the ground?

One vine planted in the ground would eat the entire stair and deck railing in about three years and you would have to trim it like a hedge to keep it contained, In a pot, that's another matter.

Paint it first. Then decide if a vine to hide it is really what you need. Some big pots full of flowers on the patio in front may be all you need.

JoJo, the boards aren't completely flush and there is space from the ground and the first boards (dirt level is quite a bit lower there an patio level and then spacing in the deck floor boards but good thing to consider, maybe we need extra ventilation

One star jasmine is plenty to cover what you want and more.

hi Chris, yes that star Jasmine, I know it gets about 25 feet. I didn't know it grew so fast I have in ground and has barely grown in theast year. if I did at base of stairs I was going to do it in a pot. If its where they are placed in the first picture, I was going to try and do in ground but I could do a narrow pot instead. the area by the deck is going to be a walk thru space so I wanted to keep it relatively open but I could make narrow pots work.

I think that trying to keep a fast-growing vine away from your access doors would be a problem, and visually, having the vine everywhere but in front of the doors would serve to emphasize the doors, so not a good look.

A twining vine typically needs a trellis structure and isn’t happy about growing up a flat surface. Are you planning on a trellis of some type?

After painting the porch, I would be more likely to plant moveable pots, with at least the ones in front of the doors on wheels to make access easier. You want to provide something to look at other than the porch itself, but that doesn’t mean it has to literally be on the porch structure.

I am another that would be concerned about moisture as well as animals having easy access under the porch through the bottom gap. Having a skunk or raccoon family living under one’s porch can be an unpleasant experience.

I wouldn't paint. The cedar will age fairly quickly to a nice silver gray color and blend well with the house color. If you paint, that will become an ongoing chore. I'd put 3 large pots of flowers, vines, whatever you like along the edge of the concrete to soften the look.

Does jasmine attract bees?

"Does jasmine attract bees?"

Yes. As do most other flowering plants.