Screened Porches: How to Decorate Screened Porch

A screened porch is a great place to spend the lazy summer afternoons. It is an attractive and useful feature found in many homes. The screened porch can be an extension of your living room, where you can even entertain your guests. Your porch can be a stylish retreat for you and your family. A well decorated screened porch radiates a feeling of warmth and happiness in your home decor.

How to Decorate a Screened Porch?
Before introducing new changes to your screened porch, you should clear the clutter from the porch. Put the magazines and newspapers in book shelves. Keep the shoes on a shoe rack and hang the coats in a closet. You have to organize your things prior to decorating your screened porch.

Screened Porch Flooring
You have a multitude of materials when it comes to designing your porch flooring. To create that timeless elegance, you can use teak or pinewood flooring. It is one of the most popular flooring material, though it is very expensive. If you want your porch to have the natural look of wood floors, use laminate flooring. It is less expensive than wood or natural stone material and the installation process is quite simple, as well. Ceramic tile flooring looks sophisticated and requires very less maintenance. However, you can also keep the flooring simple. Add a dash of color by placing an all weather rug in the center of the porch. You can create an unique piece of art on the floor by painting a faux rug, which looks very much like a real rug. Weave an intricate patterned rug with just acrylic paints and a little bit of patience.

Screened Porch Furniture
Select the porch furniture depending on the ambiance you want to create. To create a casual and relaxed look, place a low side table and a loveseat near it. If you plan to have meals in your screened porch, use a small wooden table or a granite topped table. Create a rustic look by placing some cane or wicker chairs. Muted floral printed cushion covers look soothing on a warm summer day. You can also use bright colored fabrics with mirror work. Beaded cushions or pillows will add a splash of elegance to your porch. A center glass table goes very well with cane furniture. However, if space is a constraint, you can use a folding center table. Create an exotic look by decorating the table with a statue of the laughing Buddha and a table top fountain. Place a vase with fresh roses or orchids in the center of the table. A screened porch without a hanging swing looks incomplete. Wicker swings look beautiful and come in many colors. Sip an ice-cold lemonade swinging away the worries of the day!

Screened Porch Lighting and Wall Decor
Porch lighting should create a feeling of warmth and security. Wrought iron light fixtures creates a beautiful blend of sophistication combined with an old world charm. Place wrought iron candle holders or lanterns on the side table for that rich warm glow. You can also use stained glass floor lamps for creating a soft diffused light.

Hang sketches or paintings of your children on the porch wall. If you have light colored walls, then a copper or bronze metal art work will accentuate the beauty of your porch. A wrought iron wall mirror looks great in front porches. It can be hung in a place where it reflects a piece of art or the view of your garden. For a warm Mediterranean look, use wall decorations in shades of ivory, turquoise blue, orange-red or olive green.

Screened Porch Plants
Welcome your guests by hanging a beautiful floral wreath on the entrance of your porch. If your porch receives sunlight for 2-3 hours, you can create a beautiful container garden. You can make attractive containers with old paint buckets, milk jug, wastepaper baskets, glass bowls etc. Apply a bright coat of paint and decorate the containers with colored beads and shells. Plants like roses, lilacs, azaleas, paperwhites, amaryllis and cyclamens grow well indoors.

Flowering vines creeping on the porch screens will make your porch a delightful haven. Wisterias yield stunning blooms in clusters of white and purple flowers. Some other captivating climbers are Chilean bellflower, periwinkle, trumpet vine, clematis, bougainvillea, climbing rose and morning glory. These colorful creeping vines will not only lend a fragrant aroma to your porch but also attract butterflies and tiny hummingbirds. Installing railing planters is an innovative way of beautifying your porch. Since the planters are placed on the railings, it saves a lot of porch space. However, the railings have to be strong enough to support the weight of the planters.

These tips were all about how to decorate a screened porch. Go ahead and implement your crazy, creative ideas and make your screened porch the most talked about thing in town.