There’s something so relaxing about sitting on a screened porch with your morning coffee, feet propped up and a good read in hand… protected from the pests and sun while still enjoying a light breeze and birds’ melodies in the distance.
Screened-in porches first appeared in the early 1800s, with screens cobbled from wood, ceramic or stone. They hit peak popularity in the mid-1900s, when air conditioning was still in its infancy and homeowners wanted a shady place to cool down (especially in the South, where we have more than our fair share of both heat and flying insects!).
Today, screened porches are making a comeback, as homeowners increasingly favor outdoor living but still want protection from the elements. With the right accessories, they can become one of the most versatile and useful rooms in your home.
Why add a screened porch to your home in the 2020s? Here are my six top reasons:
Mosquitos. Enough Said.
When my best friend and her husband finally found their dream home on the Virginia Peninsula, her first comment was, “It’s perfect… but it MUST have a screened porch for me to live here.” While that may sound extreme to some, anyone who has lived through a hot and sticky summer in Southeastern Virginia knows that the worst part isn’t actually the heat, but the enormous and prolific mosquitos! These pesky pests make it nearly impossible to enjoy the great outdoors between April and October without having to coat yourself in bug spray.
Lucky for my friend, her new home’s attached garage already had a covered porch. The month she moved in (steamy August!), her first home exterior project was enclosing the porch with screen (she went with invisible mosquito screen). I enjoy sipping cocktails out there when I visit, and her whole family spends time on the screened porch year-round.
So if you already have a deck or covered area, it’s a budget-friendly place to create your new screened porch. If not, consult with a reputable contractor to determine the best location for a new build.
Increased Square Footage & Value
Outdoor area such as decks, sunrooms, screened porches, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens are extensions of your home’s usable living space. According to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) 2021 Home Design Trends Survey, year after year these spaces top the list of the most sought-after features when building a home. If you have the space and budget to add a screened porch to your home, it not only will provide added room for your family to enjoy the outdoors, but also will increase your home’s value and, ultimately, your bottom line when you sell.
Enhanced Weather Protection
Screened porches offer much better protection from the elements than an open porch or patio. This means shade without the unstable umbrella constantly blowing away. It means less wind and more wind-down time. It means less sun fading your rugs and cushions.
It also means a cleaner space and less maintenance, leaving more time for you to just enjoy! Why? Because the screens prevent leaves and debris from blow in, and the reduced weather exposure also reduces your need for sealing, painting and staining. Better yet, I had Quality Built Exteriors cover my screen porch’s wood ceiling in vinyl wrap, so it never has to be painted again!
Extended Outdoor Enjoyment
I love basking in the sun on my deck during the day, but the minute the sun begins to set, I make a beeline for my screened porch. Why? Because I love the outdoors— the feel of the breeze, the smell the rain, the dance of the fireflies, and the many sounds of nature—but I hate how the bugs start swarming at dusk. Our family dinners on our screened porch have created some of our best memories, none of which include swatting the flies off our burgers or slapping “no-see-ums” on our arms.
Our screened porch also gives us a place to enjoy the mild Virginia winters. With the addition of a propane heater, we’ve been able to enjoy the outdoors throughout all four seasons. My friend even decorates her screened porch for the holidays, complete with lights, decorative pillows and throws, and a full-size Christmas tree.
Fun Perks
OK, I know I said all that other stuff was the best part of having a screened porch, but this might be my favorite-favorite: the unique ways you can use the added space!
Because screened porches are protected from the elements, you can decorate them and make them even more comfortable than areas that are fully exposed to sun, wind, and rain. Accents such as framed art, blankets, pillows, lamps and candles, and furniture normally intended for indoors, together create a warm and inviting area that’s hard to resist.
On a warm afternoon, there’s nothing better than taking a nap in a hammock or swinging the day away with a good book, all without the worries of being in the yard.
Even star gazing and storm watching are better from a screened porch. My best friend and her kids love snuggling in the hammock on their screened porch, while making imaginary pictures out of the lightning strikes, during a good thunderstorm.
Shade-loving plants also thrive on screen porches. Into self-care? These spaces offer an ideal place for yoga, workouts, and even a soothing dip in your hot tub. The possible uses of this versatile space are endless.
Easy Entertaining
If entertaining is your thing, a screened porch is essential. Informal gatherings, game nights, and even regular family dinners are all better without bugs and weather woes. Our neighbors and friends enjoy popping by on summer evenings for a drink on our porch. My friend’s family even held Thanksgiving dinner there last year, to accommodate those with concerns about being inside together during the pandemic.
Outdoor movie nights are absolutely more fun under a roof. The protection offered by the enclosed area allows homeowners to add all kinds of fun technology to that they couldn’t have on an open deck. Televisions, movie screens and projectors, and even built-in speakers all add to the experience.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a screened porch on your home, it may already be one of your favorite “rooms” in your house. Ours is certainly my “happy place” for most of the year. Even pets love relaxing in the space—my friend’s dog has her own door to get in, and at my house, it’s a place where my cats can enjoy fresh air without escaping the property.
If a full-blown screened porch isn’t in the cards for you, there are several budget-friendly options available too. For covered porches, many types of roll-up mosquito netting and curtains are available to keep the sun and bugs out. On open decks, homeowners can purchase free-standing canvas tents with removable sides to provide shade and bug protection. (Be sure to properly anchor them to the floor to avoid damage on windy days.)
Are you ready to complete your house with the screened porch of your dreams? Contact Quality Built Exteriors for a free consultation today.