A screened in porch provides the perfect outdoor living space to relax and enjoy nature. You get fresh air and natural light while being protected from insects, pollen, and weather elements. Decorating your screened porch can transform it into a cozy, inviting oasis that extends your home’s living area.
Whether you prefer a coastal, farmhouse, or modern aesthetic, we’ll cover the essentials like furniture, fabrics, lighting, and accessories. We’ve also included specific decor ideas for various styles to spark your creativity. Read on for inspiring screened porch decorating ideas that will help you maximize the beauty and function of your outdoor retreat.
Planning Your Screened Porch Design
Before decorating, it’s important to plan out your screened porch design. Consider the overall layout, style, furniture, fabrics, lighting and decorative accents. Pulling all these elements together creates a cohesive look and feel.
Consider the Layout
First, look at the size, shape and floorplan of your screened porch space. Typical layouts include:
- Wrap around porches that extend across the back and side of a home
- L-shaped porches with two adjoining sides
- Rectangular or square shaped porches
Measure your screened porch carefully to determine what size furniture and layout will work best. You’ll want adequate walkways and seating areas while maximizing the usable floorspace.
Choose a Style
Next, decide on an overall decorating style and color palette for your screened porch. Some popular aesthetics include:
- Farmhouse – Vintage, distressed woods with checkered and gingham fabrics
- Coastal – Light blues, tans and nautical accents
- Tropical – Bright, cheery colors with floral prints and rattan furniture
- Rustic – Unfinished woods with leather and sisal fabrics
- Contemporary – Neutral tones, sleek furniture lines and modern art
Pick one style you love and stick with it for the most cohesive look. Mixing different aesthetics can make a space feel cluttered.
Select Furniture
Choosing the right outdoor furniture is key for maximizing comfort and functionality. Opt for all-weather pieces made from wicker, aluminum, teak wood or synthetic wicker. Some furniture essentials for screened porches include:
- Chairs – Swivel rockers, club chairs, dining chairs
- Sofas – Cushioned sectionals or loveseats
- Ottomans – Movable seating/tables
- Tables – Coffee tables, side tables, dining tables
Look for furniture with weather-resistant cushions and pillows for added comfort. Focus on pieces in your chosen style.
Pick Fabrics
Don’t overlook the importance of fabrics in making your screened porch inviting. Textiles add visual interest, texture and a cozy vibe. Ideal fabrics include:
- Outdoor cushions and pillows
- Courtyard rugs in natural fibers
- Cotton, linen or seagrass curtains
- Weather-proof cushion slipcovers
Choose fabrics that complement your color scheme and design aesthetic.
Incorporate Decor Touches
Finish your screened porch design with fun decorative accents. Display wall art, mirrors or string lights to reflect your personal style. Greenery like potted palms, ferns and orchids enhance the outdoorsy ambiance. Other decor ideas include:
- Accent tables – For drinks, lamps, plants
- Sculptures – Metal, wood or concrete statues
- Lanterns and candles – For soft illumination
- Area rugs – Anchor seating arrangements
Let your creativity run wild when accessorizing your perfect screened porch!
Screened Porch Decorating Ideas
Now that we’ve covered the design essentials, let’s explore specific ways to bring different styles to life on your screened porch. We’ll look at trendy farmhouse, tropical, coastal, rustic and contemporary decorating ideas.
Farmhouse Style
A farmhouse look is charming and welcoming. Incorporate these details:
- Vintage tin signs, crates or galvanized buckets for storage
- Checkerboard patterns on cushions and curtains
- Plaid and gingham tablecloths
- Distressed white painted furniture
- Unfinished wood dining tables
- Wicker baskets overflowing with blankets
- Mason jar pendant lighting
A few farmhouse elements like a distressed wood side table or checkered cushions go a long way. Keep the overall palette neutral with pops of red or aqua.
Tropical Style
Capture an island vibe with these fun tropical touches:
- Vibrant colors like fuchsia, turquoise, chartreuse
- Leafy palm prints and floral patterns
- Rattan and bamboo furniture
- Cafe string lights overhead
- Potted palm trees or banana plants
- Carved wood tiki statues
- Baskets, seashells and lanterns as accents
Tropical style makes you feel happily transported. Use greenery, bright pillows and fun wall art to complete the look.
Coastal Style
Channel relaxing days at the shore with these coastal finds:
- Driftwood furniture and whitewashed wicker
- Sand colored walls or river rock flooring
- Wavy blue and white striped cushions
- Nautical signs, oars, anchors and shells
- Neutral tones like beige, tan, light blue
- Textured jute or seagrass area rugs
- Natural fiber curtains in linen or cotton
Coastal style is easy, breezy sophistication. Aim for simplicity and avoid clutter.
Rustic Style
Rustic decor emphasizes natural materials. Incorporate:
- Unfinished cedar wood furniture
- Sisal, seagrass or jute rugs
- Antler chandeliers
- Wrought iron candle holders
- Faux fur throws on leather chairs
- Live edge wood dining tables
- Copper lanterns and galvanized buckets
- Faux deer hides as rugs
Mixing modern pieces with reclaimed woods and vintage items prevents rustic spaces from feeling too cabin-like. Layer on cozy textiles.
Contemporary Style
For a sleek modern screened porch include:
- Egg chairs or modular sofas in fresh white
- Cement cylinder side tables
- Abstract metal or geometric art
- Slate blue and gray color scheme
- Stone fireplace and rectangular planters
- Sculptural light fixtures
- Concrete or marble topped dining tables
Contemporary spaces feel serene thanks to neutral colors, clean lines and minimal clutter. Add pops of citrus or fuchsia for contrast.
Decorating on a Budget
You don’t need to spend a fortune to create a stylish screened porch. Affordable ways to decorate include:
- Repurposing old crates or barrels for storage
- Hanging inexpensive festoon lighting overhead
- Using area rugs from discount stores like Marshall’s
- Shopping yard sales and flea markets for unique furniture
- Adding inexpensive potted ferns or ivy for greenery
- Painting existing patio furniture for a fresh look
- Making slipcovers from sheets or tablecloths
- Stenciling or painting terra cotta pots for planters
- Displaying affordable wall art and framed posters
Don’t underestimate the power of spray paint, stencils and creativity when decorating your screened porch!
Enhance Functionality
When designing your screened porch, look for ways to boost comfort and functionality.
- Add ceiling fans for cooling airflow on hot days
- Install a fireplace or electric heater to use the space year-round
- Incorporate a mister system for staying cool in summer
- Use curtains on tracks to control sunlight and privacy
- Build in cabinetry and shelving for concealed storage
- Include charging stations for phones and laptops
- Boost WiFi coverage with a signal extender
By maximizing usability, your screened porch becomes a favorite hangout morning, noon and night.
Screened porches provide an idyllic spot to relax in the beauty of the outdoors. With some creativity and planning, you can design a space that reflects your personal taste and lifestyle needs.
We hope these screened porch decorating ideas have sparked some inspiration! Don’t be afraid to mix styles and eras for an eclectic look that’s distinctly you. The goal is to create a welcoming sanctuary that encourages relaxation, conversation and connection.
For more outdoor living inspiration, explore our deck and patio decor ideas. Cheers to making the most of warmer weather in the coolest spaces!
