23 Screened-in Porch Ideas to Enjoy the Outdoors (Without the Bugs)

A screened-in porch is the ideal way to enjoy some sun and fresh air without having to worry about bugs, rain, or a lack of privacy. From bench swings to fireplaces, these screened-in porch ideas will inspire you to make the space your own. You might just find your screened-in porch becoming the most used area of your home.

1. Install Skylights

One of the best parts about a screened-in porch is how sun-soaked and naturally lit the area is. Turn that up to 11 by paying for the cost to install skylights. Plus, skylights give you the opportunity to stargaze at night. What more could you ask for?

Skylights are the most likely window style to leak, but that poses a minimal risk in any screened-in porch idea.

2. Partial Porch Screen

If you have a large porch or deck, consider only installing porch screens on part of it and separating the two sections with a screen wall and door. This way you can enjoy the outdoors no matter the weather conditions, and you’ll always have a small area to retreat to if privacy or bugs become an issue.

3. Add Exposed Beams

Exposed beams aren’t just for living rooms and kitchens; they can also make a charming addition to any screened-in porch space. You can even add faux beams to an existing porch for a rustic look that bridges the gap between your home and nature. Just make sure your ceilings are high enough so that they don’t become a walking hazard. 

4. Shiplap Walls or Ceiling

Shiplap is a popular design choice for interior walls, so why not use it to bring a little elegance into your screened-in porch? Shiplap adds a more modern and refined feel to your porch, and you can always use a bold pop of color to make it stand out. You can even use the design on the ceiling of your porch area if you have limited wall space because of the screens.

5. Screened-In Front Porch

When you think of “screened-in porch ideas,” it’s common to think of back porches with a dining set and beautiful view. But don’t forget, front porches make great screened-in options, too, and they can be good alternatives to front sunrooms. Here, you can enjoy your morning coffee, catch up with friends, and wave to your neighbors as they walk by. They also won’t detract from your usable rear yard space: a major bonus for most homeowners.

6. Farmhouse Screened-In Porch

Porches are the perfect way to bring your interior design taste outside. Extend the farmhouse elements inside your home to your porch by contrasting dark walls with a light accent wall, adding a shiplap ceiling, and installing antique light fixtures. You can double down with farmhouse-inspired furniture or match tangential design options, like mid-century modern, for a unique farmhouse look.

7. Bring in Lots of Greenery

Screened-in porches are the perfect place for indoor potted plants. Not only can your plants get the sunlight they need without being directly exposed, but they’ll help bridge the gap between your more refined interior living area and the outdoors. Placing your plants in a screened-in porch also prevents them from becoming over-watered when it rains or exposed to pesky bugs—all things that can kill houseplants if not monitored.

8. Install a Ceiling Fan

Unfortunately, you can’t temperature control a screened-in porch the way you can inside your home. You can, however, pay for the cost to install a ceiling fan to get the air moving on balmy nights for just enough of a breeze that you won’t mind staying outside.

9. Dining Area

A screened-in porch is a great place to enjoy your morning coffee or a meal with family and friends. All you need is a patio table set with enough seating to accommodate everyone. Consider adding cushions or padding to the seats if they don’t already come with them. You can make the area really stand out by matching your cushions to your wall colors or choosing complimentary color palettes.

10. Make It a Work-From-Home Space

If you’re someone who works from home, you have the luxury of enjoying days with beautiful weather instead of being stuck inside at a desk. A screened-in porch is the perfect place to get your work done while also making the most of every warm, sunny day. All you need is a table space large enough to accommodate your work materials and a comfy chair. You could even consider installing a small mini fridge in the area for drinks, snacks, and lunch to cut down on break time.

11. Add Wicker Patio Furniture

Wicker patio furniture is a porch staple, as it’s comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. It can warp and weather easily when left out in the elements, which is why a protected screened-in porch is the perfect place to have traditional wicker pieces. Add matching cushions and throw pillows for a classic porch sitting area.

12. Customize Screen Dimensions

Want to make your screened-in porch a little more interesting from the outside? Use custom screen sizes and shapes to break up the monotony. It can be a little more expensive installing different screen sizes and frames to create a pattern, but it leaves you with a truly custom appearance.

13. Place a Decorative Area Rug

Since a screened-in porch is protected from rain, snow, bugs, and dirt, you can opt for a trendy indoor area rug without worrying about it getting ruined. Pick a color and pattern that complements the rest of your decor and ties everything together. Since you can easily replace a rug or clean an area rug, feel free to go bold with the color or design to make your space stand out.

14. Elegant Cable Railing

An often overlooked option for screened-in porches is adding handrails in addition to the screens. We love the open and airy look of cable railing, especially since it won’t block your view of nature from your porch. It adds the perfect touch of elegance, plus it’s a great addition for safety if you have kids.

15. Screened-in Porch Fireplace

Picture it—early fall, leaves are changing, and there’s a crisp breeze in the air. You make a warm cup of tea with cinnamon, grab a blanket and a book, and get cozy next to the fireplace on your screened-in porch. Is there anything more relaxing than that? A traditional wood-burning fireplace is perhaps the coziest option, but you can keep costs down by installing an electric or propane fireplace.

We recommend hiring a sunroom contractor near you if you plan on paying for the cost to install a built-in fireplace in your porch or sunroom area.

16. Patio Sectional

Patio sectionals are perfect for kicking back and relaxing. Plus, they can also comfortably accommodate large families or gatherings with friends. There’s a huge range of patio sectional options out there. Some even come in customizable pieces so you can customize the size of your seating area to be as large or compact as you’d like. Opt for a large matching coffee table piece to make game nights with your group a possibility.

17. Bench Swing

You can never go wrong with a classic wooden bench swing. From here, you can read a book, bird watch, or rock your child to sleep with a gentle swaying motion that will melt all of your worries away. Just be sure your ceiling joists are sturdy enough to handle the added weight and place the swing so that it won’t damage nearby materials within its arc.

18. Lounge Chairs

Ahh, there’s no better place to kick back and relax than in a comfy lounge chair on your screened-in porch. Take in all the sights and sounds around you, and maybe even get in a cat nap.

19. Opt for Privacy Screens or Curtains

Screened-in porches are naturally a little less private than your indoor living areas, but you can remedy that by installing some privacy screens or curtains, which can also make your space feel a little more complete. You can opt for more permanent privacy by installing lattice on the outside of your screen and growing some ivy to block views into your porch or by installing a different type of porch screen altogether that blocks the view of your space.

20. Second-Story Screened-In Porch

If you have a second-story deck, why not enclose the area and pay for the cost of a screened-in porch? If you install a sunroom or add one after paying for a second-story addition, you could also remove permanent windows to create a second-story screened-in porch. You’ll still have the potential for better views from the higher vantage point, and you’ll get that much-needed protection from the rain and bugs while still enjoying the outdoors and fresh air. If your deck is already covered, you could just be a few screens and an hour of DIY work away from a proper screened-in porch.

21. Brighten Up the Space

A screened-in porch during the day provides plenty of access to sunlight, but for night-time use, you can install some warm outdoor lights to brighten up the space and make it usable for dining, board games, and even reading. Opt for solar-powered lights if you don’t want to run electricity into the area.

22. Opt for Outdoor Sleeping Arrangements

Porches make a great place to take a nap, but you could even open up the possibility of enjoying fresh air and the sounds of nature while you sleep by putting a daybed or futon in the space. Convert it back to a couch for daytime use or when you have company over to enjoy the outdoors. If you winterize your screened-in porch, you could even use the space as a year-round guest room.

23. Add a Projector

Fancy an outdoor movie night with friends or family? You can bring your semi-outdoor screened-in porch into the 21st century by installing an outdoor projector. Just be careful to install your projector where it won’t get damaged if it rains.