Back porches, decks, sunrooms, screened-in porches, verandas and 4-season porches are all spaces affording great opportunities to extend our living areas. They are great places to escape from the everyday stresses of life as you enter into another world designed to transport you to peace, serenity, romance and memory making. There is an old adage claiming that necessity is the mother of invention. Well, I am inclined to lean in that direction as gas prices rise, and people are traveling less. To some degree, it is providing homeowners an opportunity to reclaim their outdoor living spaces and they are calling upon interior designers increasingly more to help them create vacation-like spots.
Years ago when I was growing up in rural NC during the 60’s, a back porch was a portion of the house that connected the kitchen with the main house, or it served as a storage area. Oftentimes, it had a water pump with a sink on the end of the porch. Wow, that brought back a lot of memories. Some were used as sleeping porches during hot and humid summer nights, and others were used as exterior mudrooms. Today, homeowners use these spaces to enjoy a backyard barbeque, to entertain guests, or perhaps to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or a late afternoon cup of tea. Whatever the occasion, we are turning these spaces into outdoor living areas, and homeowners are getting more clever and creative with the function of these spaces.
Oftentimes, the homeowner will use sofas, chairs and pillows covered with weatherproof fabrics, and these fabrics have many color and pattern options. To round out the space, coffee tables, end tables, rugs and various accessories are being used as well. Different light sources can be incorporated in outdoor spaces that create ambience and moods that evoke serenity, love and romance, particularly at night. (Just don’t forget the mosquito repellent). Add some colorful flowers grown in a decorative container and it makes for a room as inviting as any decorated interior room.
Covered porches are great places to relax and enjoy the afternoon reading a book while a weatherproof ceiling fan keeps the afternoon air moving. A colorful flower garden just beyond the porch is very inviting for those in love with watching butterflies, squirrels and other interesting wildlife. Consider using one side of a long porch as a dining area and adjacent will be a living area or a space for games. There is nothing better than being on a porch or deck sitting on a lounge chair just before a windy summer storm. The breeze is incredible, and it’s a great way to cool down from sweltering heat.
Screened porches can be adorned with inexpensive wood blinds or fabric shades. They can be lowered for nighttime privacy without compromising the airflow as you partake in casual meals and nighttime entertaining. They are perfect places for children to enjoy fresh air while playing games and participating in other activities. Four-season porches with a sky-light is a great place to sit with your loved one looking up at the rain fall during an afternoon storm, or enjoyment can be found in this same spot during the winter as you watch the snow fall as it lulls you into blissful tranquility. The possibilities and uses for porches and outdoor spaces are just as vast as your creativity will span.
If creativity is not in your genes, then contact a local IDS Interior design professional. They are committed to helping make your back porches a place where memories of a lifetime can be made.
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