This summer, create a haven to relax, entertain, or hideout, while on a budget! Determine these 4 areas when thinking through a screened porch:   

Create a Checklist

The first thing to start with is a checklist so you can get organized.

• Determine your style – do you tend to lean toward modern, classic, rustic? Whatever it may be, your screened in porch should reflect your personality and taste.
• Also, make sure you think through the size of your space and what it will be used for – entertaining relaxation, or family hang-outs? This will help determine the budget and which pieces will fit within the confines of your porch space.
• Then, create your budget and start shopping!  You can find your essentials at a cheaper place, such as a supermart, and then get more unique accent pieces from an antique store or flea market.
• Finally, get inspired through magazines, blogs, and Pinterest to create the dream porch that you want!

Determine Your Lighting    

One of the most important aspects of making your porch feel welcoming is the lighting. There are many different options on a budget! If you want to go for a cozy feel, small rustic lamps placed throughout is a good place to start. To give your porch a chic/sleek look, you could consider recessed or track lighting. Another option is to make your porch look more retro by using string lighting, which is one of our personal favorites (guide from Home Depot here). You can even put in a chandelier for a more classic/elegant style!  

Pick the Flooring

While flooring might not be the most exciting topic, it is very important when it comes to your porch! Here are a few other options to consider:

• Laminate is another option and you can choose from many different colors/styles to make it look like real tile, wood or stone so that it is less expensive.  
• If you aren't a big fan of constant cleaning, tile is a great option and allows you to incorporate creative designs. Tile also absorbs more solar energy than wood or carpet, so it keeps the floor warm.
• Hardwood creates and elegant and inviting look and is easy to maintain. There are many different options and styles for wood flooring, including cuts, fabrications and finishes.

A rule of thumb is to think through where your porch will be placed to determine if it will get a lot of foot traffic (is it near an entry or exit to the yard). One of the easiest solutions is to decorate your patio with a durable area rug so that you have a variety of colors and patterns to choose from to create your perfect look. However, if you have a lot of sun exposure in the room, your carpet color may fade.

Add in Furniture  

Finally, the most fun part of decorating – adding in furniture! There are very affordable options that help optimize space. For example, you could place a sectional in one of the corners for sitting and then design around it! You can purchase nice throw pillows from somewhere like World Market and throw in a colorful rug as an accent to complement the sectional.

The key is to be creative and have fun! You can use a thrifted coffee table, or a refurbished piece of furniture to go in your space. You can even install a speaker system to create extra ambiance!

This summer, build your dream porch and make it your own! Trust us, you and your family will enjoy it for years to come.