A usual porch or a screened porch, what’s the best idea for your home? Let’s take a look at some screened porch and find out pros and cons that can inspire you (or not) to make a screened one or leave it as it is.
Pros
The pleasant image of sitting outside to enjoy a beautiful day is quickly ruined by pesky mosquitos leaving you covered in itchy bites or flies gathering around your breakfast plate. A screened porch does the important job of keeping bugs out, while still letting you take advantage of being outside.
Anyone with an open porch quickly learns how often they have to clean off the debris that gathers. In the fall you have to sweep up leaves, acorns, dirt — you name it. In the spring, pollen can coat all your furniture. A screened porch will still need cleaning but the screens will block much of the debris and save you a lot of cleaning trouble.
An open porch is available to any neighborhood rodent that can get into your yard. Raccoons, opossums, and rats could very well help themselves to the food or other items you leave on your porch unattended. With a screened porch, you can leave food and other items around without worrying an animal will go after them (unless you have a sneaky pet).
Our fantasies of enjoying a porch are usually reserved for when the weather’s nearly perfect out. But with a screened porch, you have the power to make it comfortable at any time of year. Many screened porches include fireplaces or heaters to keep it cozy in the winter, and you can install fans to keep things cool in the summer.
Since the screens shield a screened porch from many of the elements, you can safely install electronics in your screened porch, such as a TV. And you can choose the furniture and decorations you add to the porch without worry about what the next big storm will do to them.
A beautiful screened porch with a simple wooden dining set, bold rattan seating furniture, some greenery and lamps is cool.
A bright traditional screened porch with black wicker furniture, bright pillows, a low coffee table, bright potted blooms.
A cabin screened porch with rattan and woven furniture, a round coffee table, bright pillows, potted plants and blooms.
A chalet-inspired screened porch with a fireplace clad with stone, dark wicker furniture, blue and green upholstery and gorgeous views.
A chic modern boho porch with a wicker sectional sofa, a low coffee table, a woven chair, some stools, potted plants and lights.
A clean and lovely contemporary screened porch with laconic grey furniture, a wicker chair and lovely views of the lake.
A coastal screened porch with a pass by window, a wooden dining table and white chairs plus views of the surroundings.
A cottage screened porch with a dining space made with rattan chairs and a round table, potted greenery and lovely views of the surroundings.
A cozy black screened porch with a fire pit, black chairs and printed pillows plus a cool view of the garden is cool.
A cozy modern rustic screened porch with rattan furniture, potted plants, lamps and printed pillows is a lovely space.
A cozy modern screened porch with chic stained and white upholstery furniture, rattan tables, colorful pillows and lovely views around.
A cozy modern screened porch with neutral wicker furniture, blue pillows, side tables and some flowers is lovely.
Cons
If you have a beautiful yard, then one of the biggest benefits of sitting out on your porch is to enjoy the view. A screen won’t block the view entirely, but it definitely obscures it. If you love the way your trees and plants look and you want them to remain a visual part of your porch experience, then installing screens could get in the way.
A screened porch requires more materials and time to build than an open porch. As such, you can expect it to cost more. But when weighing costs, you should always consider the benefits you could get from that extra expense. If you build an open porch and never use it because of bugs, then it won’t be worth the money you spend. Working with an experienced contractor can help you create a realistic budget for a screened porch project, so it’s worth talking to a professional before you rule it out based on cost.
A cozy screened porch with a dining space - a wooden table, green and natural rattan chairs, greenery and a pendant lamp.
A farmhouse screened porch in black and white, with a rocker chair, a tall table and black stools, potted herbs in black planters.
A farmhouse screened porch with a planked dining table, woven chairs, string lights, potted plants and views of the woodland.
A lovely modern screened porch with black wicker chairs, a low coffee table, some potted flowers and plants is an amazing outdoor living room.
A lovely screened porch with a birck floor, a hanging black bench, a small folding table and gorgeous views of the forest around.
A lovely screened porch with a white trestle table, shabby chic benches, side tables, potted plants and some string lights.
A minimalist screened porch with simple wooden furniture and green upholstery is a lovely outdoor sitting zone to enjoy.
A modern and welcoming screened porch with neutral rattan furniture, printed pillows, a low wooden coffee table, lovely lake views.
A modern boho screened porch with simple stained wood and rattan furniture, a glass coffee table, potted plants and printed textiles.
A modern rustic screened porch done with dark walls and frames, dark woven furniture, bright upholstery and pillows, potted plants and lamps.
A modern screened porch with a hanging bench, black wicker chairs, side and coffee tables, some plants and cool views.
A modern screened porch with a TV and a uilt-in fireplace, a white corner sofa and a low coffee table plus views of the woodland.
A modern screened porch with a white hanging sofa, potted plants and blooms, candle lanterns and white poufs plus a graphic rug.
A pretty small coastal porch with a turquoise ceiling and doors, white wicker furniture, colorful pillows, side tables and some plants.
A pretty tropical screened porch with wicker furniture, printed pillows, potted plants, candle lanterns and lamps is cool.
A relaxed coastal screened porch with a rattan sofa and chairs, a low coffee table, printed pillows, potted plants and cacti, a printed rug.
A screened porch with a kitchen and dining furniture, with built-in lights and pendant lamps is a lovely space.
A small and welcoming coastal screened porch with rattan chairs, a soft blue sofa, a pouf, a woven pendant lamp and a potted plant.
A stylish modern farmhouse screened porch with woven furniture, a portable fire pit, some lights is a lovely space to spend time.
A vintage screened porch with a white hanging bench, white rockers, footrests, blue pillows and potted plants is amazing.
A vintage tropical screened porch with a dining set with folding furniture, wooden chairs and a bench, woven side tables and potted plants.