How to Decorate Covered Porches & Patios

Decorate Your Outdoor Room

• 1

  Determine the function of your space before you begin decorating your outdoor room. Let the amount of space available help determine the function of the space. An outdoor room with little space may be better suited for a reading nook or breakfast area for two, rather than a full dining or entertaining room.

• 2

  Once you have the function part squared away, you can start selecting furniture. Even though a porch or covered patio offers some shelter from the elements, you are still essentially decorating outdoor rooms and the materials you select will need to reflect that. Decorating porches with wicker, painted wood furniture, or other fairly weather resistant materials is fine, but stick to synthetic wicker, rot-proof cedars and redwoods, and cast-iron pieces when decorating covered patios.

• 3

  Take cues from your house’s architecture and your landscape style when decorating outdoor rooms. Use materials that are suitable, such as wicker for Victorian homes or Arts and Crafts style furniture for bungalows.

• 4

  Choose fabrics to add color, texture, and a feeling of coziness to what tends to be primarily hard, durable surfaces. As with furniture materials, the degree of fabric durability will depend on whether you’re decorating porches or decorating covered patios. Fabric for cushions and curtains used on porches will likely need to be at the very least fade-resistant, but may not need to be quite as moisture and mildew resistant as those used when decorating covered patios.

• 5

  Include the same details that you would in an indoor room when decorating porches or covered patios. Rugs that are suitable for outdoor use will help to anchor a seating or dining area and soften the expanse of a wood or masonry floor, while throw pillows add interest to sofas and chairs.

• 6

  Add interior-style lighting with outdoor ratings to make your covered porch or patio usable in the evening. Look for chandeliers and table lamps when decorating outdoor rooms to add an elegant look.

• 7

  Add some greenery to bridge the gap between the indoors and the garden. Choose similar containers of different sizes for a unified feel that still has some variety. Fill containers with suitable plants that coordinate with your landscape and home, such as ferns for a Victorian or colorful annuals for a cottage-style home.

• 8

  Finally, add accessories made of stone, pottery, wood, or metal that can stand up to the elements and will also mesh with your home’s style. Wall art, such as vintage signs or architectural pieces will finish the look.