10 Inviting Screened-In Porches Ready for Fall
Take a look at how homeowners across the country have prepared their porches for chillier days and nights
Becky Harris
September 12, 2022
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Changing leaves, crisp nights and hot apple cider make a screened-in porch the perfect place for enjoying fresh air in comfort. With autumn just around the corner, it’s time to start prepping the porch for the season. Check out how these 10 porches around the country are ready to welcome the change in weather.
1. Prep a Spot for Taking in Fall Color
This home in Maine shows a million reasons to hang out on the porch during autumn, in the form of gorgeous orange, yellow and red leaves. Designed by Eric Sokol of Winkelman Architecture and built by Maine Passive House, the space has an unadorned style and clean-lined railings that put the focus on the view.
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This home in Maine shows a million reasons to hang out on the porch during autumn, in the form of gorgeous orange, yellow and red leaves. Designed by Eric Sokol of Winkelman Architecture and built by Maine Passive House, the space has an unadorned style and clean-lined railings that put the focus on the view.
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2. Bring Out the Fall Decor
Screened-in porches are wonderful places for dining during the fall in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This porch built by J. Hall Homes has a tablescape made festive by colorful gourds.
Screened-in porches are wonderful places for dining during the fall in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This porch built by J. Hall Homes has a tablescape made festive by colorful gourds.
3. Enjoy the Off-Season in a Beach Town
Some people are in on the secret that the best time to visit popular summer vacation spots is during the off-season. This Martha’s Vineyard porch by Blue Jay Design is a wonderful place for enjoying cooler days in Massachusetts. And the pass-through window makes it easy to serve hot cider from the kitchen.
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Some people are in on the secret that the best time to visit popular summer vacation spots is during the off-season. This Martha’s Vineyard porch by Blue Jay Design is a wonderful place for enjoying cooler days in Massachusetts. And the pass-through window makes it easy to serve hot cider from the kitchen.
Browse outdoor lounge furniture in the Houzz Shop
4. Get Toasty by the Fire
Temperatures drop significantly during the fall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. So the large stone fireplace on this porch by BDR Executive Custom Homes helps extend porch time well into the shoulder season.
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Temperatures drop significantly during the fall in Grand Rapids, Michigan. So the large stone fireplace on this porch by BDR Executive Custom Homes helps extend porch time well into the shoulder season.
Find a local fireplace contractor
5. Stock Up on Wood
Splitting and stacking wood make for an invigorating fall activity. And this Chicago-area porch by A. Perry Homes is well-stocked for dinners warmed by the vintage wood stove.
Splitting and stacking wood make for an invigorating fall activity. And this Chicago-area porch by A. Perry Homes is well-stocked for dinners warmed by the vintage wood stove.
6. Get Ready to Enjoy the Big Game
Watching football games is a great reason for friends and family to get together. And this porch by Rufty Custom Built Homes and Remodeling in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the perfect spot for enjoying the big game on a crisp afternoon. The fire will warm the spectators.
A note about TVs on porches — the neighborly thing to do is to make sure the volume is at a level that won’t disturb your neighbors. Or if you know it will be turned up a bit louder, be sure to invite them to the party.
Watching football games is a great reason for friends and family to get together. And this porch by Rufty Custom Built Homes and Remodeling in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the perfect spot for enjoying the big game on a crisp afternoon. The fire will warm the spectators.
A note about TVs on porches — the neighborly thing to do is to make sure the volume is at a level that won’t disturb your neighbors. Or if you know it will be turned up a bit louder, be sure to invite them to the party.
7. Extend the Season With a Heater
The combination of an infrared heater and vinyl windows extends porch season well into fall at this Minnesota lake house. Zawadski Homes installed windows that open 75% on warm days and close fully on chilly ones.
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The combination of an infrared heater and vinyl windows extends porch season well into fall at this Minnesota lake house. Zawadski Homes installed windows that open 75% on warm days and close fully on chilly ones.
Shop for an outdoor rug
8. Gather Friends for Grilling
In Charleston, South Carolina, fall is a great time for grilling with friends. The outdoor kitchen on this porch by Koenig Homes allows the homeowners to throw together a low country boil under the protection of the porch ceiling.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
In Charleston, South Carolina, fall is a great time for grilling with friends. The outdoor kitchen on this porch by Koenig Homes allows the homeowners to throw together a low country boil under the protection of the porch ceiling.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
9. Cozy Up a Favorite Napping Spot
Autumn is the prime porch season in Atlanta — the hot summer is over, and the pollen count is low. Architect Alan Clark outfitted this porch with a swinging daybed, perfect for curling up for a nap on a lovely fall day.
Autumn is the prime porch season in Atlanta — the hot summer is over, and the pollen count is low. Architect Alan Clark outfitted this porch with a swinging daybed, perfect for curling up for a nap on a lovely fall day.
10. Bring Out the Blankets
This porch by Amy Troute Inspired Interior Design in Portland, Oregon, has blankets at the ready. Add a few extra throw blankets on your own porch for those times when the after-dinner-drinks phase of the evening goes late. And stock up on full-bodied red wines, cocoa and ingredients for hot toddies.
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This porch by Amy Troute Inspired Interior Design in Portland, Oregon, has blankets at the ready. Add a few extra throw blankets on your own porch for those times when the after-dinner-drinks phase of the evening goes late. And stock up on full-bodied red wines, cocoa and ingredients for hot toddies.
More on Houzz
Browse thousands of porch photos
Read more stories about porches
Hire a local general contractor
Shop for your porch
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I love screened in porches--you get to enjoy the outdoors without pesky insects! These are all wonderful!
(Is the copy in #4 a misprint, or is "shoulder season" a thing in Grand Rapids?)
The 1874 home I grew up in had a large north facing screened porch. We had no air conditioning, except for the kitchen and my father's medical practice. We would dine on the porch every evening. My father would turn the one television in the living room to face the porch and watch the Mets on the chaise lounge. His five daughters would be reading books in the dim lights cast by the sconces. We would grab our blankets on the hot humid nights and sleep on the porch with the cooling breezes under the beautiful maple trees, listening to the chorus of katydids and crickets.
@Diane is the pine wood sealed in any way? I wonder if a good cleaning and then a sealant could help? Because the wood sounds pretty and natural to look at, I would think it would be worth trying to save if possible.
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