Porch Life: 8 Ideas for Great Outdoor Dining
No need to schlep a bulky basket out to the park — enjoy al fresco dining steps away from your kitchen with these porch ideas
Becky Harris
May 13, 2012
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
Dining on the porch brings the best of both worlds. Whether out front or out back, screened or open, having a meal on the porch allows you to enjoy the fresh air and outdoor views without having to pack a basket or cram together on a picnic blanket. Here are eight tips for setting up a dining space on the porch.
Mix and match furniture just like you would indoors. Matchy-matchy outdoor dining sets are no longer required; today there are many options for furniture that can stand up to the elements. Furthermore, a porch roof provides ample protection for most of the year, as long as golf-ball-size hail isn't coming in sideways.
If space is limited, treat one corner of the porch like a small breakfast nook. A small rounded table and two to four chairs can cozy up into a small space and leave room for settees, rockers and armchairs on the rest of the porch.
On a screened-in porch, place a round table in an outer corner. This maximizes the views for as many people at the table as possible.
Treat your porch table like your formal dining table. That means adding fresh blooms and candleholders.
Take cues from your formal dining room when it comes to hanging lighting. This onion lantern pendant has exterior style, but it's hung in an interior way — centered over the dining table.
If you have a long dining table, consider hanging more than one lantern.
Browse lanterns in the Product section
Browse lanterns in the Product section
Let your rustic flag fly. If some of the previous images are a little too formal for your ideal porch, by all means, go more primitive. This charmingly rustic porch and its coordinating twig furniture create a comfy picnic atmosphere where you can pretend you're roughing it — you know, like MBAs on a dude ranch.
Add an outdoor kitchen. A porch provides great cover for cooking al fresco, and you won't have to carry the serving plates very far.
Or integrate your grill with built-ins. A stucco vent hood, stone stands and counters give the grill a presence that fits into the old-world European flair of the rest of this home.
More Porch Life:
Wraparound Porches
Sleeping Porches
Screened-In Porches
Modern Porches
Banishing the Bugs
Porch Plants
More Porch Life:
Wraparound Porches
Sleeping Porches
Screened-In Porches
Modern Porches
Banishing the Bugs
Porch Plants
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