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Building a screened-in porch is an excellent way to enhance your home and add more outdoor living space. In this article, we explore different screened-in porch ideas and how you can implement them. Let’s jump right into it.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Screened-in Porch?
The average cost of installing a screened-in porch is about $4 for each square foot of material and another $2 for each square foot of labor. These are average price estimates, so you might have to pay more or less for the construction. If you are aiming for a plan of about a 200-square-foot in the porch area, you should set aside at least a couple of thousand dollars.
Is Adding a Screened-in Porch Worth the Cost?
Adding a screened-in room to your property is an investment. Should you decide to sell your home at some stage, you can expect a return on investment of more than 80%. A revamped porch design can also add to the curb appeal of your property.
Besides the monetary considerations of adding a porch enclosure, you have to think of the benefits that this project can bring for you you and your family. It gives you an additional space to enjoy the outside area away from the direct rays of the sun. When you have a screened porch, you can have a place to have indoor-outdoor meals, read, reflect, and other similar activities that bring you inspiration. These benefits are largely possible if you put some effort into implementing the screened porch design ideas that inspire and resonate with you the most.
What Is the Average Cost to Enclose a Porch?
If you are looking to enclose an existing porch, the cost can be as low as a few hundred and can go up to several thousand dollars. This porch renovation project might cost a bit up front, but it is a good investment in the selling value of your home should such a time arise. You can compare the cost of the enclosure in different screen porch plans and designs to see which one works well for your budget. Pictures of finished screened porch designs can give you the inspiration to plan the projects well.
Can You Build Your Own Screened-in Porch?
To save money on your screened-in porch construction, you can consider the DIY option. This is an important structure, so it’s best to try to do it yourself if you have the ended skill and knowledge of constructing similar structures. When you create a DIY screened-in porch, you get to use as many panels as you like and have more hands-on involvement in what the outcome is. This approach is a great way to save a lot on the labor costs of a new screened porch installation.
Screen porch kits are a great resource for anyone who wants to add screen panels to their porch without having to figure out every step for themselves. Inside a screen porch kit, you can find all you need to implement your best porch ideas.
Screen Porch Design Ideas
There are lots of things to consider whether you are building the screen porch for yourself or getting a professional contractor to do the work. Here are the main ones and well as so relevant screened porch design ideas for each element of the project.
Screen Porch Panels
You can use a range of panels including fiberglass mesh, solar screens, aluminum, copper, and brass. Your choice of porch screen can come from your porch material and style preferences and budget considerations. You can also look into phantom screens.
Flooring Options for Screened Porches
The floor of your screened porch area is very important for several reasons. It affects the overall look and front porch design. It should be attractive, easy to clean, and durable in the outdoor space. Some of the best floor options to consider include hardwoods like ipe, cedar, concrete, tiles, travertine paver, and composite decking.
Once you are done picking and installing your chosen flooring, you can add a statement area rug to make the place feel more like an extension of your home. You should also think about the design of the porch steps and anything else in the vicinity like the walls and columns.
Screen Porch Seating
The seating options on your screen porches are critical to the final look. You want seating options that look great and are also very comfortable to sit on. It has to be relaxing for you, your friends, and everyone who uses this yard space. The screened porch area is an indoor-outdoor living room, so you have to consider the seat material.
It should be durable and able to withstand the outdoor environment, especially as far as weather elements like rain, dust, and termites are concerned. You also want to choose a seat or sofa material that is easy to clean and generally low maintenance. You might need a dining table if you intend to share a meal or two in this room.
Besides the type of furniture and chairs you use in the seating area, you also have to make sure this outdoor furniture is arranged well. If you are planning to use your screened porch as a dining area, for example, then you need to have the relevant furnishings and chairs.
Porch Decor and Style
Another one of the screened porch design ideas we cannot leave out is the decorating aspect. This area is an important part of your overall property’s appeal. It is an extension of the ambiance and experience of your home, so you want it to mirror your style and show off your personality. In many house designs, the screened porch is going to be visible from the street. In this case, you should consider how well your front porch represents you.
Some of the decor aspects you should work on including the style of the furniture, the floor-to-ceiling color and texture, any other elements that affect how you feel in the space. You can add a personal touch and decoration items like a photo album with family photos and any other decorative item. You can also add a porch swing to make the space more pleasant. Many homeowners decorate their screened-in porches with their favorite potted plants. You can add cushions in bright colors or a shade that goes well with the outdoors.
Sleeping Porches Design Ideas
If you decide to use your screened porch as a sleeping porch instead, there are going to be additional design considerations you should make. You should choose the best screen panel to give you the best sleep and rest in your porch space. Make sure you get a comfortable bed and great quality bedding and pillows for this additional room space in your home. You might want a ceiling fan and some curtains to keep you cool and aid your relaxation and comfort.
Conclusion
There are lots of screened porch design topics to explore like lighting and porch doors, but we only touched on a few of the main ones. These should give you some inspiration to start planning your screened porch design ideas
Project 3419-1 Outdoor Living Space Screen Porch Deck Porch Bar Minneapolis
