You don’t need to spend a fortune to decorate your screened-in porch. In fact, armed with the right knowledge, you can spend next to nothing on home decor and still get a trendy, sophisticated finish.
DIY projects, refurbishment and thrift stores are just a few of the ways you can inexpensively redesign your screened porch.
Read on to find out more about how to decorate a screened-in porch on a budget for astonishing results.
Check for Forgotten Favorites
Before making plans for a home shopping spree, be sure to check the places you store older outdoor furniture and other bits and pieces. If you have a habit of keeping old cabinets, blinds, throws and pictures, take a look at what you’ve got in the attic or basement. You might find that set of wicker chairs you stacked up and forgot about will look great in your new screened-in porch.
You can also ask friends and family members if they have any pieces they don’t want anymore. Offer to do a swap with some of your old furniture and voila! You’ve got something entirely new to your home for free.
Embrace DIY Porch Ideas
Don’t think of a DIY project as something to fear, and don’t automatically assume you can’t do it because you’re not experienced in it. Provided you take your time and follow instructions carefully, anyone can do it. What’s more, with YouTube, blogs and websites offering step-by-step guides on how to do practically anything in the house, it’s easier than ever to find ways of making furniture and decorative items yourself at home.
Repurpose Old Items
An easy way to do DIY is by renovating your old furniture instead of throwing it out and getting new stuff. Take planters, chairs, coffee tables, picture frames and anything else you want to adorn your porch with and paint them a new color or add a lick of varnish. For the cost of a can of paint, you can transform items you were bored with into fresh-looking, on-trend pieces.
Even more elaborate items such as outdoor bird baths or sundials can be repurposed and wonderfully complement an aesthetic that blends indoor and outdoor styling.
Opt for High-Quality Purchases That Last
There are two ways you can focus on saving money when decorating your screened-in porch. The first is to buy items you need from thrift stores, which is a fast and effective way to save on decorating. However, if you’re buying items that aren’t high quality, be prepared to swap them out for new items within a few years.
The second way to save money is to think about the long term. If you purchase larger pieces, like tables, chairs and cushions, with longevity in mind, you might find you actually spend less over a five-year period than if you buy cheap items and need to replace them every couple of years. Cushion covers and curtains are two examples that can last for years provided you opt for well-made items.
Shop at Thrift Stores
Shopping at thrift stores is the preferred method for saving money for many people because you can drastically reduce how much you spend up-front. Plus, thrift store shopping is so much fun! You can take a friend or two and spend a day hitting the best spots for a bargain. There’s a good chance you’ll be surprised at how much variation there is between the intriguing items you come across.
In general, it’s best to blend approaches and get some items from thrift stores and spend a little more on a few statement pieces you’ll keep for years. If you’re an expert thrift-store shopper or prepared to spend the time shopping around, you can probably find high-quality pieces in thrift stores.
Must-Have Screened-In Porch Decor
When you’re shopping for new items to decorate your screened-in porch on a budget, there are some must-haves. Keep in mind that the most on-trend look for interior and exterior design is swapping indoor and outdoor aesthetics, so you can get really creative with your purchases. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try to find patio furniture that looks cute indoors to complete this new look.
A Coffee Table
A screened-in porch isn’t complete without a coffee table as a centerpiece. There are so many different styles and varieties to choose from that you can be minimal and go for a Spartan style or try to find a more extravagant coffee table second-hand.
Alternatively, you can create a coffee table yourself. An old door, wine crates, a pallet and even a tree stump can make awesome coffee tables. Head down to the junkyard and see what you can snag for free!
Window Shades
Window shades offer privacy and protection from the sun’s heat, and they can change the overall look of the front porch. Bamboo is a low-cost option for shades, but you can also try out DIY aluminum blinds or get a roll of plaid material and fashion your own Roman shades.
Chairs
All screened-in porches need chairs, and they’re pretty easy to find in thrift stores. Opt for sturdy bucket chairs that will last a long time or traditional yet durable metal white shabby-chic patio chairs. Any style that’s long-lasting yet affordable will ensure you don’t have to shell out for new chairs within the next couple of years.
A Rug
Try to find a rug that’s made for the outdoors because it’ll be designed to last a long time and weather the elements. You can check clearance sales in your favorite home stores, head down to the secondhand store or make your own with a kitschy repurposed tablecloth.
Lighting
You can even add pretty lighting to your back porch on a budget. Try to find market lights or other types of string lights. Online marketplaces are great places to find affordable lights that add a fairytale touch to your porch.
Screened-In Porch Builders in Virginia
Make the most of your yard in any weather with a screened-in porch from Prince William Home Improvement. Call us at 703-492-1294 or get a free estimate today.
