I am excited to share my Southern screen porch which has been the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors but in comfort!
Finally, our Southern screen porch is ready for relaxed, everyday use. This screened porch has been one of our favorite features since we moved in last September, but between unpacking and tackling a remodel, it took a while to make it feel like a proper outdoor living room. Now that it’s pulled together, it’s comfortable, functional, and full of simple, budget-friendly updates. This post is photo-heavy, so grab a cup of your favorite drink and take the porch tour with me.
When we first moved into this house, the porch became a temporary holding area for leftover outdoor furniture from our previous home. It wasn’t pretty, but it did the job for sitting outside. Over time I gathered a few small pieces, hunted for inexpensive finds, and prioritized comfort—resulting in a cohesive screened porch that invites lingering.
The first vignette you see to the left of the back door became a focal point thanks to a pair of salvaged shutters I found at a thrift shop. I originally planned to use them above the fireplace, but they ended up creating a textured backdrop for a small gray chest and framed art—no painting required. The shutters are freestanding and held in place by the chest, giving an easy layered look that’s perfect for a screened porch.
I added a printable bird nest image as porch art. I resized the file myself using a photo editor, saved it to a USB drive, and had it printed at my local copy shop. For the mat, I discovered pre-made burlap mats at the craft store, and they’ll even cut them to fit while you wait—an easy shortcut for a rustic framed piece that complements the shutters.
Practical touches make this porch work for everyday life. My gardening hat hangs within easy reach of the back door so I can grab it whenever I step outside, and a small North Carolina “HOME” sign, a recent thrift find, adds personal charm to the wall.
One project that made a big difference was updating our existing wicker chair cushions. The chair frames were in great shape and very comfortable, so I didn’t want to replace them. Finding replacement cushions in the right shape was difficult and costly, so I experimented with paint. Spray paint wasn’t effective on the patterned fabric, but two coats of chalk paint in Duck Egg transformed the cushions—refreshing and surprisingly durable for porch use.
Beside the wicker armchairs are wrought iron rockers that came from our previous home’s deck. New outdoor cushions and throw pillows from a popular retailer provided color and comfort, while a couple of outdoor poufs serve as footrests or extra seating when guests stop by.
A friend generously passed along a wrought-iron chandelier, which I installed over a garden stool to create a cozy focal point. I also added round wicker trays to the porch columns; these help define the seating area so the space feels like an outdoor room rather than just a wide walkway.
My favorite spot is the chair on the left—an ideal place to look over the backyard, enjoy the flower beds and feeders on the deck, and relax with a magazine. It’s a simple reminder that a screened porch can be both beautiful and livable.
Pookie and I eat many casual meals on this porch. The round table here once lived under a tablecloth in our last home’s basement family room; repurposing pieces like this keeps the porch comfortable and budget-friendly.
The final wall of the porch looks toward our deck, and I left that area open to serve as the main walkway from the back door to the deck. A rustic grapevine wreath adds texture and helps to visually anchor that transition without crowding the path.
Thanks for stopping by for a tour of our Southern screen porch. If you’re planning a porch makeover, consider thrifted shutters for texture, chalk paint to refresh cushions, and small practical touches that make outdoor living feel effortless. Pull up a chair, stay awhile, and enjoy a glass of sweet tea!
