Need more space to entertain your guests in? Whether you don't want to wake the kids up or there simply isn't enough room in your home to entertain like you want to, consider turning your porch into the ultimate entertainment spot—here's how:
Invest in Waterproof Material
Buy a bunch of waterproof material from the local material store so you can cover any furniture you decide to decorate your exterior entertainment space with. You can use any couches, chairs, and tables from around the house or your favorite stores without having to worry about how well it will hold up to the outdoor elements. This will eliminate any limits you'd otherwise have as to the type of furniture you can use for your outdoor space due to high winds and rain.
Just cut oversize pieces of waterproof material to drape over any furniture you'll be using for the space, and use decorative rope to wrap the material around the bottom of the furniture to keep the material in place. You can always take the material off when you're expecting company and the weather is nice outside.
Enclose the Space With Screen
Keep unwanted bugs and mist out of your entertainment space by enclosing it with some screen. After purchasing a roll of screen, staple it to the floor base and roofing joists or rafters to create a sealed porch. Your guests can still enjoy looking at the stars while staying protected from the outdoor elements as if they were spending time inside. You can hang blinds or bamboo shades against the screen and roll them down when the weather is especially bad outside so you can still use the space to entertain your guests.
Incorporate a Heating Element
You'll want to warm things up on those chilly nights when you'll be having dinner with guests, but extending your HVAC system to your porch would be quite costly and inconvenient. Instead of spending a lot of time and money on expanding your current system, consider incorporating a stand-alone heating element into the space. There are a few options to choose from that should keep your space warm without taking up a lot of space itself, such as:
Electric heaters that are designed to look like fireplaces.
Propane heater attachments that can be hooked up to a home propane system or a stand-alone propane tank.
Fan forced space heaters that are housed in boxes so they can be used as side tables.
Hang Bronze Lanterns
Brighten your porch entertainment space up by hanging bronze lanterns in the corners and along the ceiling throughout. The lanterns will provide plenty of light to eat food and play games, and you can control the ambient lighting by turning as many lanterns on and off as you see fit throughout the night.
During dinner, turn them all on for a bright setting that makes it easy for everyone to see what's on their plates. After dinner, turn a couple lanterns off to create a relaxing atmosphere for a game of poker. Then, turn all the lanterns off when it's time to star gaze while enjoying a night cap. Bronze lanterns are sure to make customizing your entertainment nights comfortable, fun, and convenient.
Share23 February 2018
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