Everyone dreams of having the perfect outdoor escape, being able to relish in a beautiful day on their own covered back porch. It’s easy to let your imagination run wild with what could be, but actually making it happen can sometimes seem almost impossible. Don’t worry, though. I’m here to tell you that it is possible! But it’s all about the design and what elements you choose to include on your covered back porch. In this blog article, I’m going to share some of my favorite back porch ideas, as well as photos of our completed back porch design projects, to provide you with plenty of inspiration. So hopefully, this article will be a big help to you whether you’ve just started your back porch design process or you are wanting to update your existing back porch.
Tongue and Groove Ceiling
One of our favorite materials to use on a covered back porch ceiling is tongue and groove. It gives the space instant warmth, texture, and coziness. And it’s a great way to add visual interest to the back porch. If you’re not familiar with tongue and groove ceilings, they’re made by installing interlocking wood boards. They fit together much like hardwood flooring does. This creates a finished plank look on the ceiling. If you’re thinking about adding a tongue and groove ceiling to your porch, we have another article all about it.
Ceiling Fan
In my opinion, a ceiling fan is a must-have for a covered back porch. It helps cool things off on hot summer days and adds a pop of visual interest to the space. But I do think it can be difficult to find a stylish ceiling fan. We normally choose one that has a sleek and minimalist design, so it doesn’t become outdated too quickly. You’ll also want to choose one that is specifically designed for outdoor use.
A Fireplace is a Great Addition to a Covered Back Porch
If you want to make your covered back porch extra cozy, I highly recommend adding a fireplace. Here you have two options: gas or woodburning. Gas is going to be your most affordable and practical option. A real wood-burning fireplace will cost more because you’ll also need to have a masonry chimney built, which can be pretty expensive. But I have to say, there is something special about a wood-burning fireplace. To make this decision, you’ll definitely want to weigh out the pros and cons.
Once you’ve made the decision on your fireplace type, you’ll then need to decide where you’re going to place within your covered porch area. Fireplaces can be heavy. So you’ll need to make sure there is the proper support underneath it. If you do end up choosing a wood-burning fireplace, you’ll need to have a block laid up from your foundation. And as I mentioned above, you’ll need to have a working chimney.
A Place for a TV
Some people want to enjoy nature and the sounds of birds chirping while they spend time on their back porch. And others want to enjoy nature while watching their favorite football team play on TV.
If you’re one of the latter, there are a few things to consider before mounting your television. Obviously, you need to decide where you want it based on your plans for furniture position and layout. And you’ll need to make sure the television is properly secured. So, this might mean adding additional blocking to the framing of the wall. This will give you something to fasten the tv mount to. But if the wall is going to be bricked, you don’t need to worry about the additional blocking. You will also need to make sure you have an electrical outlet. Both of these should be installed at the proper height. We have a useful article all about how high to mount a TV.
Since almost all TVs are “smart” now, there’s no need to worry about running cable. You can simply connect your TV to your WiFi.
Porch Flooring Material
There are many different porch flooring material options. The type of flooring you use on your covered back porch will play a big part in the overall feel of the space. The most popular porch flooring options are wood decking, composite decking, stone, and brick.
Wood is a classic porch flooring material option. It has been used on porches for centuries. So it’s going to give you a more timeless look compared to composite decking which will discuss shortly. However, wood decking will require the most maintenance of all the options you have for porch flooring materials. There are several different types of wood that can be used for decking. The most popular are: Teak, Ipe, and treated pine.
Composite decking is another great porch flooring option if you want a look that is close to wood decking but without the upkeep. This material is made by combining wood and plastic fibers. Composite decking is extremely durable and very low maintenance. Which makes it a great option for busy families. They also come in a wide variety of colors.
If you’re back porch is built on a concrete slab, then stone, brick, and tile are going to be your best flooring options. Stone and brick are both timeless and durable, while tile is going to be the most affordable of the three. However, tile will probably give you the most design options. With it, you can achieve a classic look or something more contemporary.
We’ve used almost all of these materials on our covered porches over the years, and have to say we love all of them, but each has its pros and cons. Find a material that fits your style and lifestyle best.
Covered Back Porch Railing
If your porch is over 3ft off of the ground, you’ll most likely need to add some type of railing around your covered back porch. There are many options available, but our favorite is the horizontal board look. We’ve found that this style of railing works with almost any style of house. Its simple clean lines create a sleek and timeless look
This type of railing is also very simple to build. In fact, you could probably DIY it! We even have a tutorial showing how it was built on our own back porch.
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