How big should my screened in porch be? This is a question many of our clients ask us when considering the addition of a screened in porch. We like to meet with our clients in the planning stages so we can devise a plan on the size their particular structure needs to be to fit all their needs.
The first factor we need to discuss when considering how large to build the screened porch is what will it predominately be used for? Will it be used for dining or gathering, or both? What else will it be used for?
A good rule of thumb if you are planning to use the screened in porch as an outdoor dining area is to chart how large it needs to be by going into your dining room and measure it. An addition is sometimes hard to visualize when it’s not furnished, and going into your actual dining room space with furniture will set a realistic goal to judge how much room you will actually need.
Another question we ask our clients is the size of the furniture which will be used inside the screened porch. If you will be using it as an outdoor dining area, have you decided upon a table yet? If so, how big is it? If not how big do you want your table to be? You always want to leave a clearance area of about four feet outside the table so you have ample room to walk around the table when it is not in use, and plenty of room to pull out the chairs to a comfortable distance when in use. If you are sitting back after eating, we recommend additional space. These are the sorts of things you may not think about. But, you really have to envision yourself living in the space you are thinking about all the way down to the size of the table and how you and your guests will congregate around the table and the other furniture.
There are some more things to think about. Will you be adding perimeter furniture such as couches, chairs, tables or decorative furniture pieces? If the answer is yes, then you will want to plan for those additional pieces to fit comfortably and not overcrowd your usable living space. Some of our clients use their screened porch as an outdoor living room. If you are thinking about using your outdoor room as an outdoor living room, go into your living room and measure the room and furniture in the same manner.
We are always asked the question is there a “standard” or “common” size for a screened porch? They vary quite a bit, but 12×14 and 14×16 are quite common sizes. The dimensions of the screened porch come into play more with a covered area because when you put a roof over it, it becomes defined. The screened porch must be able to accommodate your furniture comfortably and leave enough space in between to be able to flow through the room easily. This is why planning is so important.
Archadeck of Columbus can meet with you and create a design rendering taking all of your individual needs into consideration. We treat each screened porch we design as unique and individual. A design rendering will help you visualize your dream, and then we can start from there, bringing the dream to life. Give us a call to get the ball rolling (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 