Porches for Pleasure: “A porch has a railing around it, and a roof over it, and it’s all white, and it has a swing and some rocking chairs…and a little table with lemonade glasses, and warm nights and fireflies, and crickets, and soft music, and a moon in the sky…” – Linus, Peanuts by Charles Schulz, August 27, 1995.
A porch is more than an attachment to your home. A porch is a place to create memories like Linus’. A porch, or patio, or balcony, can be made a place for cozy gathering or quiet rest in contact with Nature. Learn how to make porches for pleasure.
You are familiar with the healing and balancing qualities on Nature. Make your connection with Nature and your outdoor space welcoming with a few simple additions.
Linus Knows All the Essentials for the Perfect Porch
“A Swing”
This is ideal for your porch. Friends of mine have a swing on their deck and it adds to the enjoyment of their garden and hummingbird watching.
“Rocking Chairs”
If a swing doesn’t work for you then consider rocking chairs. They come in singles and bench style. Rockers or gliders.
There is something primal and soothing about rocking that you never out-grow,
Comfortable Chairs for Lounging
Comfort is essential for porches for pleasure. You want comfortable, practical and affordable seating for your outdoor space. This is the triple play of furniture, no less for the outside than the inside. If your furniture is not comfortable you won’t use the space – no matter how attractive it is. One client scored their dream porch chairs at an end-of-season sale.
“A Little Table”
Get a big table to eat around if that is your lifestyle and you have the space. If not, at least a small table for your “lemonade glasses,” or wine glasses. And on cool evenings or in chilly weather for a warming mug.
“Soft Music”
If you have your music on your cell phone then use your phone speaker dock, a Bluetooth speaker or something similar. Remember you want “soft music”.
“Warm Nights, Fireflies, and Crickets”
These words bring back wonderful memories of my childhood. Summer evenings my friends and I would run around the neighborhood trying to catch fireflies in glass jars, enchanted by their magical glow. Giddy with the sheer joy of the bob-and-weave of chasing after these winking points of light.
You you don’t have “fireflies and crickets” you may have the sound of the breeze in the trees, the song of birds, or the murmur of soft voices in the distance.
Light
So you don’t sit in the dark add candles in protective hurricane sleeves or lanterns. They will provide a warm glow and a gathering point on your porch. Battery-powered candles can add to the atmosphere.
Porches for Pleasure
Think about what will make your porch/deck/balcony a comfortable and welcoming place to be. Make those changes and enjoy one of the overlooked pleasures of summer: an evening outdoors with Nature.
No Mosquitoes
Citronella candles are optional for the scent memories. If you are trying to keep mosquitoes away, then try a fan. Science Magazine Online notes that most chemical deterrents don’t work. The New York Times reported that a fan pointed at you is more effective. How does this work?: mosquitoes don’t like flying into a headwind, and a fan will disburse the body heat and odors that attract insects. Use an oscillating fan or box fan for best results.
Hi, I find citronella candles very unpleasant. I read somewhere that marigolds deter mosquitos. I have pots and window boxes around my house; for two years now I have had very few mosquitos. And the marigold add color and enjoyment to my deck.
Lisa-
Thanks for your helpful and COLORFUL tip. Something that is easy to do and works!