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A privacy porch offers
pure relaxation
Porches are great for entertaining, but what if you want a little time to yourself?
A privacy porch can do just that - give you a relaxing nook to spend some quiet time.In this day and age, hustle and bustle have become our middle name leaving very little time for pure relaxation.
We know this firsthand and bet you do as well.
A privacy porch can be just a little area of your porch that is hidden from view - when you can enjoy a good book or sit with your sweetie.
It doesn't even have to be on the ground level. Second floor porches off the master bedroom work really great. They offer solitude from those below and have limited access - making it even more private.
Privacy porch pictures
Make it your private space
Give it some thought. What is your primary use for the space?
Is it reading good books or writing
a best selling novel? Then a comfortable chair is ideal. And how about a small table to hold your glass
of iced tea and snack?
Is it surfing the net? Then a comfortable chair is again ideal and maybe
a small table for your laptop.
Is it to spend time with your sweetie? Then you don't need much
but a porch swing or a couple rockers. A little relaxing mood music is great. How about lighting a few
candles?
Is it a place to take a good nap? Well, a lounging chair or porch swing is what
you'll want. Maybe a few soft pillows and a CD playing relaxation music. If it's chilly, a small lightweight
blanket comes in handy.
Is it viewing wildlife or working on a favorite hobby? Have some
binoculars handy and your favorite bird book or tree identification book.
How to create a privacy porch
If your porch is large enough, create a nook for yourself at one end.
- One of the easiest ways to create a privacy porch is by using shades or blinds. Exterior porch blinds can not only protect your privacy while allowing you to see through them, they also block wind, rain, and the sun (solar shades).
- You can use furniture settings to define the space for a private porch.
- Or use partitions - designer lattice panels or screen panels work great for that.
- Or go to your local salvage yard and find two or three old screen doors. You can repair and paint as necessary, hinge them together, and voila! - you have a neat porch divider that probably fits your decor really well.
Use plants to create privacy. Create a vertical separation using climbing plants on a trellis to make a privacy porch. Here's how do it.
- Determine the amount of space you have available for a privacy porch area and select a
trellis planter like the one shown here (complements of Plow & Hearth
 ) to complement the area. Remember to allow for maneuverability around your planter while still maintaining the privacy you'd like.
- Determine whether you want this to be permanent (perennial) or seasonal (annuals). Consider how long it takes to grow the plants and if you want privacy during the winter months as well.
- An advantage with annuals is that colors are more bright and prominent than with many perennials. Also, your colors will be different every year. Use annual vines along with perennials to get started.
Annual vine suggestions
- Some varieties of squash and cucumbers will climb up a trellis (if you coax them a little). English ivy is another easy one to get going.
- Black-eyed Susan has white, yellow or orange flowers. It liked light shade and moist soil. Grows to about 7 feet tall.
- Sweet peas can grow from 2 to 7 feet in sunny locations. We had a sweet pea plant for quite a few years. You can save the large seeds from season to season and plant the next year. The flowers come in many colors - pink, lavender, purple. They like good rich soil.
- Morning glories are some of my favorite! They have wonderful blue flowers. You can also get varieties with pink or magenta flowers. Like their name, they are open in the morning and close by evening. They like full sun and do well in poor soil. They can grow up to 15 feet tall.
- Cardinal Climber is a beautiful annual vine that hummingbirds love. They have red trumpet-shaped flowers.
Perennial vine suggestions
Campsis has orange red trumpet-shaped flowers. Like the Cardinal Climber, they attract hummingbirds.
Clematis comes in many varieties. We love these, too. They are large-flowering vines with very showy flowers in white, blue, purple. Some will bloom much of the summer and others bloom for just a week or two. Ask when you purchase them. We once had a clematis that had a bazillion small white flowers but only bloomed for a couple weeks in August. As lovely as it was, we sure wished it would have bloomed longer.
Moon flowers are fragrant and flowering. They are nocturnal - their large flowers open at night and close during the day.
Virginia creeper is a perennial vine that has dark green leaves. It is grown for its beautiful foliage that turns beautiful shades of crimson and orange in the fall.
Use vines to create your very own privacy area or to conceal otherwise offensive line-of-sight objects.
See our Porch Landscaping for more great ideas using plants and landscaping for your porch.
Location of your porch
* A porch in back that is already secluded is perfect.
* A porch on the front of the house (or one facing your neighbors) may be more difficult to make totally private; however, here are some ways to do it!
* Your porch may be private periodically during the day. Even though it is in sight of others using it at "off" hours or when others are at away, will provide the solitude you love
* Consider using natural landscaping to make your porch (or portion of your porch) private.
The private space protected by the evergreens in the photo at right create an intimate location for a small bistro table and chairs.
Depending on your yard, try the following to create a natural barrier:
Thuja Green Giant (great for colder climates) or Emerald green thuja evergreen(really fast growing)
American holly or Nelly Stevens holy and Wichita Blue Juniper are all great hedges for privacy.
For small areas or for a more formal look use sapphire cyprus, eucalyptus tree, or skyrocket juniper
Grow vines like wisteria over lattice panels. Use treated wood. Take care with vines on your home as clinging vines can actually cause damage to brick and other materials.
Other vine options are: Virginia Creeper, Trumpet Vine, Bittersweet, Climbing Snapdragon, Morning Glory, and Clematis.
If you have a knee wall use shutters or blinds to cordon off your private space!
The best thing about a privacy porch or private porch area is that you can outfit it just the way you want.
Not only consider comfort but pamper yourself as well.
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