Ways to Use a Verandah All Year
We are so lucky to have a wrap-around verandah on our farmhouse. Because it has aspects on every side of the house other than the west, we are able to use our verandah year round. There are many ways to make the most of your verandah. It’s not just a place to discard boots before you enter the front door. You can use your verandah all year if you have the right accessories Below are my favourite ways to use a verandah and maximise that extra living space.
Add Furniture
It seems obvious to say this, but adding furniture to your verandah will make it more usable. Even the narrowest of porches can benefit from a small bench or a place to put shoes. Our verandah is huge, so there are we have places to sit at every aspect which makes it great for eating all year round. Or just sitting with glass of wine. I love to set the table on our verandah and host long lazy farm lunches
We also have a place for storage on our verandah. It’s great for outdoor cushions and tablecloths.
Add Warmth or Cooling (or both!)
Another way to use a verandah all year is to provide heating in winter. This can be in the form of a gas heater or a fire pit. We have a small firepit in the corner of the verandah that we light on colder days. It’s fun to sit there rugged up and watch the stars. It feels almost like camping.
You can also add warmth with blankets and throws for guests. And don’t forget candles, cushions, plants, fairy or festoon lights and handmade wreaths to decorate your walls. Dressing your verandah as a real outdoor space will make people want to stay.
For the warmer months, (not that we have many here) you could consider adding a ceiling fan. A must is an umbrella if you do not have enough shade. Our back verandah does not cover the entire deck area, so we add an umbrella for extra shade if we intend to stay outdoors a long time.
Create a place to Store Shoes and Wood
If you don’t like people walking mud and dirt into your home or you require gumboots as we do, a place to store them near the door is essential. It doesn’t have to look messy though. I use vintage crates and create open stacked shelves by placing the boxes with long ways and sideways on each other. This storage os perfect for long boots and two short pairs of shoes will fit in a box on its side. Another box is used to hold kindling and small logs for the fire. I then use the top of the boxes for display.
Make a Sitting Area Next to the Door
We used our park bench next to the back door for some time. Not only did it look pretty, it was just the place to sit to remove or put on shoes. My elderly parents, in particular appreciated it. They don’t have the balance to stand and remove shoes these days.
Make it Portable
To use a verandah all year round, it’s handy to have items that are portable. Most of our pieces can be easily moved to accomodate for weather or extra guests. Everyday things, such as our clothesline can be removed and tucked out of sight when we want full use of the space. (See the line below?)
Speaking of which, an undercover drying area is a great way to get use of a verandah all year round. Having a line strung up under the rool, not only stops the clothes from fading, it allows them to dry on rainy days. If I want use of the sun to keep my whites white, I hang them on the sunny side!
What about you? Tell me in the comments how you use your verandah or porch. Do you have other ways to make it a year round usable space?
