Bringing the Indoors Out: Cozy Covered Porch Living

Bringing the indoors out just got easier. See how I decorated with thrifted furniture, chinoiserie & more for cozy covered porch living.

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There’s something truly special about southern porch living. Whether it's the front porch or the screened-in back, these spaces have become a true extension of our home—welcoming, comfortable, and just as thoughtfully decorated as the inside. Join me as I share my tips for bringing the indoors out to create cozy covered porch living.

Over the years, I’ve found so much joy in blending indoor comforts with outdoor charm, creating spaces that invite you to slow down and savor the moment. Today, I’m sharing how I bring the indoors outside with a few of my favorite design tricks—many of them affordable and even thrifted!

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1. Think of Your Porch as a Room

Both our covered front porch and screened-in back porch serve as functional living spaces, especially in the warmer months. Just like inside, I layer in the basics: seating, side tables, lighting, and textiles. This helps the porch feel polished and lived-in, not like an afterthought.

A lot of our furniture on the porches is thrift store finds or affordable. The antique wrought iron set was a Craigslist find 25 years ago. It did not have cushions, so I had to have those made. The front porch rockers are from Kirkland's, many years ago. The iron dining set was a thrifted find, also many years ago. The all-weather wicker gliders and dining set on the back porch were from a local store that is no longer in business. 

The cushions on the antique set are a Charleston green. They are starting to show their age of 25 years. I've priced it out to replace them, and it's a no-go for now. I could buy a new set for the cost of new cushions that would have to be custom-made to fit. I am sitting on one of the chairs below. What did I do to get by? 

I found covers on Amazon. They are for inside, but on the covered porch, they work! They are like a small fitted sheet. The back side of the cushion is visible from the inside of the house. A quick fix is a cotton throw blanket. Everything easily comes off and washes up beautifully in the washer! I've been using them for 5 years now!!! Sadly, mine are no longer available. I do have these covers on our recliners that I use in our bedroom.

2. Use Indoor Furniture (Smartly!)

Dress | Sandals | Similar Garden Stool | Faux Boxwood Planter

One of my best-kept secrets? Thrifted indoor furniture is one of the best ways to bring the indoors out. A little prep—like a fresh coat of outdoor-rated paint—can help a wood or wicker piece hold up beautifully. The green wicker table on our back porch is a perfect example. A coat of paint gave it new life, and it adds the sweetest cottage charm.

3. Add Lamps for a Cozy Glow

The chinoiserie planter is a thrift store ice bucket.

Yes—you can use lamps on the porch! On our screened porch, a lamp makes the console table feel like an entryway vignette. Just be sure to keep them out of the direct path of weather, and consider recovering the shade in outdoor fabric or replacing it if it starts to show wear.

This lamp is rated as an outdoor lamp. I purchased this many years ago…..15 perhaps. Outdoor lamps are expensive! This is the only outdoor lamp that I have.

This is an interior lamp. I have had it for about 30 years!! It has been in our kitchen and Ashlyn's bedroom when she was younger. I adore it on the screened porch. It is close to the house and not in the path of the weather. It does get dirty, and I frequently wipe it down with a damp rag. The shade is original. If it starts to look bad down the road, I can easily change out the shade.

This thrift store lamp was a makeover from years ago. I spray-painted the lamp with paint that would work outdoors. I then used outdoor fabric to make the shade. You will find the tutorial HERE.

 I do not have a lamp on the front porch. I leave white string lights up all year long around the mirror. I have them on an outdoor timer. They come on every night and illuminate the porch well for guests.

4. Layer with Rugs, Pillows, and Throws

These are the exact cafe string lights that I have used on the patio. You can read all about how we hung them in this post on my string light containers. This fire pit was a wonderful purchase. When not in use, it has an insert that makes it a coffee table. Outdoor rugs anchor the seating areas and give the porch a “finished” look. I love layering with throw pillows and cozy blankets for texture, pattern, and softness. These accents make a world of difference and echo the look of our living room inside.

This is the area right off of the screened porch. It's not covered, but a fabulous example of how a rug can anchor an outdoor room just like inside. I've used an 8×10 rug for this space.

 This space used a 6×9 outdoor rug.

Sometimes, I can get away with interior pillows on our deep screened porch. They tend to last for a long time on our covered porches. 

The sun will fade your outdoor pillows unless they are a high-end variety. I tend to prefer to spend less on the pillows that go on the patio and just replace them every couple of years. 

The light colored blue and white pillows above were made by me several years ago. I actually covered old faded pillows with outdoor tablecloths from Tuesday Morning. If you are handy and can sew a straight line, you can find great tablecloths at HomeGoods and TJ Maxx. 

 Here is a look for fall with a different rug.

I have built up quite a collection of outdoor pillows. They all have similar coloring, so I am able to move them around to our outdoor spaces to get fresh, new looks. 

5. Decorative Touches That Matter

Touches like chinoiserie garden stools, ginger jars, and ceramic planters tie the whole look together. They add visual interest, height, and color—and they’re great for everything from perching a drink to housing a fern.

I also like to tuck in coffee table books and magazines, especially on gardening or birds—perfect for flipping through during a quiet morning with coffee or an evening cocktail.

Final Thoughts

I hope you've enjoyed seeing our outdoor spaces through the years and have learned a few tips for bringing the indoors out. Creating porches that feel like an extension of your home doesn’t require a huge budget or new furniture. With a little creativity (and maybe a few thrifted treasures), you can design a welcoming space that blurs the lines between inside and out.

What are your favorite ways to bring indoor comfort to your outdoor spaces? I'd love to hear in the comments.

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