Screen Porch Makeover with Invisible Mosquito Screens
I’m incredibly excited about our screen porch makeover with invisible mosquito screens. But, I also can’t wait to share with you the almost invisible insect window screen material I found to replace our old screen porch screens. It’s honestly a night and day difference! Read on and you’ll see! And if you like anything you see, scroll to the end of the article for my source links.
But, before we get to the screens, let me fill you in on the screen porch decorating progression. It has been an ongoing work in progress for twelve years!)
Budget Makeover:
The screen porch is definitely the place we love to hang out. If the weather is nice, one (or all of us) are enjoying sitting outside.
Our porch was one of the things that sold us on this house (in addition to the fact that we used to live across the street and always loved this house before we owned it.) We had longed for a screen porch because anyone who lives in the south knows the mosquitoes, flies, and bugs are no joke. It’s a real nuisance when all you want to do is sit outside but instead you become a mosquito cocktail within minutes.
When we first moved in, we didn’t the cash to furnish the porch because we scraped together all our funds to purchase the house.
But, after a few years I was able to decorate the screen porch using a lot of cheap and found objects. I built the bench using an old headboard and painted a thrift store bamboo rug.
I also turned an old ladder into leaning display shelves and created pendant lights with old minnow traps.
As luck would have it, I stumbled upon a dumpster destined coffee table and (after giving it a new top and paint) it worked beautifully on the porch.
I was proud of my frugal porch furnishings, but after many years of use, I was cravings something new. I also wanted to update the furniture to accommodate more people comfortably.
Screen Porch Makeover 2019:
In the beginning of the summer, I sold all my DIY upcycled furniture except for one piece. I kept this plant stand that was an antique dry sink I scored at a yard sale for $3!
(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)
With the cash I made selling my old furniture, I shopped online until I found the perfect outdoor sofa set from Wayfair. The price was great, but the reviews said it took a long time to assemble. In actuality, it took me less than two hours (with a few breaks in there.)
The sofa is sold with throw pillows that are plain and bright green. I threw them outside onto the deck furniture and went on a quick trip to my local AtHome store to purchase boho inspired pillows.
I also found a little side table from AtHome.
To round out (and maximize) the seating, I bought two stackable modern chairs and cushions from AtHome.
Although my painted bamboo rug was still in good shape, I wanted something more modern and less attention seeking. This rug is an outdoor rug that can be easily cleaned if it gets dirty and it doesn’t mind not being the show stopper.
The other side of the sofa has a garden stool topped with a glass round to make another side table. This might be unconventional, but I wanted a taller plant on the porch. On a whim, I set this cast iron plant on the side table and instantly loved it there. Have no fear, there is still enough room for beverages on the glass round.
With the new furniture set up, the screen porch has become my new favorite spot to work.
But, as I sat on the new furniture working, I looked up and thought, “There is one project I have always wanted to tackle on our screen porch…”
“…the ceiling.”
The wood ceiling has called for a fresh coat of light blue paint since we bought the house (about twelve years ago.) But, I never got around to it. I decided the new furniture would look so much better with a painted ceiling. Am I right?
Light Blue Painted Porch Ceiling:
Unfortunately, I was too busy working on the Millie’s Remodel project to do it myself, so I contacted my painter. He gave me a price I couldn’t turn down and I gladly turned over the task to him.
Luckily our Hunter fan still looks amazing with the light blue ceiling.
I also had him paint the rest of the porch rails and trim white because it was in need of a fresh coat. He and his partner had to remove all the screens to paint the railings. When I saw how amazing the view was without screens, I decided to look for some of the nearly invisible mosquito screens I have seen on house tours.
Nearly Invisible Mosquito Screens:
After installing the first panel I was speechless. The difference was almost day and night! The old screens are on the left and the new on the right.
But, here’s where you can really see the difference:
The screen door still has the old screens. See how much darker and fuzzier the view is? I purchased the BetterVue Nearly Invisible Insect Screens from Amazon and could not be happier!
Need more proof? Here’s the scene through the old screens:
And now through the new screens:
There is no photoshop or trickery there, you can clearly see the difference the new screens make.
The Finishing Touches:
For decor, I kept it simple. A few magazines and a piece of driftwood in a tray.
Fresh cut hydrangeas fill a big vase.
Unfortunately the ones still outside are turning brown in the hot summer sun.
Our rope hammock gets lots of use. It’s definitely a favorite for the kids and the adults.
Especially when you can nap and listen to the low tones of the wind chime my family gave me for Mother’s Day one year.
Do you love my screen porch makeover? Look at how much light comes through those new insect screens!
When the weather isn’t insanely hot and humid, you will likely find me here:
I hope you enjoyed my Screen Porch Makeover with Invisible Mosquito Screens.
Here’s a fun video I made showing you how quiet and beautiful it is on the porch.
Screen Porch Makeover with Invisible Mosquito Screens Sources:
And if you liked anything you saw, here is a list of my sources for the screen porch furniture, decor, and of course the nearly invisible screens!
Nearly Invisible Insect & Mosquito Screen Replacement Roll
Sources to Achieve My Boho Screen Porch Look:
5 Piece Outdoor Rattan Sectional
Gray Modern Stackable Chairs (similar)
Navy Seat Cushions
Mullen Gray/Navy Indoor Outdoor Herringbone Rug
White Ceramic Lattice Garden Stool
18″ Round Glass Table Top
Square Planter Pot (similar)
Deep Tone Wind Chimes
Pawley’s Island Rope Hammock
Aqua Stripe Turkish Towel (similar)
Hobnail Planter Pot (similar look)
Hunter Caneel Bay Outdoor Ceiling Fan
Copper Tray
Driftwood
Similar Outdoor Pillows:
Fringed Pillow
Macrame Pillow
Tribal Diamond Pillow
Navy Tribal Ikat Pillow
Hope you got some great ideas and hope you are enjoying some outside time where you are!
Really superb . I become a fan of you. Thanks for sharing your creative activities.
Hi Erin,
I love your porch! It is so inviting. I am getting ready to paint my porch and this has helped tremendously. May I ask what white paint color you used?
Lisa
Erin, the ceiling paint color is Sherwin Williams Tidewater.
Hello! This is a beautiful spot!! <3 We are looking to do a similar ceiling paint to our porch, would you mind sharing the color? I found your blog through pinterest and will definitely keep it book marked. Thanks!!
As an architect, thank you for saying this.
Thanks for responding.
We are getting ready to add a screened porch, and I’m so glad I saw this post before we did it. I’m excited to use these screens for our view of the lake.
Thanks for your response! I love your blog!
Cat proof or cat safe simply means that they can’t rip it open or chew through it and get out. I’ll do some research when the time comes. We haven’t even sold our house yet. 😉
Hi Brittany. I think the screen porch looks amazing. I do have a question about the nearly invisible mosquito screening. Do you have any idea as to what the durability of the screening is? Would appreciate any input you can give on that. Thanks
Hey Jill, I haven’t tested it, but they seem to be just as strong as the other screens we had on there. I did accidentally poke it with my pry bar claw and thought it was wrecked for sure.
This is beautiful! Are those screens cat-proof? If we buy a house with a porch, it would be really nice to make it cat-accessible, but I wouldn’t want them to be able to get out.
Jen, I’m sorry I don’t know. I’m not sure what cat-proof screens are. I do know our previous screens (and likely these) can be chewed by squirrels if we leave food on the porch.
If I had a porch like this there’s no doubt in my mind that I would spend most of my time there, it’s lovely! The furniture, the colors, the decor, it’s all just perfect!
Thanks Terry. I love it too.
WOW! The porch makeover is beautiful. You did a great job. I can’t believe what a difference the painted ceiling makes. Thanks for sharing this.
Definitely adds more light and less dreary feeling.
It looks great. I like hearing about new products (the screen).
You’re welcome. I know you won’t be disappointed if you do swap out any screens with them. Huge difference.
Brittany, your porch looks so pretty and inviting. When I click on the link to the screens, it shows a black screen, but in your side-by-side picture of old and new, the screen looks white. I don’t see a place to order it in another color. Is the link the same color as what you ordered? Thanks.
They are black, just a lot thinner grid in the screen.
Brittany! Can I come move in! Omg – I love, love this! Now, all we need is a covered porch! It’s a few years down the road, but it’ll happen eventually. In the meant8me I’ll dream I’m sitting on yours!
Thanks for the compliment. Wish you lived closer ;-).
Lovely. This is my next project. A roof over the deck and then converting to a 4 season room. I have all my furniture
Hey Mary, wanted to warn you that it’s almost impossible to convert a deck to a screen porch. Usually you have to start from scratach in order to put in the appropriate footers and posts to carry the load of a roof.