Porches to use year-round

From the Resene decorating blog

Here are some practical ideas and clever hacks that will help you create, and maintain, that year-round indoor-outdoor flow you’ve been looking for.

As the winter chill and rain sets in, imagine your patio, porch or deck transforming into a warm, inviting sanctuary – an outdoor haven where you can unwind with a good book, share lively conversations or simply soak in the crisp winter air without sacrificing comfort.

Whether you’re a homeowner seeking a creative weekend project or a renter looking to personalise your space, here are some practical ideas and clever hacks that will help you create, and maintain, that year-round indoor-outdoor flow you’ve been looking for.

Step one: Consider your space

Before you go all-in on a winter outdoor living space take a good look at what you have to work with. Some questions to ask yourself that may impact the type of makeover that will work best for you are:

• How big is the space?

• How sheltered is the space – and which direction does the weather mostly come from?

• Does the space need to be multi-purpose and what will the space be mostly used for?

• What is the current condition of the space?

• Do any improvements need to be removable (if you’re renting, for example)?

• What is your budget?

None of these things need stop you from creating a beautiful personalised outdoor space for winter, but they may influence how big a project you can undertake and what products you use.

Even the tiniest back porch may be able to accommodate a Resene testpot-painted planter and a stool with a cushion on which to enjoy your morning coffee or you may be able to revamp a larger space into a sheltered conversation area combined with a practical mudroom or conservatory. Work out your parameters and let them guide your creative flair.

Step two: Clean

Whatever their pre-makeover state, porches, decks and patios are high-use outdoor areas so start your winter patio plan with a good clean.

For concrete areas that don’t see a lot of sun and are prone to slippery moss, Resene paint expert Jay Sharples suggests Resene Moss & Mould Killer which is designed to treat the problem then be washed off. If you want to repaint your porch, give the surface a clean with Resene Paint Prep and Housewash or for a longer-term clean that you can do ongoing try Resene Deep Clean.

Step three: Decorate!

Now it’s time to get creative.

If you’re working with a neutral exterior colour you don’t want to completely change, look for ways to add pops of colour where you can, suggests Resene Colour Consultant Amy Watkins.

Work with Resene testpots to paint planters, pots, chairs, stools and tables for bursts of moveable colour. You can turn sheets of ply into outdoor wall art if you don’t want to paint walls. If they’re going to be in direct sunlight consider finishing them with Resene Clearcoat UVS for anti-fade protection. For a more three-dimensional art approach, recycle or repurpose pieces of unused wood into shelves or even a sculpture piece – clean, sand and then stain in your chosen shade – or two – from the Resene Waterborne Woodsman range.

Another more long-lasting idea, that still doesn’t require you to repaint any exterior walls of your house or fence is to paint your porch floor, Amy says.

“To add visual interest, try painting your floor with patterns like herringbone, stripes or geometric shapes using Resene Walk-on flooring and paving paint. A design like that can add a dynamic element that feels fresh and stylish and can help create the sense of your porch being its own space.”

Handrails, door frames, doors, light fittings and window frames are other small areas that will allow you to add bursts of warming colour to a patio without repainting the whole space. “If you’re working with an area around an exterior door using bold colours like deep yellow Resene Tussock or red Resene Pohutukawa as accents will create a warm, welcoming vibe to your space,” Amy says.

Shelter is key to enjoying any outdoor space in winter and one of the simplest ways to manage that may be with a moveable trellis or framed curtain. Look for wood trellising or screens that you can add to a wood frame, or if you have the handy DIY skills, upcycle wood pallets or leftover wood from other projects.

If you are happy to paint the exterior walls inside your small porch area, painting them in a bold contrast colour can be an extremely effective way of turning your porch into a whole new room. Going for a deep colour like Resene Half Karaka, will be dramatic against a classic grey-green neutral like Resene Dusted Grey. Add a smattering of outdoor-safe fairy lights for inviting cosiness and whimsy. Fill the space with lush green pot plants and you have an instant conservatory-style escape.

Other winter porch ideas

• If your space needs to be multifunctional, try adding features that add both comfort and practicality to your space. A Resene painted or stained wooden box seat topped with comfy cushions, makes a great space to store gardening tools or gumboots out of the winter weather.

• Repurpose an old wardrobe into a cupboard for coats, boots and dog leashes, painting the outside in a bold colour or even a mural to add visual interest.

• For shelter, build a lightweight frame using PVC pipes or thin wooden slats, then attach weatherproof fabric or wood trellis inside the frame. Attach the frame to a large planter for stability and consider castors on the bottom so it can be easily repositioned. Paint or stain in your favourite Resene shades.

• If space is tight, create a fold down table attached to the fence or the wall of your house. Build a simple box frame from sturdy wood then add a hinged fold-down table surface the same size as the frame. Join the tabletop and frame with lengths of chain to support the surface as it sits flat. Paint the exterior of the table box the same colour as the fence or wall it sits on, then add a dramatic contrast shade on the inside.

• If you want to add some wintry cosiness to a more open space, work with screens and large planters to create a defined area. Apply deeper, warm colours like Resene Parsley or Resene Spinnaker and interesting textures so it feels cosy and inviting.

Colours mentioned in this article

Products mentioned in this article

March 31, 2025

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