A screened porch offers countless benefits and uses. Not only does it provide a place for sitting and relaxing while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors, but it also provides extra room for storage. It is not necessary to use plastic bins or other organizational items that look cheap and lack real style. I used my screened porch for storage, and no one would have guessed that it held off-season decor, winter accessories and more. Try my creative ways to use a screened porch for storage, and free up other areas of the home.
Consider a Built-In Storage Bench
A built-in storage bench is ideal storage for a screened porch. Paint or stain it the same color as the wall it rests against to make it look as if it was built to fit the home. It provides a great place to store coats, sports equipment or any other appropriate items. Add a stylish cushion to make the bench more comfortable while putting on or taking off shoes or simply sitting and relaxing.
My ex mother-in-law had a built-in storage bench in her screened porch, and it had a thick cotton cushion that was very comfortable. My former father-in-law designed the bench to fit perfectly between the doorway and the corner of the screened porch. She used it to store her Christmas decorations. She could no longer access the attic, and this was a far better option to storing everything in a closet.
Add an Apothecary Storage Cabinet
When looking for creative ways to use a screened porch for storage, consider an apothecary cabinet. This type of storage cabinet has numerous drawers that can be used to hold everything from craft supplies to garden seeds. The top is the ideal place to hold plants, especially when it is placed in a sunny screened porch. The sizes vary greatly. Search Yahoo! Shopping for an apothecary storage cabinet to view the many options. It is a very stylish piece of interior screened porch furniture. I would love to use this storage option if my next home has a screened porch.
Source: Personal Decorating and Design Experience