Living here has taught us one clear thing: we spend a lot of time outdoors. Between breaks from at-home learning, weekly s’mores at the fire pit, sitting on the front porch to watch neighborhood dogs, and working on the second-floor deck on especially nice days (I’m writing this post from up there right now), our outdoor spaces get used constantly.
Great weather helps, of course, but having several inviting outdoor areas makes it even easier to be outside. Some spots only needed small, inexpensive updates to go from “spaces we walked past” to places we use every day—like this covered side porch.
We last showed this porch during our exterior updates, and for about eight months it mostly sat unused—until we realized it was the perfect spot to hang a large hanging tent we got for the kids over the holidays.
Because the porch is adjacent to our bedroom, we may eventually convert part of it into an ensuite bathroom, but sharing a bathroom with the kids hasn’t been a problem so there’s no rush for a major reno. We’d rather prioritize adding a pool and a detached guest studio first (we’ve applied for the pool permit, but that’s moving slowly). In the meantime, creating a comfortable spot where the kids can lounge, read, color, and have quiet time is a great “for now” solution. And if the porch gets repurposed later, we have plenty of trees to hang the tent from instead.
Before we installed anything, the porch floor needed attention. The contractor had painted the decking white when we moved in, but white shows everything—leaf stains, dirt, and scuff marks—very clearly.
We already had porch and floor paint leftover from another project, so we chose a medium warm gray to freshen the space. Prep was simple: blow the leaves and pine needles off the deck, pressure-wash it, and let it dry. Some of the old discoloration didn’t lift, but the porch and floor enamel covered everything well.
We used a durable Porch & Floor Enamel in a warm gray (Requisite Gray). The paint was recommended for similar projects and is the same color we used on our stair runner project, so we knew it would hold up. The update was quick—total time including prep, painting, and hanging the tent was under three hours.
The gray transformed the space. It reads darker in person and hides dirt much better than the white did. If it starts to show wear, repainting or choosing a darker shade will be easy and quick.
From the kitchen side window, the porch now feels like part of the curated outdoor space. Our green fence has been a standout improvement, and we’ll share more about the fence, fire pit area, and some added landscaping soon. (The fence color is Halcyon Green by Sherwin-Williams.)
The hanging tent we installed is large—60″ wide with a 450 lb capacity—so it’s essentially a stable double hammock that won’t tip easily. Each child can claim a spot without drifting toward the middle, and it’s sturdy enough for adults to relax in too.
The kids use the tent for reading, coloring, playing make-believe, and sometimes even board games. It’s also a cozy spot for an evening after s’mores. To hang it we used strong straps that feel secure and were easy to install; they’re the same type we used for our webbed tree swing.
The tent fabric is a thick semi-translucent material—more substantial than mesh—so it creates a cozy, cocoon-like feel without making it dark inside. The kids can read and see clearly while feeling like they’re in their own little world. There’s even a cup holder, which was an immediate hit during our quick test to make sure everything was secure.
This small update turned an underused porch into a favorite hangout. It’s simple, inexpensive, and reversible—exactly the kind of change that improves daily life without committing to a major renovation.
Yes, our Christmas tree is still up, and we keep string lights outside year-round for a cozy, ambient glow.
Here’s a before photo from last February—it’s surprising how much a little paint and removing that old staircase changed the look of this side of the house.
If you want to follow more of this house’s evolution over the last eight months, the Florida house archive documents every change chronologically. For a deeper look at downsizing and how it’s worked for our family, we also have a detailed post about that experience. You can also find a post on painting porch ceilings and why a “haint blue” is one of our favorite porch-ceiling colors.
More Flooring Projects
If you’re interested in other flooring projects we’ve tackled, here are a few posts that cover different techniques and materials:
- Refinishing Hardwood Floors 101
- How To Install Hardwood Flooring Yourself
- How To Select Hardwood Flooring
- How To Install Hardwood Floors Without Nails
- How To Install Click-And-Lock Cork Flooring
- How To Stain A Concrete Floor
- How To Remove Carpet
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