Porches are places of summertime pleasure, often housing lightweight furniture well-suited to lounging in the warmth. Some of them are even large enough to be outdoor rooms, letting in soothing, natural light. Occasionally, a porch’s open sides can be more of a burden than a blessing, letting in the glare of the setting sun or hungry mosquitos along with fresh air. In these cases, it is often helpful to have a set of porch curtains to help regulate one’s outdoor environment. Porch curtains can be made of screen, canvas, or lightweight gauze and perform a number of different functions.
Screens are among the most popular kinds of porch curtains. They let in light and heat without admitting insects or windblown detritus. These curtains often come in the form of flat, rigid panels that fit permanently into the openings of the porch. Most screened-in porches also feature a screen door and artificial lighting. Though the screening lets in light, it often creates a grid-work of shadows over the porch, especially in the evening. Twinkle lights hung around the edges of the screen or light sconces hung on the back wall of the porch alleviate this problem.
Another type of screen porch curtain is both malleable and movable. Those that want an unobstructed view of their garden on fine days can have it by simply rolling the screens up and securing them to the underside of the porch roof. When the weather is humid, encouraging bugs to invade, the homeowner can simply roll the curtains down.
Decorative fabric porch curtains often come in the form of canvas and lightweight gauze. Canvas panels usually roll up and down, allowing the homeowner to adjust it to block out light or rain. These heavy porch curtains may also insulate the porch slightly by blocking cool winds or by holding in heat generated from a small porch heater. This often allows the homeowner to enjoy his or her porch well into the fall season. Canvas porch curtains are sometimes combined with screening so the homeowner can change the porch environment quickly and easily.
Lightweight gauze porch curtains are most often seen in homes located in warm areas with mild winters. These curtains float gently in the breeze, allowing bright sunlight to filter through them. The gauze may be patterned, colored, or plain, depending on the homeowner’s preference. Gauze porch curtains may be swept to the side and gathered together as a decorative touch or allowed to hang freely for a bit of privacy.