We’ve learned that living here means spending a lot of time outdoors. Between break times for at-home learning when the kids run around, our regular s’mores sessions by the fire pit, watching neighborhood dogs from the front porch, and working or relaxing on the second-floor deck, outdoor living is a big part of our days. I’m actually writing this post from up there right now.
Good weather certainly helps, but having several usable outdoor spots makes the house feel like it expands beyond its walls. Some areas needed only small updates to go from overlooked spaces to everyday favorites. One perfect example is our covered side porch.
You may remember this porch from a post about our exterior updates. It mostly sat unused for about eight months until we realized it would be a great place to hang a large hanging tent we bought for the kids. Since the porch is right off our bedroom, we plan to eventually convert part of it into an ensuite bathroom, but that’s a low-priority renovation for now. We’d rather work on adding a pool and a detached guest studio first. In the meantime, turning the porch into a cozy spot where the kids can lounge, read, color, and relax felt like the perfect “for now” solution. If the porch does become a bathroom eventually, we have plenty of trees around to hang the tent elsewhere.
Before we installed the tent, the wood floor needed attention. Our contractor had painted the porch floor white when we moved in, likely to tidy things up since we mentioned a future bathroom conversion. White decking looks clean but doesn’t hide leaf marks, dirt, and scuffs well, which accumulated quickly in our climate.
We already had porch and floor paint left over from another project, so we decided a medium gray would freshen the space quickly and affordably. Prep was simple: sweep off loose leaves and pine needles, pressure-wash the decking, and let it dry completely. Even with cleaning, some stains remained, but the porch and floor enamel covered them nicely.
We used a porch and floor enamel recommended by the paint pro, in a warm gray called Requisite Gray by Sherwin-Williams. The paint covered the discoloration well and gave the porch a cleaner, more practical look. It also felt like a low-stakes change: the update took under three hours total, and if the color holds up differently than we expect, it’s easy to repaint a darker shade later.
The result brightened the whole porch and blends nicely with the rest of the exterior. From the kitchen window you can see the painted decking and our beloved green fence—Halcyon Green by Sherwin-Williams—which has been a standout addition to our yard improvements. We’ll share more about the fence, our firepit area, and new landscaping soon.
Then we hung the tent. The one we bought is large—about 60 inches wide with a 450-pound capacity—so it’s like a stable double hammock where you can lie in any direction. It feels more secure than a hammock and doesn’t let you roll toward the middle, so each child can have their own comfortable spot. The kids use it for reading, coloring, playing pretend, and even trying to play board games inside. They call it their “car” or “house” depending on the day, and they love having daytime sleepovers in it. I’ve even taken a quiet evening in it after making s’mores.
We hung the tent using a heavy-duty strap looped over the porch beam. The hardware feels secure and was easy to install; the same type of strap also worked to hang our webbed tree swing. The tent fabric is a durable, semi-translucent material that gives a cocooned feel without being too dark. The kids can read and see clearly inside while still feeling tucked away. There’s even a built-in cup holder that delighted my husband when he climbed in to test it.
This small update transformed a previously unused covered porch into a functional, loved spot for the kids and for casual moments outside. It was quick, affordable, and made a noticeable difference in how we use our outdoor space. Yes, our Christmas tree is still up and we do love our string lights—ambient lighting is a year-round vibe for us.
It’s fun to look back at how the side of the house looked when we first saw it last February—lots of change can come from paint and removing an old, rickety staircase.
If you want to follow more of the house’s evolution, there’s an archive chronicling changes to our Florida house. For context on how downsizing has worked for our family and the challenges we’ve faced, we’ve also written about that experience in detail. And if you’re curious about porch ceiling paint choices—like haint blue—we’ve shared why that color is a favorite for porch ceilings.
More Flooring Projects
For other flooring projects we’ve tackled, here are a few posts you might find useful:
- 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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