Summer may have come to an end, but outdoor enjoyment doesn’t have to. In fact, Autumn is arguably the best time of year in Florida to enjoy your screen room. Autumn means cooler temperatures, less humidity and best of all - fewer bugs! With the extremely high temperatures we’ve had this past summer behind us, it’s time for Autumn entertaining to kick into high gear along with all of the festivities that come with this season. Here are a few ideas for entertaining in your screen room this fall:

Change with the season: Autumn colors make your outdoor space feel  cozier and blend in with natures changing colors. Decorating your screen room for the season lets you have fun with complimentary furniture colors, themes, and accessories. Add a container garden with colorful fall plants like mums and aster for a pop of color reminiscent of New England’s changing leaves. 

Keep it cozy: We’re only at the beginning of fall right now, but as the season progresses, so will the lowering temperatures. Now is the best time to add heating elements that work with your screen room instead of limiting yourself to an outdoor fire or being stuck inside. There are several heating options available to choose from that can be picked up from your neighborhood home improvement store. These include radiant heat panels, wall or ceiling-mounted electric heaters, gas tabletop heaters, infrared heaters and more. Keep in mind when dealing with any  fuel-powered heater it is vital to make sure the model you choose is approved for use in a covered area, such as a porch or screened porch, and the proper clearance is provided to ensure the unit is safely operable.

Add lighting for ambiance: Another fundamental element of a well designed outdoor room is ambient light. Depending on how far you want to take it, screen room lighting ideas are only limited by your imagination. Enjoy natural light by day and extend your outdoor fun into the evening with ambient lighting. From tiki lights to professional lighting services, there is a range of lighting options to explore that add both function and ambiance.

“Crank up the tunes” or catch the game on the big screen: You can bring your indoor music and TV entertainment outdoors through the use of camouflage speakers, wireless speakers, or conventional wiring with weatherproofing elements. Be sure to position valuable electronics in areas away from the elements or set them up so they can be transferred inside quickly. 

Make “porch” memories: One of the best parts of living in the south is the memories made on front or back porches. While screen rooms are considered entire rooms to themselves, their ability to bring people together from inside to outdoors makes them a “porch worthy” element to any house. There are entire webpages dedicated to porch memories where readers share their fondest memories of time spent on the “inside out” of their home.