I really have a thing for outdoor living spaces. I love making them not only usable but designed to be used. Just without thinking about it, we will use an outdoor space that is designed correctly and avoid one that is not. We make subconscious decisions every day and this is one of them.
The back porch may need more consideration than any other outdoor space. What do you want it to for you? Do you want it to be a place to comfortably retreat? A fun place for gatherings? Will you use it most in the mornings or the evenings? Is your lot a corner lot? Are you in a subdivision where the homes are close together?
Some need uninhibited sight lines to take advantage of a beautiful view. Some need maximum privacy.
Let’s say you want a back porch strictly for a retreat and not a place for gatherings. Obviously, you will want it to connect to the room it will be most approached from. Porches like this often connect to a master bedroom or even a master bath. If you plan to start you day with a cup of coffee, then you might want it to include a space for a coffeemaker just inside the door. You may want it on the east side of the home to take advantage of the sunrise. Or, in hotter climates you may want it to face west so that it is shaded in the morning. Of course, your surroundings and floor plan may override these factors when it comes to placement. (This is another subject for another time, but it is possible to design your goals into the floor plan from the start if you have a designer that will investigate your needs and wants with you.)
In subdivisions with fenced backyards, one way to achieve some privacy is for the lot to be sloped downward toward the porch from the edge of the lot so that the bottom of the privacy fence is at the same or at a higher elevation than the porch floor. Back porch privacy can also be achieved by designing the floor plan with an inset porch. That is, where only one side faces the outside. The other three sides adjoin exterior walls.
Now for the most popular kind of back porch - the gathering kind. Maximizing its attraction and usability does not have to include an expensive outdoor kitchen. The rules are the same whether you only have a Weber kettle grill and some chairs, or a full-blown outdoor kitchen.
Number one rule: Give it easy access to your indoor kitchen. You can even go so far as to include a serving window between the two spaces in your design. No matter what your back porch includes you will be going back and forth between it and the indoor kitchen, where 90% of your dishes, glasses, food, drinks, and snacks are kept.
Also, the kitchen is almost always a gathering space by default. If you make these two spaces compete with each other, you are less likely to want to go through the trouble of walking through your home to get between the two. Adjoining the gathering back porch to the living room is also a good idea. Just don’t let two rooms come between the back porch and the kitchen.
Since most gatherings happen in afternoons and evenings, it’s ideal if the porch faces east or southeast for afternoon shade in the summer. It’s also a good idea to include some storage so you don’t have to leave your grill outdoors all the time. If it happens to adjoin the garage, it might be possible to include a door between the two. But at least you may want an out-of-the-way space where the grill can stay while it’s not in use.
Foot traffic is another consideration. You want the retreat porch to be away from it while foot traffic can be a benefit to the gathering back porch. For example, if it is part of or next to your normal entry and exit point of the house, you will already have some level of comfort with it, and it can serve as a spot to take a quick break.
You can increase the appeal of any outdoor space by making it feel more like the indoors. You may want a place for a TV. You will certainly need electrical outlets. You may even want it to connect to a toilet, especially if there is a pool involved. You can hang pictures and clocks on the walls, and place plants all around. If you hang curtains across openings consider using shower curtains.
Most of all, your back porch needs to be comfortable, not just look good. Have you ever noticed the difference between indoor and outdoor furniture? Indoor furniture is usually more comfortable, which is one thing we all like about our living rooms. Consider comfort as much as style when choosing your outdoor furniture.