A veranda or covered porch is a great feature for any home, as you can enjoy the outdoors without getting too much sun in your face and while being protected from rain and wind. However, just having a veranda doesn't mean it's going to be a comfortable, welcoming space. Note a few tips on how to dress up your home's veranda and make it more inviting, without spending a fortune.

1. Wrap the columns

Since a veranda technically has a roof, it should also have columns to help hold it up. You can dress up the space by wrapping the columns with climbing vines of ivy or grape leaves. This will bring in a nice, natural feeling and break up the look of the wood or metal of the construction. For something more regal, you can also cover the columns with panels that then make them seem larger and wider; add moulding at the top and bottom for even more eye-catching detail.

2. Add curtains or build walls

Even with the roof overhead, you may still get too much hot air and sunlight on your veranda, or need some added privacy from neighbours. Outdoor fabric you can use for curtains on the side is usually very inexpensive, and you don't need sewing skills if you simply glue a line of Velcro to the top of the fabric and then inside of the veranda roof to hold the fabric in place. You can also easily build a wall with just a sheet of decorative wood that you then fasten to the outside of the veranda; opt for a garden lattice from which you hang plants to soften the look even more.

3. Hang a hammock

If your veranda is big enough, why not hang a colourful hammock across two of the columns? This can mean a cosier space for lounging and, if you opt for something in a bright, bold colour, something that makes the space more eye-catching and appealing.

4. Add a shrubbery border

You don't want to block off the view from your veranda, but if you add a shrubbery border across all sides, this can bring in a touch of green and also soften the edge of the porch or deck area, and give you a bit of privacy. Opt for a cranberry bush, lilacs, or another flowering or berry bush for even more colour and some wonderful aromas that make your veranda a very welcoming and inviting space.