Installing screen room enclosures around your home's porches is not only a way to provide shade and privacy, but it also provides plenty of opportunities to host unique indoor-outdoor activities and events. Whether you've recently installed a screen room enclosure off your front porch or off the back of your house, here are some ways you can make the most out of the addition of new space to your home.

1. Movie-Screening Gathering

If you have a screen room enclosure that's large enough and an exterior wall that's suitable for a projector, consider hosting a movie-watching or screening gathering. A movie-watching gathering can include seating around the interior of your screened porch while allowing attendees to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and bug-free environment. If you're planning to host a movie-screening gathering in your new screen enclosure, keep the following in mind while you're preparing for the gathering:

• Number of attendees

Keep the number of guests you're inviting in mind while planning the layout of your movie-screening event, especially if your screened-in enclosure is limited in terms of seating.

• Seating

Consider the type of seating you have readily available and whether you'll require backup seats. Also, consider whether there's adequate room for guests who may want to bring their children or a guest of their own.

• Food and drinks

What is a movie-screening activity without movie snacks and beverages? Will you offer your guests drinks from a pitcher or sodas that are on ice in your outdoor coolers? Going over the logistics of any activity you're hosting in your screen room enclosure can help prevent potential hiccups from occurring later on down the road.

• Sound and equipment

Whenever you're hosting a movie event outdoors using a projector or inside of a screened-in enclosure, it's important to consider the equipment and sound system you'll be using.

2. Crafting Activities

Spend time in your screen room enclosures crafting and spending time with others who enjoy crafting with you. Hosting crafting gatherings in your screen room enclosures is a way to enjoy the weather without being entirely exposed to the sun. When you're working with temperamental craft items and ingredients, such as resin, various paint types, or even oil-based materials, steering clear of direct sun exposure is key to protecting your work. Hosting crafting activities in your screen enclosures can allow you to host larger gatherings for specific activities year-round. Some craft activities that can be hosted in screen room enclosures might include:

• Painting/paint pouring
  
• Resin/resin pouring
  
• Clay crafts
  
• Paper crafts
  
• Ink crafts
  
• Stamping
  
• Scrapbooking
  
• Sewing
  
• Knitting
  
• Patchwork projects
  
• Team projects (such as crafting a blanket or a large decorative item together)

3. Birdwatching

If you're fond of birdwatching or if you're involved in a birdwatching group, consider hosting a gathering for birdwatchers in your screen room enclosure. Most birdwatchers are already fond of nature, so they're more likely to feel excited about attending an activity or gathering that allows them to spend time outdoors, especially when the activity itself involves birdwatching.

If you live in an area that's exposed to plenty of birds or that's isolated and private, hosting a birdwatching event or activity is even more exciting for those who enjoy the sport.

4. Hosting Brunch/Tea Gatherings

Hosting a tea gathering or cooking brunch is a great way to make use of screen room enclosures, especially on beautiful mornings and afternoons. If you're looking for a way to entertain guests and want to do so with light foods and beverages such as tea, consider hosting your very own tea party or a brunch gathering for friends and loved ones. Depending on the amount of space you have available in your screened-in enclosure, you can set up tables and chairs for the appropriate number of guests you intend to host.

Create a separate display area for your tea kettles or brewing station as well as serving trays for the food you'll be offering to those who attend. If you're hosting a brunch with tea at the same time, consider offering finger foods and light appetizers, such as:

• Mini quiche egg breakfasts
  
• Baked items (cinnamon rolls, danishes, muffins, etc.)
  
• Pastry puffs
  
• Pancake bites
  
• Sausage links
  
• Cheese spreads
  
• Veggies and fruit trays
  
• Charcuterie boards

5. Exercise/Yoga Classes

One of the biggest advantages of a brand-new screened-in enclosure is the ability to make use of even more room attached to your home. If you're looking for ways to spend time outdoors in a healthy way or if you're interested in additional space for working out or storing your gym equipment, consider using your screened-in enclosure. Screened porches make optimal locations for working out and placing workout equipment, as they offer a natural breeze from the outdoors while also providing reliable protection from natural weather elements.

Whether you're interested in working out on your own using an exercise bike and at-home gym equipment or if you prefer working out with others, you can use your screen room enclosures for the added space and healthy atmosphere. Hosting workout classes is another great way to make use of the space. A few exercise classes to consider hosting in your screen room enclosure might include:

• Traditional cardio workouts
  
• Weight-lifting activities
  
• Yoga or pilates
  
• Guided meditation or transcendental meditation sessions
  

6. Hot Tub Hangout

If you have a hot tub that has been installed on your home's back porch and you've recently installed a new screen room enclosure, consider hosting a hot tub hangout gathering. Gathering with friends to spend time in your hot tub outdoors without being entirely exposed to the sun or to the winter elements is a great way to enjoy the outdoors together year-round. A hot tub gathering can include drinks, music, and even outdoor television if you have the setup available.

While spending time in your hot tub, relax during snowstorms and even during the hottest months of the year without being overexposed to direct sunlight.

7. Outdoor Cookouts

Cooking and grilling with family, friends, and neighbors is one of the most well-known pastimes in modern history. For those who enjoy cooking or grilling for others, consider doing so outdoors while hosting your guests in your screen room enclosures off the back or front of your home. While you may not have the ability to grill directly inside of your screen room enclosure (depending on its design and setup), your guests will enjoy staying out of direct sunlight while enjoying delicious meals in the great outdoors.

8. Gardening (Indoor and Outdoor)

For those who enjoy gardening, both indoors and outdoors, hosting a gardening activity is also possible with screen room enclosures that extend off of porches or home additions. Spending time in your screened-in enclosure is a way to enjoy nature and gardening without being exposed to direct sunlight, flying insects, and surrounding elements. Hosting gardening activities inside of your screened-in enclosure is an opportunity to design pots for planting, plant new seeds, or even tend to indoor/outdoor plants and herbs that you're fond of cultivating.

According to Angi, screened porches may need to be rescreened about every five years. This should be kept in mind whenever you're using your screen room enclosures to host guests and entertain. Maintaining your screen room enclosures properly can extend the longevity of your screen room enclosures while allowing you to host plenty of gatherings and activities with others for years to come.