<table> </table> <strong>Q uestion: We have a screened porch, but we never use it. How can I make it a spot where we want to hang out?</strong></p><p><strong>A. </strong>Chances are your screened porch spends its days all alone because it&#8217;s uncomfortable and unattractive. With the warm summer months just around the corner, now&#8217;s the perfect time to transform this dusty wasteland into one of your favorite spots to entertain, lounge and dine.</p><p>In order for your porch to lure you outside, it must be an oasis for your tired eyes and weary body. For years I&#8217;ve been a big believer in dressing your porch just as you do every other room in your house: with beautiful furniture, gorgeous linens and fun accents.</p><p>People think I&#8217;m nuts, but I&#8217;ve always used indoor furniture outside on my screened porch. On a large wooden hutch, I display things like artwork, dishware and seasonal accents and set up a small bar for entertaining. The slipcovered chaise longue and daybed are our favorite places to lounge on Sunday afternoons.</p><p>Since Dan and I enjoy entertaining al fresco, we also have a round table and chairs tucked into a corner of the porch.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Finding furniture</span></strong></p><p>Before you begin your makeover, clear out your porch and give it a good spring cleaning.</p><p>Now think about how you&#8217;d like to use this spot. Do you want a place to sit and read? Do you want to hold dinner parties out here?</p><p>Once you pinpoint how you want to use this outdoor room, scout for the right furniture.</p><p>Do you have any old pieces you could bring outside, like a comfy chair or a hutch? Is it time to invest in an outdoor table and chairs? Remember, anything you put out there will get dusty and damp and will need frequent cleaning, so choose accordingly.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Linens and things</span></strong></p><p>Next, add charm and personality to your porch with linens. Are you partial to hot citrus colors? Then pick cushions and pillows in the zippiest of hues.</p><p>Do you prefer a soft, romantic look? Go crazy with muted florals, stripes and little checks. Just remember to pick fabrics you can launder easily.</p><p>I know this is a no-no, but I&#8217;m all about using cotton and linen fabrics outside. Since these delicate textiles fade in the sun, I replace them every few years, giving me the perfect excuse to remake the look of my porch.</p><p>This year I&#8217;m getting my inspiration from a new line of dishes I&#8217;ve developed. The cream-colored plates feature a delicate fern frond in the freshest of greens. So I&#8217;ll slipcover my chaise longue and daybed in cream fabrics with green accents.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Accents- uate</span></strong></p><p>Now it&#8217;s time to add the accents that will pull the space together and make it luxurious and welcoming. How about some great outdoor lighting, like lanterns or a candelabrum?</p><p>Do you have a fun set of dishes reserved for outdoor use? If not, get some that make you smile.</p><p>When I entertain outdoors this summer, I&#8217;ll use an old quilt as a tablecloth, then create unique place settings with my new fern dishes mixed in with some dishware, goblets and silver I use all the time.</p><p>To polish off the look of the porch, I&#8217;ll repeat a few of the dishware pieces and accents in the displays in my hutch and side tables. I can&#8217;t wait to get started!