What Is a Veranda? Plus, How It’s Different From a Porch

Despite a Southern connotation, verandas are not unique to homes of just one era, region, or architectural style. In fact, verandas are a feature of many American home styles, from southern colonials and Victorian farmhouses to Craftsman bungalows and sprawling mid-century moderns. Ahead, we asked the experts to help us understand the key elements, functions, and benefits of a veranda.

What Is a Veranda?

A veranda is an open-air space that wraps more than one side of a house and is covered overhead. The design can range from a simple concrete slab with an overhang to a stately gallery with columns and railings. Some verandas may even be partially enclosed or screened in.

The Difference Between a Veranda vs. Porch

A veranda can have a lot of features that are similar to a wrap-around porch, but not all porches are verandas. 

"Verandas and porches are different, not just in shape but in function," says Andrew Pharis, architect and interior design expert at Vertical Arts Architecture. "Porches are an extension of a home’s entry, creating a layer of separation from the street to a home’s interior."

Meanwhile, verandas often function as an additional living area, complete with furnishings for sitting and eating. "Verandas are an outdoor living space used for entertaining or even as a gallery room,” says Pharis.

Other structures that are often confused with verandas include balconies, patios, and decks—but these do not typically have a roof. At the same time, other covered outdoor structures, such as pergolas and porticos, are often not attached to the house. So, verandas are distinct in being attached, open-air, covered structures that extend along the length of more than one side of a house.

The Main Characteristics of a Veranda

When we picture a home with a veranda, our imagination tends to run to home styles that predate air conditioning. "Verandas were important before the invention of air conditioning, as they helped to catch the breeze," says Pharis. "Now their function is less important, though they remain people’s favorite room in the house."

Design and Architecture

While some verandas may feature a stunning second-story gallery, most are not double-deckers. Verandas are typically primary-floor structures covered by a roof but exposed to open air on three sides. The purpose of a veranda is to provide inhabitants shelter from the sun while catching that all-important cross breeze. 

Then there’s the matter of public versus private. While some verandas are long, sheltered structures located at the front of a house, where the dweller can greet and visit with guests, a veranda on a Spanish-colonial-style home, for example, is more likely to face a private inner courtyard. 

Building Materials

The building materials of a veranda depend very much on the architectural style and materials of the home. The veranda of a wooden farmhouse will have wood floors and railings, whereas a New Orleans house will feature the distinct iron-filigree railings that they’re known for. At the same time, a California mission-revival home may not have railings at all but rather low walls made of the same adobe as the house and floors made of stone or terracotta tile.

Roof Styles

Likewise, the style and materials of a veranda roof depend on the style of the house. For example, if the home is a two-story, the veranda roof may be low-profile, to not obscure second-story windows. There are three main roof styles for a veranda: 

• Gable roof: Peaked, with a center ridge, and slopes down on two sides. 
• Hip roof: Has a single high point in the middle and slopes down on three or more sides. 
• Shed roof: Almost flat but gently sloping down in just one direction to direct water runoff away from the house. 

The roof of a veranda is also likely to be built from the same material as the roof of the house. Common roofing materials include asphalt, cedar shakes, slate, terracotta, or metal.

Benefits of Having a Veranda

There’s no doubt that a veranda extends the functional living space of a home. It also merges indoor and outdoor space, letting us take advantage of fresh air and good weather. And that’s something we all desire in a home today. "The inherent charm and appeal enhance both a home’s market value and the quality of life for its inhabitants, says real estate expert Matt Dunbar, SVP of Southeast Region for Churchill Mortgage.

More Functional Living Space

A veranda functions as an outdoor room, with zones for sitting and conversation as well as eating and entertaining. "Outdoor areas extend the living space beyond the confines of four walls, offering functional and aesthetic enhancements that significantly boost a home’s attractiveness," says Dunbar. In some regions and climates where insects and mosquitos are a nuisance, a portion of the veranda will be screened in—making the space usable year-round. 

Increased Home Value

A home with good outdoor space is not only more useful, it’s also a good investment.  "A thoughtfully executed outdoor living space can deliver an ROI of over 80 percent," says Dunbar, "with this figure notably increasing in warmer climates where they become coveted luxuries."

Improved Quality of Life

"Beyond the financial aspects, the contribution of outdoor spaces to homeowners’ quality of life cannot be overstated," says Dunbar. The main appeal of a veranda is being able to enjoy the outdoors while still being protected from the elements. "These areas offer sanctuaries for relaxation, spots for family gatherings, and venues for social entertainment, thus enriching the living experience."