Painting

• 1
  A veranda looks more luxurious when its paint matches the building color.Jupiterimages/BananaStock/Getty Images
  
  Clean the veranda to prepare to paint it a color that matches the house. Sweep the floor of the veranda and remove any cobwebs and dust from support poles and the ceiling.
  
  
• 2). Apply protective painter's tape over baseboards and any surfaces bordering the area to be painted.
  
  
• 3). Apply a coat of paint primer first. Remember that wood and metal surfaces require different types of primer. You can either paint the floor, leave the floor bare or use a wood finish, depending on the desired look. Prime the floor only if you intend to paint it.
  
  
• 4). Paint the veranda using an exterior paint over the dry primer. Paint with long horizontal strokes covered with vertical strokes to use the paint efficiently.
  
  
• 5). Consider painting the screen around the veranda, if it has a screen. A painted screen can contribute a different color to the veranda than the plain metal color of the screen.
  
  
• 6). Paint a wood finish over the clean and bare wood floor, if desired. Keep in mind that surface finishes and water-based finishes won't work over old oil-based stains. Oil-based penetrating stains do, however, work on top of other oil-based stains without needing to be removed.
  
  
• 7). Allow the paint and floor finish to dry completely before continuing your decorating.
  
  

Adding Plants and Decorations

• 1
  Potted plants make an excellent border around a veranda railing.Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Add some potted plants to the veranda. Try growing herbs and tomatoes in areas that get lots of direct sunlight. Edible plants are an especially good idea for verandas near the kitchen. For shady areas, find plants that tolerate lots of shade, such as begonias or ferns. Hanging plant baskets add a lot of color and more privacy for unscreened verandas.
  
  
• 2). Water the plants regularly, keeping in mind that potted plants dry out more quickly than plants in the ground.
  
  
• 3
  Wind chimes or other hanging decorations add character.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Add any hanging decorations around the edge of the veranda roof. Many people like wind chimes and small decorative banners.
  
  
• 4). Plant decorative vines -- such as honeysuckle, grapes, kiwi or climbing roses -- in the yard next to the veranda and allow them to climb veranda posts for more color and added privacy.
  
  

Choosing Furniture

• 1). Pick out furniture that matches the colors of the house and veranda. Since the veranda has a cover, it is okay to pick out furniture that has some cloth upholstery. However, it is a good idea to look for mildew-resistant fabrics.
  
  
• 2). Consider the type of wood your chosen patio furniture was constructed from. Unfinished woods often turn silvery as they age; keep in mind how a silvery coloring would contribute to the look of the veranda. Softwoods from conifers scratch more easily than harder woods from deciduous trees.
  
  
• 3). Arrange the furniture on the veranda. Face it away from the house for the best view of the outdoors. Pay attention to whether veranda furniture blocks the view from your house windows.