From Radu Oprea, CEO of Wolf Spirit Deck.
After more than 100 years of combined hands-on experience building decks and porches across Naperville and the greater Chicago suburbs, we get this question constantly. Homeowners stand in their backyard, look around, and ask us some version of: “Should we screen this in… or leave it open?”
The honest answer is that both are popular, but for very different reasons. The choice usually has less to do with trends and more to do with how people actually live in their homes here in Chicagoland.
Let’s talk about what we see in the real world—not what looks good in a catalog.
Why Open Porches Still Win on Simplicity
Open porches are still extremely common in Naperville and surrounding suburbs, especially for homeowners who want something clean, flexible, and timeless.
An open porch gives you:
- An unobstructed view of the yard
- Better airflow on cooler summer days
- A more “classic Midwest” look that blends easily with most homes
- Lower upfront cost and simpler construction
What we’ve seen over the year is that a lot of people like to feel free in their backyards and they choose open porches for this specific reason. The want their space to be connected to the yard so that the kids can run around freely. They have dogs that run in the grass and whenever they have a lot of friends coming to their house, they need them to be free to walk in and out. They say that they don’t like to feeling of being boxed in.
With other words, open porches feel easy for some people and that’s why they choose them.
Why Screened Porches Are Growing Fast in Popularity
That said, screened porches have been gaining serious ground over the last several years, and we see that trend clearly in Naperville and nearby towns.
The biggest reason? Bugs.
Mosquitoes in the Chicago suburbs are no joke—especially near retention ponds, wooded areas, or older neighborhoods with mature landscaping. A screened porch lets homeowners actually use their outdoor space during peak mosquito hours instead of retreating indoors.
Beyond insects, screened porches offer:
- Protection from light rain and wind
- More privacy from neighbors
- A longer usable season in spring and fall
- A space that feels like an outdoor room, not just a deck
Many of our clients tell us they use their screened porch more than their living room during the warmer months. Coffee in the morning, dinner in the evening, even watching TV or working remotely—it becomes part of daily life.
Climate Is More Important Than Trends
If this were Florida or Arizona, the answer might be different. But in the Chicago suburbs, we deal with:
- Hot, humid summers
- Heavy mosquitoes
- Sudden storms
- Short but valuable outdoor seasons
Because of that, homeowners are increasingly looking for ways to protect their outdoor investment and make it usable as often as possible. That’s why screened porches tend to appeal to people who plan to stay in their home long-term and want maximum function.
On the other hand, homeowners who prioritize openness, views, and a simpler structure often lean toward open porches—and are perfectly happy with that choice.
What We’re Seeing in Naperville Specifically
In Naperville and nearby suburbs, we’d break it down like this based on what we build every year:
- Open porches are still slightly more common overall
- Screened porches are growing faster, especially in higher-end projects
- Many homeowners now ask about hybrid designs, where part of the porch is screened and part remains open
There is no universal “right answer.” The most satisfied clients are the ones who choose a porch based on how they actually live—not what’s trending on social media.
Our Advice After Decades of Building Porches
During our free consultations, we don’t just talk about blueprints; we talk about your lifestyle. We’ll ask about the “bug factor” in your specific neighborhood—because mosquitoes in a wooded Naperville lot are a different beast than in a wide-open subdivision. We’ll discuss whether you want a private retreat for morning coffee or a wide-open transition to the yard for kids and dogs.
Those lifestyle answers usually make the choice between a screened or open porch obvious. If you’re looking for deck builders who understand the local climate and how families here actually use their outdoor space, the team at Wolf Spirit Deck Builders in Naperville is ready to help you design a porch that fits your life perfectly.