Why Building a Lanai Should Be Next on Your Landscaping Bucket List
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We’re getting to that wonderful time of the year when you want to be outside all the time. The beautiful summer weather is kicking in, which of course means more time in the sun, later nights, and an uptick in social gatherings set in the sweet outdoors. However, it also means summer bugs, humidity that’ll make anyone’s hair frizzy, and a higher chance of getting sunburned. It’s about time to figure out how you can combat those cons of summer and get back to focusing on the pros—it’s time to install a lanai. What is a lanai, you may ask? It’s a Hawaiian solution to the elements that lets you merge your love of outdoor living with indoor amenities.
“A lanai is an important extension of the home in Hawaii, serving as a transition from the house to the garden,” interior designer (and 2022 Next Wave alum) Breeze Giannasio, who was born in the small town of Lanikai, Kailua, tells House Beautiful. “From a kama'aina perspective, lanais are a gathering place for family and friends to ‘talk story’ and enjoy true Hawaiian living.”
If you or your loved ones watched the Golden Girls, you likely already know what a lanai is, how useful they can be, and that people who live in Florida seem to love them. Though lanais originated in Hawaii, they’re commonly found in the southern United States where the weather is typically agreeable all year long. Whether you want to install your own lanai or are simply trying to figure out the differences between a lanai and other types of outdoor living spaces, keep reading. With the help of designers like Giannasio, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about this chic, architectural addition to your home.
What Is a Lanai?
The simplest definition of a lanai sounds a lot like a porch: A lanai is a structure with a roofed entrance and more than one of the “walls” open to the elements. It’s more of a combination of indoor and outdoor living than a porch, though, since lanais are typically seen as extensions of the home. “In Hawaii, a lanai is considered any outdoor space that has a foundation—whether it’s concrete, decking, etc. It’s just used as a casual term to cover all outdoor dining/hangout spaces,” Hawaiian-born designer Shaolin Low, founder of Studio Shaolin and host of the Magnolia Network show Home in Hawaii, tells House Beautiful.
Since Hawaii is a place of endless summer weather, it’s no surprise that lanais are common features of its residential and commercial architecture. They first appeared in the mid-19th century, and Giannasio explains that in the early years of the post-missionary Victorian era, the lanai was where houseguests were received and the family dined—“the atmosphere sharply contrasting with the staid Victorian parlor, which must have felt entirely oppressive in the context of what came before,” she adds. Now, lanais are often embraced in other warm climates, like in Florida and California.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Lanai?
Like any outdoor space—or design feature in general, for that matter—lanais have specific pros and cons that you’ll want to weigh before deciding whether or not to install one.
Pros
The most obvious one is the extra living space. “A lanai provides a covered outdoor living space where you can hang out, dine, entertain, and enjoy the outdoors yet still be protected from the sun and rain, making it usable year-round, perfect for Hawaii,” Low says.
“Lanais create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living areas, allowing for easy access and flow between spaces,” Low adds.
Like many manicured landscaping projects, lanais raise the property value of your home.
Cons
The cost of installing a lanai can vary depending on the scale of the project, but generally you should expect to spend a pretty penny on building one.
Regular cleaning and maintenance, similar to any outdoor space, is necessary to keep a lanai in good condition.
Low brings up a good, possibly easily breezed past, point: “Lanais take up outdoor space on your property, which may limit other landscaping or backyard space.”
What‘s the Difference Between a Lanai, a Porch, a Patio, and a Veranda?
Lanais often open up into wider living spaces, so it wouldn’t be entirely incorrect to relate them to covered porches, patios, or verandas. Their main draw is that they make it possible to enjoy the outdoors year-round.
A patio can be covered or uncovered, screened-in or open, and is always on the ground level, whereas a porch can be raised or on the ground, is always covered, and can be enclosed or open. A veranda, in the simplest terms, is an open-air space that’s partially enclosed by a railing and wraps around the home in some way, whether it's front to one side or front to both sides.
Screened lanais can keep out bugs, and paneled lanais—which have glass or plastic sides that can be removed—help regulate the temperature once the weather cools. Finally, an “under-truss” lanai describes one that was built under a home’s existing footprint with enclosure screens that are secured to the roof. In areas that experience frequent severe storms, an under-truss lanai can be a safer option.
Most lanais have enough room for furniture sets, greenery, and even outdoor ceiling fans, so you can think of them as a living room that’s always on vacation.
How Much Does a Lanai Cost?
For starters, the national average cost to construct a screened-in lanai is between $2,300 and $3,000, according to the home improvement site Porch, and it can take three to nine months to build—so you’ll have to wait until next summer to enjoy it.
To get the most out of a lanai, you should carefully consider where it’s positioned in relation to your home and the sun. A south-facing lanai will get the most sunlight but might end up feeling like a greenhouse in the middle of summer. A west- or east-facing lanai will likely get sunlight for only part of the day, so it may get chillier in the winter. Our vote? The best place for a lanai is off the kitchen or indoor living room, if possible. That will connect it to the main areas of the home, ensuring effortless entertaining and relaxation.
As for how to design and decorate a lanai, stick to bright shades that complement the outdoors. You’ll want to invest in weatherproof outdoor furniture too; classic options like wicker or rattan will only heighten your lanai’s vacation aesthetic. Roll out a patterned outdoor rug to define the seating arrangements, and add plenty of tropical houseplants for color and texture. Finally, throw in pillows that encourage settling in, and keep a well-stocked bar cart nearby for all your happy hour needs. With a space this inviting, you won’t mind spending endless blue-sky days in a lanai.
How to Use a Lanai
Like most other backyard spaces, use your lanai the way you would an outdoor living room. “A lanai is perfect for anyone who loves hosting or lounging outdoors. It is a versatile area for relaxation, dining, and socializing, extending the usable square footage and property value of a home,” Low explains. She continues to say that in Hawaii, lanais are most commonly used for barbecues and social gatherings, so it would make sense to use yours—no matter where you're located—in the same way.
Giannasio sees a lanai as a place to battle isolation. “I find that one has different conversations in treehouses than one does in a conference room, for example. The mind has the opportunity to take flight, to unhinge from linear strictures. That happens in lanais as well,— she says.
Put out some chic outdoor furniture, maybe a fire pit (if it's safe), and definitely a grill if the ventilation allows for it. Since you're likely to use a lanai while also serving some type of food, it’d be smart to include a decently sized dining table out there for guests and family to use.
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