A sleeping porch is a deck or balcony that is screened and furnished for sleeping in the warmer months. Sleeping porches can be on ground level or on a higher story and in either the front or back of a home. The idea of a sleeping porch dates back nearly a hundred years when people would sleep on a screened-in porch to get the coolness of the night air during summer without being bothered by bugs.

The start of the sleeping porch in the United States is thought to be at the beginning of the twentieth century with the large wraparound porches of Southern plantations. The popularity of screening products led to these porches being screened in to keep out bugs. Children often slept on a second story sleeping porch on hot summer evenings. Southerners often refer to sleeping porches as galleries.

Those who had tuberculosis and other respiratory illnesses also slept on a sleeping porch. Doctors recommended sleeping in the fresh air to help ease respiratory problems. Those who didn't have upper story sleeping porches could screen in a ground floor porch either at the front or back of the house depending on the direction of the breezes.

Some new homes today are being built with sleeping porches and the decks of some older homes are being remodeled to include a sleeping porch. Some styles of homes such as the Arts and Crafts type were built with an upper sleeping porch from the influence of architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright. A good roof section that doesn't leak is a must for a sleeping porch.

Some people today use their sleeping porch for napping and relaxing during the summer as well as for eating outdoors without the bother of bugs. Modern screening can look nearly invisible and this can add to the appeal of a screened-in porch. The screening also allows those in rainy climates to sit outdoors while staying dry. Stylish outdoor furniture such as a wicker daybed can look great on a sleeping porch.