With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to add more space to your home that your entire family can enjoy, without having to take on a renovation or remodeling project. The best way to easily add more space is to expand to an outdoor living area, which can be a deck, patio, or even just a designated area of your lawn.
An outdoor living area then becomes where your family can go to relax and enjoy the warm weather, have meals, or you can use it for additional entertaining space.
The following are some of the best tips to help you get started creating the ideal outdoor living area.
Create a Functional Layout
Think about your primary indoor living spaces. They probably include certain layouts that encourage a smooth traffic pattern where everyone can walk around, or if they’re sitting on furniture, can talk with one another easily.
You should try to follow a similar concept when it comes to your outdoor living space. Create a layout that encourages a good flow of traffic, plenty of walking space, and encourages conversation.
Create Zones
When you’re conceptualizing your family’s new outdoor living space, you’ll also want to plan for different zones. For example, you might want to have separate play spaces for your children, a cooking area, and then a dining area. You’ll need to plan for the things that you think your family will most often use.
Invest in High-Quality Furniture
When it comes to an outdoor living space, whenever possible invest in high-quality furniture. First, you want the items you choose to be usable by your family on a daily basis, but these items are also going to have to stand up to the added pressure of the elements. You want durable items that can easily be cleaned on a regular basis and won’t blow away or become excessively damaged if there’s a storm.
Also, look for comfortable furniture. Rather than going for stiff lounge chairs and hard outdoor seating, opt for sectionals and spacious items with deep seating and plush cushions. You want to feel as comfortable outdoors as you do when you’re sitting on your indoor furniture.
Integrate the Indoors and Outdoors
Try to incorporate the design of your outdoor living area with your indoor spaces, so there’s a feeling of flow and cohesiveness. You can consider similar color palettes and furniture styles to accomplish that so that it feels like your indoor and outdoor living seamlessly flow into one another.
Add Privacy
Finally, when you’re enjoying your outdoor space, you might feel a bit exposed to your neighbors. You can avoid this by strategically adding privacy. A good way to do that is with flowing outdoor curtains, which are elegant and beautiful, but also private. You can also use tall plants, whether they’re potted or part of your landscaping. There are even faux hedge walls you can invest in to create the feeling of walls.
Your family will love spending outdoors this spring and summer if you transform it into a living space with high-quality furnishings and comfortable details.
photo credit: Happy Sleepy Outdoor retreat, Toronto via photopin (license)
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