Bring a little bit of inside to your patio or yard and create an outdoor living space. How does one go making living space outdoors, though? It sounds a little crazy, but an outdoor living space gives you a new room to enjoy and adds value to your home at the same time.
Pick Your Spot to Create an Outdoor Living Space
You can’t do much until you know where you want to create an outdoor living space. Do you have an underutilized patio? How about a balcony or open area in the backyard?
There are a few to consider when selecting your space:
- Make sure the ground is level.
- If working in a grassy area, think about what landscaping you’ll need to prep the site, such as weed barrier fabric.
- Does the area offer some privacy?
- What type of flooring is best for the area – wood, cement, or maybe stone pavers? How about decomposed granite?
Create a Room Design
There are many options. First, decide if you want to put up walls and a ceiling as you create an outdoor living space? In this case, walls would be vertical elements that box in the area such as a hedge, a stone fence, or deck railings. For a ceiling, you could add a trellis or pergola to give you some shade without taking away the natural elements.
Pick Out Your Furniture
Once you decide how you want the area to look, you can design your furniture layout. What is the space for, exactly? If entertaining, you’ll want plenty of seating and surface areas.
Maybe you are creating an outdoor living space to enjoy solitude. In that case, all you need is comfortable seating for one or two people.
Add those Special Touches
Now, add special touches to make your outdoor living area unique. Maybe an adjoining outdoor kitchen? You could add an outdoor fireplace or fire pit for warmth and ambiance. Consider things that will boost the visual appeal of the space, too, like bright colored pillows and potted greenery. Maybe create your space around a theme like an Italian villa or beach home.
There is no right or wrong way to create an outdoor living space. If you need ideas, contact Field of Dreams. Our experts are on hand to help.