Outdoor spaces are the latest phenomenon in home design. Homeowners are on a mission to maximize every inch of space and are looking for ways to make their backyards as livable as indoors.
What Is an Outdoor Room?
As the name suggests, an outdoor room is a space created specifically for the outdoors to relax, cook, or entertain. Like all rooms, they have a sense of closure, whether through walls, potted plants, glass panes, or screens, and they often have some overhead protection as well.
An outdoor room is neither entirely indoor nor entirely outdoor, but it can have the best of both worlds. They are transitional spaces, often created on a terrace or patio, allowing you to enjoy the comfort and practicality of your home with fresh air at the same time.
The expansion of this area reflects the continued desire of homeowners to maximize the time spent at home. They are also in line with a trend we’ve seen over the past few years where homeowners have become extremely capable and want to make the most of space by integrating storage, kitchens, entertainment areas, and water features.
How to Build an Outdoor Room？
Change the way you use your backyard by creating an outdoor room. When planning how this space will extend from the inside to the outside, what to consider is how this new room will flow from the inside of your home to the outer courtyard. As an intermediate area, the outdoor room requires personalized features and complementary functions to help create harmony between the interior and exterior. Read on to find out how you can achieve this with these helpful tips.
1. Functionality is paramount
Start by thinking about how you want your outdoor space to function. Ask yourself what you’re going to do with it, who will use it, and when you’ll be spending most of your time there. Gone are the days of single-purpose spaces; Making the most of your outdoor living space requires as much thought out as you do about your indoor space. It’s all about maximizing the functionality of the space.
One way to do this is to create zones as if they were indoors. For example, you can have a relaxation area, a cooking area, and an area for entertaining, socializing, or playing games. This will help guide your layout and furniture choices, such as outdoor rugs, sectional sofas, dining tables, and even water features like cold plunge pools or hot tubs.
2. Add borders to define the entertainment area
If you plan to use your outdoor space for multiple activities, such as leisure and recreation, consider adding “zones” to define each space. Think of it as an interior open-concept plan that flows from the kitchen to the living room.
Gently guide your family and guests around the outdoor room and define the areas using horizontal variations and decorative features such as deck patterns and colors. If you’re planning a building project, you can use different materials or deck patterns in each area to create subtle boundaries. Use different deck colors to highlight a delightfully rich area. The contrast between the color choices gives the outdoor room a sense of three-dimensionality and purpose.
If you create an outdoor room on an existing patio or patio, you can use a different outdoor rug in each area to create the same effect.
3. Protect your space from the elements
If you want to use an outdoor room year-round, you need to protect it (and yourself) from the elements. The Premier Outdoor Living team regularly installs guards for a variety of recreational facilities, such as covered decks and retractable screens. Not only are these items weatherproof, but they also keep bugs and wildlife out of your space and provide privacy.
In addition to maximizing the livability of your outdoor room with features that fit your lifestyle, such as a gourmet kitchen, entertainment center, or different conversation areas, don’t forget about practical needs like heating and cooling.
4. Simplify the design
When creating an outdoor room, consider how the space will connect with the rest of the house. Large folding doors or a screen on the concealable covered deck is a great way to make two spaces feel like one. Flat terraces or folding doors can open the house and blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Another easy way to seamlessly connect spaces is to use the same floor tiles indoors and outdoors. Many natural floor tiles, such as stone and porcelain, are weatherproof and slip resistant, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor living (but be sure to check with the supplier first).
5. Create a cohesive design
When bringing the idea of an outdoor room to life, be sure to consider the style and beauty of the home. Outdoor space should feel like an extension of the home, which can mean making major design decisions to create an overall look that feels like it’s always been there.
You can create a cohesive feel by intentionally choosing color schemes, finishes, and materials. For example, if your indoor color scheme is dominated by neutrals and blues, you can extend that scheme to an outdoor room with neutral outdoor sofas and chairs, blue cushions, and blue cutlery. Similarly, if your home has a chrome finish, you can continue to use matching kitchen equipment outside. Add a roof to a covered deck
The same is true of the times. If the space is additive, work with the architect early on to understand any structural considerations and help make the space look like it was part of the original structure. The holistic, purposeful design helps these spaces reflect the house to which they are attached.
6. Add plenty of greenery
Decorate your outdoor room with plenty of plants. When adding the final touches to a space, plants in potted plants or contemporary flower beds will help connect the outdoor room with its surroundings. This trick can also be applied to any natural material that helps connect the interior and exterior, such as woven rattan, natural stone, and wood tones. These details will create a gradual transition and natural connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, blurring their boundaries.
Use potted plants and trees to demarcate the boundaries of the outdoor space, rather than fencing to add more greenery to the outdoor room. Choose evergreens or shrubs, such as lily of the valley shrubs or boxwoods, or plants with seasonal colors to maintain beauty and privacy throughout the year.