Eight Ideas for Creating
Outdoor Living Area
Square footage in every house
varies, and although you may not
be able to increase your indoor
living space, the livable area of
your home can be enlarged just be
incorporating outdoor living space.
Making improvements to the
outdoor living area surrounding
your house can make your house
feel more spacious -- and create
space that allows you to more
fully enjoy both your home and
your yard.
Exterior living spaces have become extremely popular and for good reason. Much too much time is spent indoors and by incorporating outdoor living spaces, you can improve your quality of life by spending more time outdoors in recreational activities, such as swimming, entertaining, or just relaxing.
Even simple changes to your outdoor areas can instantly create more livable space. Adding a patio dining set may be all it takes to bring breakfast outdoors on a cool morning or to barbecue more often. In all, there are eight steps to creating an enjoyable outdoor living area that your family will enjoy as much as the indoors.
1. Hardscaping connects inside to outside.
Adding paths, paving, or patios is the best way to unite the house with an outdoor living area. Hardscapes can range from simple gravel paths and seating areas that can be accomplished in an afternoon with rock, brick, pavers, or with much more elaborate poured concrete patios. Hardscaped walls, pathways, and seating areas anchor the outdoor living area, providing a backdrop for other features or landscaping.
2. Seating areas make gathering spaces.
Every outdoor space needs a gathering spot for seating or lounging. Be sure to include spaces for both group gatherings and for solitary seating. Add furniture to accommodate both.
3. Landscaping adds enjoyment.
Many houses have beautiful landscaping at the front for passersby but neglect the backyard. Adding shrubs and plantings makes the backyard more enjoyable to be in and shouldn’t be overlooked. Because more time is spent in the backyard, emphasis on landscaping should be placed here. For free information and landscaping plans, check out www.the-landscape-design-site.com.
4. Add cooling shade.
Shade trees provide a canopy and an outdoor “ceiling” that gives outdoor rooms structure. More importantly, shade cools temperatures so that you can enjoy the outdoors even during the height of summer. Be sure to include this structure in your landscape by planting trees of varying styles and heights.
5. Provide gardening opportunities.
Every home needs a garden for planting flowers, vegetables, or a kitchen garden for cooking with fresh herbs. Provide a spot to change out flowers and edible plants to keep your interaction with the yard constant and year-round.
6. Lighting for enjoyment.
Nothing can compare to a garden during the evening. Some flowers, like moonflower, positively glow in the evening. Adding lighting will help extend the hours you can spend in your outdoor living area. Add spot lighting, a lamppost, walkway lighting, and lighting in trees to play up the landscape and gathering areas or special features such as ponds, pools, or patios.
7. Storage adds ease.
Although not technically a feature, having storage in the backyard allows you to store lawn furniture, equipment, and makes maintaining your outdoor living area easier and more convenient. Don’t forget to give this area interest, too. Even if it’s functional, a shed can still be aesthetically pleasing by adding shutters, matching paint to the house, and landscaping to soften the edges.
8. Features create interest.
Prominent features such as pools, gazebos, barbecues or outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and play areas keep interest and interaction in the outdoor living area strong. Outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, waterfalls or meditation gardens all make good focal points in the outdoor living area and are fast becoming the most sought-after additions to home.
If grand features are out of the budget, don’t let that stall your design. Instead, create an urn or whiskey barrel fountain, small fire pit, or even a simple arbor to make a focal point and some architectural interest in the yard that’s eye-pleasing.
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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Cleaning Calender, that calender that puts you in control of your home by ending the power struggle. For more information log on to http://tinyurl.com/d9rh5.
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