How To Make The Most Of Your Outdoor Space

Do you ever wish you had a little extra space in your house? We are accustomed to getting as much as we possibly can out of our living space, and we are always on the lookout for clever ways to store more while simultaneously making our spaces feel larger.

We understand that it is tough to strike a balance between the two, but what if we have been disregarding one of our home's most underutilized assets?

Outdoor space is a wonderful addition to any home, and it is also one of the most adaptable spaces available. The use of a backyard play area is excellent for allowing youngsters to burn off excess energy while also cultivating vegetables, while balconies are wonderful for alfresco meals and herb cultivation.

So what is the point of keeping the two distinct? Here, we look at how to make the most of our outdoor area – and reap the benefits of doing so indoors as well.

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Think about furniture for the outside in the same way you would for the inside

After a long day at work, there is nothing quite like settling into a plush sofa and losing yourself in a great book. But can you imagine relaxing on a plush sofa beneath the warm sun?

Compared to the days of plastic sun loungers and uncomfortable folding chairs, outdoor furniture has come a long way in recent years. And the moment has come; after all, you would never settle for this in your home, so why would you do it in your backyard?

There are plenty of great options available now, from robust rattan furniture to swinging egg chairs. 

Maintaining outdoor furniture is something that everyone has to do. It has to be cleaned, and some of the materials need to be treated in order to keep them protected from the weather. Before you go shopping, consider how much upkeep you are comfortable with. Wood furniture, for example, can last for years if properly cared for, but it must be oiled once a year to prevent it from greying. Weather-treated fabric cushions and pillows on outdoor furniture must be cleaned and stored after each season's use to prevent rot. Before you purchase the large, heavy pillows, consider how you will keep them. Want a lower-maintenance option to a hardwood floor? Durable and dependable, powder-coated steel seating is available.

Take into consideration your surroundings as well. In severe winds, aluminum seating can be blown off a balcony or roof deck since it is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to relocate. Aluminum seating is not recommended for outdoor use. As a result, for higher altitudes, you will need something heavier.

Find furniture that can serve many functions to save on space, such as a built-in storage bench that can also serve as extra sitting when needed. A cushioned outdoor ottoman can be used as a footrest, an extra seat, or a tabletop for books or periodicals.

An outdoor rug can help to tie the seating area together and give the place a more coherent appearance. Whatever your design preferences, be certain that your outdoor space complements your interior design in order to give a sense of continuity and flow.

Create a flow between the outside and the inside spaces

With the increase in apartment living, the creation of additional living spaces from balconies is becoming increasingly popular. When it comes to small areas, deck chairs and folding furniture are great options, but they make it difficult to truly rest and unwind in them.

It is possible to create a flow between your internal and exterior spaces by extending your interior color scheme into your balcony or yard. The most straightforward method of accomplishing this is to select robust, long-lasting pieces that are similar in color to your interior furniture. The continuance of color provides a flow between the two sections, resulting in a single, seamless living environment in the end. 

Use indoor items outside

Without a selection of decorative accessories that tie your living space together, it would be impossible to achieve your desired look. So do not forget to add some personal touches to your outdoor living space as well.

Cushions, candles, and attractive bowls will all contribute to the creation of a gorgeous garden room, and the best part is that these items can be gathered up and put away quickly if the weather turns bad outside. An outdoor mirror that reflects your favorite aspect of the backyard, as well as some all-weather artwork, such as delicately embossed wall tiles, are examples of permanent outdoor fixtures.

Use mood lighting to create ambience

LED lights, which provide a warm glow and are quite adaptable, can be used to provide a little amount of illumination. Battery-operated or solar-powered lights eliminate the need to be concerned about unsightly extension cords that could pose a possible trip hazard.

Practicality is the key

Is there enough seating for everyone in the family, as well as any unexpected guests? The ability to reproduce the atmosphere of a living room outside is critical if you want to create a space that can accommodate the entire family. However, you should hold off on purchasing a new outdoor furniture set for the time being. Relax the rules and experiment with a variety of seating options; bright deck chairs, hanging seats, giant bean bags, and even blankets will not only give your outdoor space a rustic character, but they will also create a kaleidoscope of colors and textures that will stretch across the entire yard.

Create an outdoor cooking space

Given that the kitchen is in the center of any home, it should come as no surprise that an outdoor kitchen would be the focal point of any outdoor living space. Not only will having a second kitchen save you from having to make continuous excursions back and forth between the grill and the interior stove or refrigerator, but it will also provide you with a wonderful space for entertaining guests. It does not matter if it is in the backyard of a suburban home or on a rooftop in the heart of the city; outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular since cooking outside feels less like a duty and more like a pleasure.

Traditionally, the grill has been the focal point of any outdoor kitchen, but with the appropriate setup, you can do much more than simply grill steaks in your outdoor kitchen. Additionally, you may design an open-air kitchen around a refrigerator, sink, food preparation spaces, or even a wood-fired pizza oven, in addition to the grilling area. An additional essential component of any outdoor kitchen is seating. This can range from simple picnic tables to an elaborate wrought iron longer table to seat many.

Add a relaxing water feature

The sound of running water may add a depth of calm tranquility to an outdoor location, while fire adds warmth to a place. Naturally, water features can take on a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from store-bought fountains or pond fountains to large cascading waterfalls; it all depends on how wet and wild you want it to be.

It has been increasingly fashionable in landscape design to incorporate Koi Ponds, which are small garden ponds filled with colorful carp. This is because the fish have the capacity to transform practically any environment into an exotic, Eastern garden. For this reason, Koi ponds should be managed in temperate regions because the fish will perish if their pond freezes over for more than a few days in cold weather. Small and medium-size fountains that may be installed on a wall or perched on a pedestal are available at many hardware stores and nurseries for a lower cost and less labor-intensive alternative to a large water feature.

Will it be warm enough?

Central heating is one element that is difficult to imitate outside due to the nature of the environment. When the weather becomes cold, though, there are a variety of solutions for staying warm.

What could be better than a roaring fire in the middle of the night? A fire pit not only provides warmth, but it also serves as a decorative focus point. Furthermore, they are ideal for alfresco meals in the form of toasted marshmallow s'mores, which they make themselves. Another easy method to bring warmth to a room is to drape brightly colored shawls over furniture. Not only does it look fantastic, but it also serves as an excellent insulator when the weather turns chilly.

Build a central focus point

The majority of interior rooms have some sort of focal point around which the majority of the other furniture is arranged. Typical features in living rooms include a large fireplace or eye-catching feature wall, while many kitchens include a center island that people gravitate towards whether they are cooking or eating. This is also a simple technique to duplicate in the backyard.

Installing a green wall is a great way to keep the garden motif going. Green walls are one of the most popular new ideas, with entire outdoor walls, or even portions of fences being meticulously covered in swaths of different plants in various colors. An alternative that is more cost-effective is a living picture, which is made up of a smaller number of plants that are attached to the wall inside of a frame. This will have a similar effect as a large statement plant in a magnificent pot.

This is a contributed post.

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