Warm Up With Ideas for Your Dream Outdoor Room
Plan a Memorable Summer Outside While You're Waiting Out Winter Inside
Though the Northern Hemisphere is locked in winter's chilly embrace, it's never to early to start thinking about the warmer weather ahead. Now's the perfect time to plan how you'll make the most of your outdoor spaces once the warmth comes back.
Whether your outdoor space consists of a couple of lawn chairs pulled into the grass or it's a full-on upholstered living room outside, there are few things more enjoyable than a lingering conversation during a midsummer sunset. It's those lingerings that make lifetime memories. The real job of outdoor design is to set a stage where meaningful interactions can happen.
They'll happen more often if you give some thought to setting aside a space for them. Appealing spaces are a magnet for lingering guests and that's true regardless of tight budgets or close quarters.
Whether your outdoor space consists of a couple of lawn chairs pulled into the grass or it's a full-on upholstered living room outside, there are few things more enjoyable than a lingering conversation during a midsummer sunset. It's those lingerings that make lifetime memories. The real job of outdoor design is to set a stage where meaningful interactions can happen.
They'll happen more often if you give some thought to setting aside a space for them. Appealing spaces are a magnet for lingering guests and that's true regardless of tight budgets or close quarters.
This modern courtyard has been optimized for entertaining. Constructing permanent benches and planters and then softening them in the summertime with all-weather upholstery makes every day a garden party.
All-weather upholstery needn't be neutral and boring, the fabrics available today can let you go wild with color outside too.
Rattan looks terrific outside but real rattan and conditions outdoors are a bad mix. Contemporary, synthetic rattan maintains all the casual elegance without any of the rot and mildew of the original.
This island escape looks like an idyllic spot for a dinner under the stars. You can capture some of that tropical style wherever you are by adding a bamboo screen, a potted palm and planters full of flowers.
Here's an outdoor dining room straight out of Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun. This designer captured the formal informality of an Italian piazza by using wrought iron light fixtures, a travertine table, dark-upholstered metal chairs and potted areca palms. These Tuscan pointers can be adapted to just about any space but keep in mind that the real magic of Tuscany comes from its lack of fuss. Keep it simple and you'll enjoy La Dolce Vita with little effort.
This once-unused back yard has been turned into a woodland escape. Don't let the naturalized appearance fool you, this yard took a great deal of planning to pull together. Water features can be small scale and bird feeders will draw in birds you'll be amazed by. The harmonious appearance of this backyard is filled with elements that can be adapted nearly anywhere.
Every urban dweller the world over dreams about a roof deck and this one doesn't disappoint. The pergola frames the space but doesn't obscure the view. The water feature replaces the sounds of traffic with the sound of gently falling water. Adding just two pillows to a wooden bench softens everything up everything in this outdoor room.
This outdoor seating area in the Pacific Northwest gets a shot of the tropics with potted bananas. Bananas, and any broad-leaf large plant, make everything feel instantly tropical.
Sometimes, something as simple as two lime green Adirondack chairs and a small table are all you need to give you and your partner a place to reconnect at the end of the day.
Whether simple or complicated, the time spent planning outdoor spaces pays off in countless ways.
So who in the Houzz community has some pointers or ideas for maximizing outdoor spaces? Does anybody have a winning solution, a great idea or even a dilemma or two?
Whether simple or complicated, the time spent planning outdoor spaces pays off in countless ways.
So who in the Houzz community has some pointers or ideas for maximizing outdoor spaces? Does anybody have a winning solution, a great idea or even a dilemma or two?