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Designing Your Great
Outdoor Room
Outdoor rooms have become an exciting way for homeowners to
incorporate the pleasures of nature with family designed living
areas. The concept for the outdoor room has remained the same for
centuries but new advances in architecture, lighting, and
furniture have dramatically increased its functionality in the
modern home.
Outdoor retreats infuse nature with all of the comforts that we
enjoy indoors. Basic outdoor rooms contain a space for cooking and
dining and more elaborate concepts include everything from sofas
and beds to spas and meditation areas.
The possibilities
for outdoor rooms are almost limitless. However, there are a few
things you will want to keep in mind when planning and creating an
exciting and useful space that you and your guests will be able to
take pleasure in for years to come:
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Waterfront Dining with an
Aspen Vinyl Pergola
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Start with How Much Space You
Need
When it comes to determining how much
backyard space will be devoted to an outdoor room, you must
consider two things: the size of your property and your budget.
Outdoor rooms can be large and spacious or small and intimate. You
can choose to use
fences,
hedges, arbors, and flower gardens to define borders, or if you
would prefer, you can keep the design open and free flowing.
When considering the location of the space keep in mind natural
factors such as amount of sunlight and prevailing winds. If
needed, access to power and water may needs to be considered. Also
check out the location at the same time of day or night that you
expect to most often use the space for environmental issues such
as noise and unwanted light.
There are Many Choices for
Flooring
Some of the most common
flooring options for outdoor rooms involve decking, patios, and
pavers. These options will help to define your outdoor living
space and will make post-party clean-up a breeze. If you prefer to
keep things natural, you can bypass flooring altogether and set up
your room right on the grass.
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The Overhead Structure Defines
Your Room
Having an overhead structure
above your outdoor room will provide measurable cover from the
elements while allowing you to make a design statement. In most
cases, overhead structures are a cost-efficient way to improve the
function and usability of your outdoor space. Popular options to
consider include:
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Awnings
- an effective way to block direct sunlight and shade your
guests
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Gazebos
– an independent structure allowing for intimacy and freedom
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Pergolas
- a structure that adds natural shading with a touch of elegance
Decorate to Reflect Your Tastes
and Comfort
Modern outdoor rooms now
have the capacity to be decorated with the same degree of thought
and design as their indoor counterparts. Many of the same
decorating rules still apply. |
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For Additional
Information, Check Out Our Other Outdoor Room Articles:
Design
Technical
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