Your garden should not just be a simple extension of your home, or something entirely separate. When carefully designed to connect both indoor and outdoor living, it can add significant value not only to your property but to your way of living as well. Whether in the middle of nowhere with enormous outdoor space or inner cities such as London or New York, a bit of imagination and some creative thinking can turn the outside into another room in your home. It can be adding patios and balconies, or a simple window box – as long as you bring in some sort of connection between the two spaces.
Whether you have a small space or are graced with a larger plot, it is worth thinking innovatively about what you can do with it. Take a look at these ideas to get you started and to start embracing this ever-growing trend.
Think about how you are physically connecting the two spaces
How you physically connect the outdoor space and the indoor space is one of the most important considerations that you have to make. Now, obviously, it does depend wholly on your property as if you live in an old Victorian property, knocking out walls for bi-fold doors may not really be suitable. However, if you can, look at how you almost eliminate the barrier between the two. Having big openings, perhaps floor to ceiling glazing or bi-folds to maximize the opening space. If you already have patios in, a patio door replacement service can help you to really get the best out of your entrance to your garden.
Decorate your walls
Introducing lighting and decorating the garden walls will help to create a highly attractive outdoor room. Opt for items that are easy to bring in and out to protect them from the weather or, if you are planning on leaving them outside all year round, make sure they are either weatherproof or can cope with the weathered look.
Likewise, you can find water-resistant canvases and outdoor wall sculptures, and ceramics designed especially to be left outside. Vintage enamel signage works well, too when hung from outdoor brick walls for a more hipster look. If you want to hang your pieces on a hedge rather than a wall or fence, you can fit the struts inside the branches. There are lots of floor and table specifically designed to be used outside.
Look at installing an outside kitchen
Fully functioning outdoor kitchens or simple outside cooking areas are becoming increasingly popular. People want to use the outside to entertain, but don’t want to be hidden away in the kitchen.
Look at adding in a gas-filled barbeque, whether running off a gas bottle or mains gas, and add in plenty of space for preparing food and storage. You can also even add in outside sinks to make the clearing up process easy.
Look at how you use flooring
The flooring in your garden does not have to be patio slabbing or lawn – although you almost definitely want some grass out there for color. You can, however, look at running the same sort of flooring from the house through to the first part of your outdoor space, particularly if you have an overhead covering. This has the added benefit of making both spaces look even larger. Natural materials – woods and stones – are materials that work both inside and outside, but take care to make sure they are non – slip. You can also use tiling if you want something patterned. However, these can be extremely slippery in the wet weather.
Keep it on one level
This one can be difficult because if your outdoor space is not designed that way, it could take some quite significant remodeling. However, if you can avoid steps down into the garden, or steps up, do so. This prevents there being a boundary and a physical difference between the two spaces and makes them flow and connect together more fluidly.
Create a covered area
If you have a spectacular garden, you will want to enjoy it all year round, whether it is raining, snowing, or blazing sunshine. The only way of doing that is to make sure that you have some sort of covered area. This protects you from the rain, snow, and sun and gives you some shelter from the wind.
You can choose either a fixed permanent covering, or you can choose something more flexible and temporary. You can have gazebos over the seating area, perhaps, or pull out awnings from the side of the house. You can also build wooden structures with a proper roof over the top. This may be an option to think about if you have decided to opt for an outdoor kitchen or luxury seating area.
Heat it up
Unless you are lucky to live somewhere with guaranteed all-year-round sunshine, you will almost definitely want some way of heating. Even those who do have good weather – if you are sitting out all night socializing with your loved ones, you may feel the chill. A patio heater or a fire pit are good choices, but ensure you have adequate ventilation and that there are no fire risks.
Extend the wifi
If you are sitting at the furthest end of your garden, does your wifi work as well as it could? If you are too far away, it could be slow or glitchy, or even non-existent at all. It can be annoying for you and your guests. To overcome this, have a wifi extender or booster fitted so that you can use your wifi wherever you are.
Connecting the outdoor space and the indoor space is a trend that is not going to be going anywhere anytime soon. Knowing how to embrace it and how to create a flow from one to the other will give your property added value and allow you to enjoy every possible part of your home, whatever the weather.
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