How
to create an outdoor room
Tempted to add an outdoor room to
your home so you can spend as much time as possible outside? An
outdoor room can serve as a wonderful extension of your living
and/or dining room. By installing an overhead canopy or roof,
you’ll be able to sit outdoors even in the rain.
Cabinetry & Storage
Do some research before you get started: read design and
gardening magazines, talk to friends and acquaintances, and sign
up for a garden tour of local residences. Ideally, your outdoor
room should reflect your home's architectural style, so look for
ideas that connect with and complement your indoor spaces.
Decide what area you can use for an outdoor room, and start a
scrapbook that you can use to create a “wish list.?Then ask
yourself a few questions to determine what kind of space will
meet the needs of your lifestyle. Do you want:
- a small bistro table and two chairs on your balcony?
- a private rooftop deck with chairs and loungers for
parties and late-night stargazing?
- an enclosed space between your home and your garden
furnished with a lavish dining table and chairs, a
waterfall, plants, a sun deck and conversation nook?
- a patio or deck just off your kitchen to enjoy afternoon
lunches?
- an enclosed sunroom off your living room to expand your
home's entertainment space?
For outdoor dining, you’ll want a
table large enough for you and your guests, plus comfortable
chairs. Candles can be placed on the table or fitted into a
recycled chandelier. A sideboard large enough to hold platters
of food is convenient for hosts and guests alike. With an oven,
grill or fire pit, you can create an entire meal outdoors.
An outdoor living room requires a
comfortable sitting area and side tables for drinks and snacks.
Decorate with pots of flowers or dried flower arrangements. Add
an outdoor fireplace, soft landscape lighting or candles to
create an inviting nighttime atmosphere.
Set a budget and draw up a plan
Visit gardening and outdoor stores and outlets with your
scrapbook to see how much you can afford to spend. Go online to
research products and manufacturers?information. Costs vary
widely, but you can probably build an outdoor room for much less
than it would cost for interior renovation.
Draw up a plan. If your budget permits, hire a landscape
architect or designer to help you. If your budget is limited,
you can build your outdoor room in stages. For instance, you
could install a deck or terrace one year, add a barbecue and
furnishings the next year, and build an arbor or gate that
connects your outdoor room to the rest of your backyard the year
after that.
The basic elements
No matter what your budget, your goal should be to create a
space that seamlessly connects with your house and lifestyle,
where you and your guests can relax. It can include some or all
of the following:
Solid foundation: At
ground level, consider using flagstone, brick, concrete or slate
pavers. Or you can build a raised deck made of wood, vinyl,
fiberglass or plastic.
Food preparation: Most
people opt for a barbecue, grill or fire pit, plus a side table
large enough to hold food fixings and platters. But your outdoor
room can contain as many features as your kitchen -- generous
counter space, a cocktail bar, sinks outfitted with plumbing, a
cooking station, an all-weather stove complete with grill and
pizza oven, a refrigerator and a dishwasher.
Furniture: Comfortable,
weather-resistant patio chairs that invite people to settle in
for a while are important. You might also consider a dining room
table and end tables, plus chaise lounges or hammocks. Make sure
they're made of materials designed for outdoor use in your part
of the country. Resin, for instance, may be inexpensive and easy
to clean, but it may be too light if you live in a windy
location. Wicker can be terrific for shady areas, but degrades
when constantly exposed to sun and wind.
Lighting: Landscape
lighting is ideal for conversation and dining areas, or for
pathways, pools and landscaping. You can even have fixtures
installed directly into decks or step risers. Candles can add
romance to an outdoor meal.
Water: Fountains, ponds
and waterfalls are becoming increasingly popular and can create
a calming atmosphere. While they needn't be expensive, they are
high-maintenance, so take that into consideration.
Decoration: The great
outdoors is your most important decoration -- a beautiful vista
in the distance, or your very own ground cover, trees, plants
and shrubs. Choose flora that will give you an interesting mix
of color and texture for all seasons. Your outdoor room will
then provide a pleasant view no matter what the time of year.
Add wall decorations, murals or sculptures to complement the décor.
For parties, you can add an inexpensive acrylic area rug and
tablecloth. Weigh the edges of the cloth down with drapery
weights or strings of lights.
Shelter and privacy: Though
you can't build four walls around an outdoor room, your house
might have the right shape to accommodate an outdoor room
sheltered by two walls. Other options abound. You can plant
hedges or tall trees or build a screen, fence or retaining wall
to enclose the space. An overhang, canopy or awning or
strategically placed umbrellas can provide protection from the
elements.
Extras: Patio heaters, a
wood burning fireplace or a gas fireplace may allow you to use
the space year-round. A sound system or outdoor speakers can add
music for a pleasant conversational backdrop. Request a home
equity loan or mortgage refinancing to help cover the cost of
your home renovation project.
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