Who says you need an addition to get more space from your home? You can get the same impact when you revolutionize your outdoor living space with these ideas.
Do you know what it takes to make a yard into an outdoor living space? First of all, those are two different things.
A yard is, in essence, a field with a house in the middle of it. An outdoor living space is what happens when you take elements of your indoor living area and add them to your outside space.
These elements can be as simple as a table and chair set, or they can be as complex as a pool or an outdoor kitchen.
Your outdoor living space is like another room of your house, but on the outside of the building instead of the inside.
Ready to get started? Or are you not quite sure where to start? We’ll help you out.
Below, we have the eight best ways to revolutionize your outdoor living space. Use these tips to make your yard feel like home.
1. Furnish Your Outside Space
One of the easiest, cheapest, and best ways to upgrade your outdoor living space is to add some patio furniture. Of course, when we say cheap, we mean cheaper than landscaping or adding a pool.
We don’t mean you should get tacky, vinyl folding chairs or cheap plastic lawn chairs from the bargain bin. They’re not only a gaudy eyesore; they also break quite easily after hours in the hot sun.
Ugly furniture that won’t last long is not worth the bargain price. As a general rule, if you wouldn’t put it in your dining room, you shouldn’t put it in your outdoor room either.
But you can still find nice, durable patio furniture at a good price. As we said, furnish as if you’re furnishing a new dining room. Pick decent, durable, comfy furniture at a price that fits your budget.
Then, enjoy dinner outside once in a while.
2. Get a Roof
Another cheaper-than-landscaping option is getting a roof overhead. A gazebo provides shelter from rain and shade from the sun.
A pergola also provides decent shade, but it doesn’t usually protect from rain. A pergola does give you many options for accessorizing, though. You can add an adjustable shade tarp or cover it with crawling vines.
Also, you can enclose this space with hanging curtains for added shade and privacy. Even simple bead curtains make the gazebo feel more like a room.
3. Lighting
Tired of cutting the party short when the sun goes down? Then get some better outdoor lighting.
Solar-powered patio lights are a great choice. Since they’re self-powered, you can place them wherever you like without worrying about extension cords, batteries, or wiring. Tiki torches are also great, depending on the type of ambiance you’re going for.
You can also install hardwired lights onto your house or gazebo. Put in a powerful floodlight that turns night into day, or add lights with a dimmer switch to set the mood or adjust to the time of day.
4. Flooring
This is where you can get started with landscaping. Adding a floor makes a yard feel like home.
One popular strategy is to add the same flooring both in the entrance of your home and your yard, blurring the line between inside and outside. Regardless of the type of flooring you have, it’s good to have a landing outside the door.
It’s also good to have a floor under your gazebo or pergola. It helps the table and chairs sit evenly and adds to the homey feel.
You may also consider pathways to connect different sections of outdoor flooring.
5. Heating and Cooling
What’s better than a shady gazebo in the hot summer months? How about a windy, shady gazebo? Install a ceiling fan to your shaded area for added coolness.
For Winter, add a firepit so you can enjoy your outdoor living space all year long.
Alternatively, you can get a fire table. This functional conversation piece keeps guests warm as they sit around the table. It’s nice for roasting marshmallows, too.
6. Entertainment Center
There’s a lot more you can do in your outdoor living space besides sitting and eating. How about putting on a movie or some music?
Setting up permanent outdoor speakers is easier than you may think, but it might be easier to prepare a space for some wireless Bluetooth speakers. Then, you can set them up whenever you need them.
As for the screen, most people don’t like the idea of putting an expensive flatscreen TV outside. That’s why we suggest an HD projector and a screen.
You can bring the projector out and set it up as needed. It’s also not as big or as heavy as a TV.
Now, you can host a movie night, Superbowl party, or play video games in your backyard.
7. Hot Tub
Make your yard more relaxing with a hot tub. A couple of great things about hot tubs are their versatility and affordability.
Not everyone has the space or thousands of dollars required for installing a pool, but hot tubs can fit in small yards and may only cost a few hundred dollars.
Plus, you can often find these products pre-owned for an even better deal.
8. Kitchen
We mentioned a firepit earlier, but a firepit or grill is only the start of your outdoor kitchen.
You’ll want to make sure you have multiple cooking stations or at least one cooking station that’s big enough to cook for more than 3 people at a time.
How about an outdoor refrigerator for beverages and steaks? Speaking of beverages, you can set up a bar, too.
9. Storage
If you have an outdoor kitchen, you should also have outdoor storage for drinkware, cooking utensils, paper plates, and napkins. Then your guests can grab what they need without having to go back inside. This is especially helpful when they’re soaking wet from the hot tub.
Even if you don’t have an outdoor kitchen, storage is still a great idea. The yard will stay a lot tidier if your kids have somewhere to store their toys.
Revolutionize Your Outdoor Living Space
With features like this in your outdoor living space, you and your guests won’t ever want to go back inside. Just remember to keep enough sunscreen and citronella candles on hand.
Find more inspiration and style tips for your outdoor living space on our Exterior Designs blog.
