Your yard has the potential to go beyond pretty gardens and green grass, it can become an extension of your home. We love the design and lifestyle idea of creating flow between your inside and outside spaces. We made it a priority as we designed our Beach Front Project. We really wanted to really blur the lines between indoor and out and so created outdoor spaces that felt as inviting as the ones inside. We added multiple inviting lounge spaces, warm fire pits, dining and grill areas, and lots of soft textiles that make the outdoor spaces feel comfortable and usable for much of the year.
Extend Materials from the Inside to the Outside
To blur the lines and really make the exterior feel like an extension of your interior, extend indoor materials out. This might mean using the same flooring, stone accent, or picking furniture similar in texture, shape, or color. Here, light beachy woods and woven textures are used indoor and out to feel like one cohesive space.
Pick Outdoor Furniture that Looks like Indoor Furniture
These days, outdoor furniture looks like indoor furniture with soft cushions and elevated design. The only difference is outdoor furniture uses water resistant woods and performance fabrics. Use them to create outdoor living spaces that are set up like your indoor living room with sofas facing each other and centered around a stone coffee table. The arrangement is usable and invites lounging and good conversation.
Create Multiple Outdoor Seating Areas
Add seating throughout your property. This could be lounge chairs poolside, a dining table and chairs, two small seats on a bedroom balcony, or a bench tucked in to a corner of your garden. Any where there is comfortable seating becomes a space much more likely to be sought out and used.
Use Statement Lighting
Define your outdoor spaces with lighting that makes a statement like a chandelier over your dining table or a fun pendant that draws guests to a lounge area. Lighting elevates the space.
Add Fire Pits and Cold Weather Accessories
If you are building your dream home, don’t leave the outdoor spaces as an after thought, plan them out from the beginning. This allows you to add in gas lines for grills and fireplaces when it is much easier to do so. Outdoor fire pits add enchanting glow and incredible warmth that makes your outdoor living space much more comfortable to use even when the weather is a little cold. It a fire pit is not in your budget, make your lounge spaces cold weather ready with soft pillows, warm blankets and space heaters. So fun on fall nights.
For more ideas on ways to create beautiful outdoor spaces, be sure to watch Becki and Brett: A LOT to Talk About to hear how my brother and I collaborate during the design and build process.
Thanks for stopping by!
Xxo
Becki
