Home Improvement

Shelly Mcrae

Create a Plan for Your Outdoor Room
Outdoor rooms add to your living space. Whether it's a patio, a deck, or an unused part of your backyard garden, you can turn it into usable living space that will enhance the quality of your life at home. How do you plan for such a project? Start with a wish list. Consider these features that are popular for use in outdoor rooms:

An Outdoor Kitchen
Readymade outdoor kitchens are available at local home improvement stores. Many come with countertop space, a side burner, a mini fridge, and storage drawers.

A Dining Area
Outdoor tables made from recycled plastics and chairs upholstered in outdoor fabrics create the perfect setting for dining el fresco.

A Fire Pit or Outdoor Fireplace
A fire pit surrounded by padded benches makes for a great conversation area. Or place a chimenea near the dining area for a cozy feel. A freestanding fireplace nestled in the corner can add architectural interest to the space.

Water Features
Fountains and waterscapes can add visual interest as well as a natural element to the space. These can be used on your patio or deck, or in your garden space next to a garden swing.

Lighting and Fans
With innovations in solar lighting and outdoor fixtures, you can give your outdoor space ambiance and charm long into the night. Planning on extending the roof to provide cover? Hang a ceiling fan for a cool breeze on those warm summer nights.

Outdoor rooms aren't confined to patios and decks. Your backyard may provide an opportunity to extend your living space to your property line. A meandering path, created with pavers or flagstone, can lead you to a hidden bench, a perfect place to sit and meditate. Create a space using climbing vines and trellises, and tuck a hammock in there. Fashion your backyard into a warren of quiet spaces and personal retreats.

Do you prefer trees and shrubs, with a lush expanse of green lawn? When considering this, be sure to choose plants and grasses appropriate to the local climate. Having a landscape that requires an inappropriate amount of water and time to maintain can become a burden rather than a joy.

If you want to utilize your garden space or backyard, but don't want to build something permanent, consider a gazebo. Today, four cornered gazebos with netting provide a space for dining, or just relaxing. Their metal frames are designed to provide structure without the aid of a concrete slab.

Creating your outdoor space starts with a vision. Envision your backyard as an opportunity to add livable space, and your plans will come together.

05/12/08  By Shelly Mcrae