You Can Create An Outdoor Living Space In Your Backyard That You Can Enjoy For Years To Come
You don’t want to be left in the dark when it comes to what’s happening during your home renovation project, no homeowner does. Having a general idea of what’s going to happen can make going into the process much less stressful.
In this post, you can find out what an outdoor living area is. You can also discover the basics of building one and some of the best materials, additions, and upgrades to use in it.
What Is An Outdoor Living Space?
An outdoor living space is an outdoor entertainment area that fits in with the nature around it. You create one using four parts: a stone structure, a wood structure, a focal point, and plantings. You can also add upgrades like lighting, outdoor kitchens, televisions, and more.
All outdoor living areas have either a patio or a deck as their central gathering area.
How To Create An Outdoor Living Space
1. Choose a solid base
You’re going to start by choosing what you want as the base. This is going to be where people gather the most.
People choose either a patio or a deck. Which one you want usually depends on:
- The look you like best.
- What your budget is like. Patios tend to be more expensive unless you get a second-story deck. You could get a bigger deck for about as much as a smaller patio.
- The amount of maintenance you want to do. Decks usually take more maintenance because they need restaining or repainting along with resealing. Decks also have more things that can damage them.
2. Decide on your other structure
The second step in how to create an outdoor living space is to decide on the other structure.
Your other structure will be made from the material your base isn’t. So if you choose stone for the base then this would be wood. If you choose wood for the base then this would be stone.
For patios, common wood structures are pergolas and roofs.
For decks, common stone structures are sitting walls, retaining walls, and fireplaces.
3. Select your focal point
This is going to be the main attraction in your backyard. Common focal points you can choose from include:
- Water features like koi ponds, streams, and fountains
- Fireplaces and fire pits
- Natural area
You can create a higher-end outdoor living space by installing an outdoor kitchen as the focal point. They’re unique, fun, and will add an air of elegance to your space.
4. Add in some plantings
You don’t want your fabulous space to just have grass around it, right? Plantings and landscaping give your outdoor space more flair.
Planting beds are great for this. You can have colorful flowers and other plants that can also draw the eye. You can also add in an herb garden, shrubs, blossoming trees, and more.
Common Accessories For Creating An Outdoor Living Space
- Outdoor furniture
- Potted plants
- Grill
- Picnic table
- Garden arbor
- Hammock
- Hot tub
Popular Upgrades You Can Choose
Outdoor lighting. You can bring your space to life at night! This also helps you be able to enjoy your space for a longer time. You can string lights around and through a pergola or over your patio. Deck post lights and natural area lights are popular choices too.
Outdoor kitchens. You can kick your outdoor living area to the next level with one of these! No more having to feel separated from the party because you’re the chef. Now, you’re right in the middle.
Speakers. You can add surround sound for more entertainment. These pair excellently with a television.
Television. You’ll need a roof structure to protect your television unless you opt for the waterproof one. It’s a great way to bring a bit more of your indoors outside.
Small playground for kids. This is great for families with kids or grandchildren. You’ll be the favorite for sure! It also helps entertain them while you hang out with the other adults.
The Best Flooring For Outdoor Rooms
When creating an outdoor living space, the best options for flooring are stone or wood. If you want something more unique, porcelain tiles are the best choice. They’re waterproof, durable, and have a variety of colors and designs.
Pavers and flagstone are some of the best choices for patio floors. Other choices include concrete and brick.
For deck floors, you can’t beat composite decking. It looks like wood but is way more durable and damage-resistant. Besides that, there’s a variety of hardwoods to choose from.