Creating an outdoor living space not only increases the functionality of your backyard, it also increases the value of your home. When furnishing a patio, balcony or backyard area with the comforts and styles of indoor furniture, it not only creates an appealing place to entertain family and friends, it also allows you to make the most of the good-weather seasons. Don’t know where to start? It’s easy: just use the same principles for decorating a backyard space as you would a living room or bedroom or any other room in your house.
Location! Location! Location!
Start by picking a spot in your backyard or on your patio. Measure the space to ensure that you will have room for everything you want to include and that the grill or the patio furniture won’t impede traffic flow to the other areas of the yard. When choosing the location for your outdoor living room, don’t forget to take into account how much sun or shade the area will be subject to.
Have a Plan
As with any successful decorating or home improvement project, it’s always good to start with a plan and a budget. Make a list of everything you would like to include from an outdoor dining set to a gas grill to a fire pit or patio heater. Sketch out a “floor” plan to help you visualize what it will look like. Write out a “to-do” list (repave patio, buy new lounge chairs, clean grill, etc.)
Divide and Conquer
Divide your to-do list into stages. It’s best to start from the ground up, especially if you need resurface or choose a type of flooring for your patio or outdoor living space.
Creating Privacy
An outdoor living space wouldn’t be complete without “walls” and “ceilings;” must-have components when creating a sense of privacy for your family and your guests. Using hedges, some type of fencing, an arbor, trellis or folding screen make great walls to block out prying eyes and unwanted street noise. “Ceilings” such as patio umbrellas, canopies and gazebos will protect you from the elements, increasing the enjoyment of your backyard.
Making it Happen
Once all of the ground work has been completed, you are now ready to place and arrange items in your outdoor living space. Start with the larger pieces first. Just as when decorating a living room, you will want the area to be functional and practical, but look good too.
Pulling it Together
Accessorize your outdoor living area to make it comfortable and inviting. Water fountains, wind chimes and decorative planters with colorful flowers will increase the look and appeal of your backyard. Placing candles or lanterns on a table not only will provide light, it will also help create a festive mood.
Because we tend to focus our efforts and attentions on the inside of our homes, we sometimes forget that our living spaces have windows! The view you see from the windows of your home should be incorporated into a comprehensive design plan that includes the outdoors as well. Especially if it can be seen from a living room or dining room window or patio doors, creating a beautiful outdoor living space for your family and friends to enjoy improves the esthetic and monetary value of your home, both inside and out.
