If you’re looking for a home improvement project that delivers big on functionality, enjoyment and ROI, it’s hard to beat adding outdoor living space to your home. According to a recent survey from Rocket Homes, an attached outdoor living space, like a deck or porch, can add a lot to the value of a home.
Increasingly popular, outdoor living spaces are also a feel-good investment. Bob Vila explains that the pandemic shifted our priorities about how we live in our homes. He says that today, many homeowners are leaning toward creating more comfortable, connected areas for everyday living and entertaining—and building an open-air living space hits the mark. “Once considered an afterthought or a bonus space, outdoor living areas are now more mainstream and a desirable feature among many of today’s home buyers.”
Beyond increasing value, an outdoor living space is good for your health and well-being.
Studies show that spending time in nature is one of the best ways to boost the immune system and reduce stress levels, muscle tension and heart rate—all added benefits to creating an outdoor space you love.
Depending on the climate where you live, adding an outdoor living area to your home can provide these advantages:
- A connection with the great outdoors. Spending time outside boosts your mood and gives you a healthy dose of fresh air, making outdoor living good for you and your loved ones.
- A space for entertaining family and friends. From BBQs to poolside gatherings, the party doesn’t always have to end up in the kitchen. You can choose a freestanding build or an extended living area connected to your home, such as a deck, patio or porch, based on your space and home style.
- The opportunity to live outside longer. Adding an enclosed area with a portable heater or a fire feature like a firepit or fireplace provides warmth which extends theseason, maximizing your remodeling investment.
- More room for fun. From board games to sports, adding outdoor living space opens many possibilities for outdoor activities for a party of two or a crowd.
Trending Ideas for Outdoor Living Spaces
Like all home remodeling projects, outdoor living spaces continuously evolve with new features, materials, and applications trending yearly. So, what’s hot in 2023?
Here are some popular elements in outdoor living spaces:
- Patios–brick, pavers, stamped concrete, natural stone
- Decks—treated wood or composite decking
- Outdoor kitchens—grills, smokers and pizza ovens
- Spas and pools—in-ground or above, saunas
- Fire pits and fireplaces—portable or fixed
- Water features as part of an overall landscape design
- Retaining walls and privacy screens
Here’s a project for some inspiration – check out how Dover helped a family extend their living space to the outdoors.
Types of Outdoor Living Spaces
To arrive at the right outdoor living space with a unique design that suits your needs and lifestyle, take a step back. First, identify how you want your outdoor space to feel. Do you want it to be cozy or sleek? Intimate or built for a crowd? Next, decide how you want your space to function. Do you need a full-function kitchen or a grill? Do you want a separate outdoor dining space, or will a multi-use bar area do?
Once you’ve decided how you want your space to feel and live, you can identify the type—or types—of outdoor living elements you wish to include in your new area.
No matter what you enjoy doing, there’s a way to shape your outdoor living space to fit your lifestyle. For example, you can create an outdoor living room with a fireplace and comfortable seating. On the other hand, you could opt for a full-scale entertainment space with an outdoor kitchen, bar, hot tub, group seating area and a patio with room for games.
Here are different types of elements of outdoor living spaces that can be added to your home:
Seating areas and informal spaces. Creating space for people to sit, relax and feel comfortable is essential in most outdoor living spaces. Based on the design of your home and the space you’re working with, your seating area could be a porch (screened or open-air), deck, patio or dedicated space in the yard.
Outdoor kitchens. Many outdoor living spaces include the basics for cooking. But to make the area unique to your level of functionality, your ideal outdoor setup might consist of popular features such as a grill, smoker, pizza oven, prep sink, refrigerators, beer coolers, etc.
Fire elements. For warmth and ambiance, it’s hard to beat a fire element in your outdoor living space. Choose from wood-burning, natural gas or propane firepits, fireplaces and fire features in styles ranging from rustic and traditional to contemporary.
Spas/hot tubs. Enclosed, open-air or with a pool, hot tubscreate an added functionality to outdoor living spaces with year-round appeal.
Sports and game areas. To take the fun and games outside, incorporate basketball courts, putting greens, bocce ball courts or a dedicated space for corn hole or ladder golf.
Creative Aesthetics of Outdoor Living Spaces
Forbes advises that your outdoor space should be a seamless extension of your indoor space. “Pulling colors and textures from your interior into your outdoor furnishings and leaving the view between spaces open helps make your indoor and outdoor spaces feel larger while offering a more expansive space when socializing.”
PRO TIP: Mimicking indoor textures like rattan, sisal, and jute can be done outside—opt for all-weather materials when shopping for outdoor furnishings, draperies, rugs, pillows, etc.
Beyond achieving visual harmony, the goal of your new outdoor living space is to create joy in your life— whether that’s building a Zen space for total relaxation, a family-friendly play zone, or a decked-out entertainment area.
Here are a few outdoor design ideas for inspiration.
- Use built-in storage bench seating to frame a fire element—for the perfect s’mores—while string lights overhead create a whimsical vibe.
- Skip reservations and create your dinner escape. A chef-inspired outdoor kitchen with a bar for seating and service—plus an alfresco dining area and portable heaters to keep guests comfy.
- Create your private outdoor living room on your back patio with overstuffed seating, pillows, and an oversized coffee table with a sea of flickering candles.
Unique Construction Needs for Outdoor Living Spaces
Building outdoor living spaces that stand the test of time requires special construction considerations. Local knowledge goes a long way when making decisions such as choosing durable materials, designing for high winds and wet conditions and adhering to local building codes and regulations.
For example, in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, our team at Dover Home Remodelers manages outdoor construction projects to accommodate the seasonal freeze-thaw cycle. Building the proper foundations, selecting the suitable materials to weather our extreme climate conditions and overseeing installation per manufacturer specifications—a lot goes into a quality project.
If you’re unfamiliar with your home’s special building considerations, it’s best to consult a professional. Talk to Dover about your outdoor living remodel.
The best is yet to come.
Beth Orr
