Are you dreaming of transforming your backyard into a luxurious retreat? You’re not alone. Outdoor living spaces are more popular than ever, and for good reason. They provide a beautiful and functional extension of your home, perfect for relaxation, entertaining, and enjoying the fresh air.
This year, the outdoor living space design trends include lifestyle-inspired options, from stunning patios and screened porches to built-in kitchens and fire pits. In this blog, we’ll look at outdoor living essentials and show you how to seamlessly transition from your indoor living space to your outdoor oasis so you can make the most of your home year-round.
Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space
Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot to relax with a good book or a stylish space to entertain guests, planning makes perfect when creating your dream outdoor living space. Here are some elements to consider:
Indoor/Outdoor Transitions
Creating a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor living spaces is essential for maximizing your enjoyment of both. This means blurring the lines between the two as much as possible, both visually and functionally. Creating that flow will make your outdoor living space a natural extension of your home. Here are a few tips to achieve this:
- Use large sliding doors or retractable walls. This will open your indoor space to the outdoors and vice versa, creating an open and airy feel.
- Extend your flooring materials outdoors. Using the same flooring material (or materials in the same hue) for your indoor and outdoor spaces will help create a cohesive look and feel.
- Coordinate your furniture and décor. Use similar colors, styles, and materials to create a unified look for indoor and outdoor furniture and décor.
- Add plants and other natural elements. Bringing the outdoors in with plants and other natural elements will help to create a more relaxing and inviting space.
Outdoor Lighting
Once you’ve designed the perfect indoor/outdoor flow, remember lighting. It’s the special ingredient for setting the mood and making your space usable after the sun goes down. There are endless lighting options for creating the perfect outdoor ambiance suitable for any design style.
- Soft accent lighting like coach lights and overhead bistro lights are ideal for creating ambiance and adding dramatic effects throughout your yard or courtyard living space.
- Pathway illumination with subtle, low-level lights is essential for safety and adds a touch of elegance. Consider lighting steps on decks and patios for added dimension and safety.
- Focal point spotlights can draw attention to specific elements like trees or sculptures. Many of these fixtures use energy-efficient LED lighting, which offers flexibility and cost savings.
Consider solar-powered outdoor lights if your outdoor area gets ample sunlight year-round. These green fixtures can save money and reduce energy use for more eco-conscious functionality.
Unique Outdoor Structures
Incorporating an outdoor structure into your living space can add visual interest, functionality, and personality to your outdoor area, making it an extension of your home that you’ll love spending time in.
Consider your needs and preferences to arrive at the best option for your outdoor design. What do you envision yourself using the space for? What kind of style do you want to create? Once you have a good idea of what you’re looking for, you can start exploring the many options available.
- Pergolas and gazebos: These classic structures provide shade and shelter from the sun and rain, making them perfect for a comfortable outdoor dining or lounging area. You can also enhance them with climbing vines and draperies for an even more inviting atmosphere.
- Use of natural materials: Incorporating raw materials like wood, stone, and bamboo into your outdoor structures can create a warm and rustic feel. They can also help your structures blend in more harmoniously with their surroundings.
- Entertainment spaces: If you love to entertain, consider adding features like fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and even built-in bars to your outdoor space. These features will make your space the perfect place to host gatherings and create lasting memories with friends and family.
- Technology: Don’t forget about wiring and planning your space to include the latest technology: Outdoor audio systems, all-weather TVs, and retractable screens can take outdoor entertainment to the next level. With a bit of planning, you can create an outdoor space as comfortable and functional as your indoor living room.
- Screened porches and sunrooms: For true year-round outdoor living, consider adding a screened porch or sunroom. Screened porches offer fresh air and bug protection, while sunrooms provide a more climate-controlled environment perfect for enjoying the outdoors even in extreme weather. To create the ideal blend of indoor and outdoor comfort, you can customize these structures with retractable screens, skylights, and heating/cooling systems.
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, from simple setups with a grill and prep station to elaborate setups with built-in pizza ovens, refrigerators, and wet bars. But no matter your budget or vision, there are endless possibilities for creating an outdoor kitchen perfect for you. Here are some of the critical benefits of having an outdoor kitchen:
- Expand your entertaining space: An outdoor kitchen instantly becomes the heart of your outdoor living space, providing a dedicated area for cooking, dining, and socializing.
- Boost your home’s value: Outdoor kitchens are a popular trend, and they can add significant value to your home, making the upgrade a wise investment.
- Enjoy the great outdoors: Cooking and dining outdoors allows you to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.
- Cook like a pro: With various appliances and features available, outdoor kitchens can allow you to cook your favorite meals to perfection.
If you’re ready to start planning your dream outdoor kitchen, here are a few things to consider:
- Budget: Determine how much you’re willing to spend on your outdoor kitchen. This will help you narrow your options and choose features that fit your budget.
- Space: How much space do you have available for your outdoor kitchen? Once you know the dimensions, you can start planning the layout and features.
- Style: What style do you want for your outdoor kitchen? Do you want something sleek and modern or rustic and charming? There are endless possibilities to match your taste and the overall style of your home.
- Features: What features are important to you? Must-haves might include a grill, refrigerator, sink, prep space, storage and seating. You could also consider adding a pizza oven, smoker or wet bar for an extra touch of luxury.
Flooring Options
The foundation of any great outdoor living space is the flooring. It should be durable, easy to maintain, and visually appealing, all while complementing the overall design of your outdoor area. There are many outdoor flooring materials, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular options.
- Natural Stone
Pros: Classic and elegant stone pavers come in various colors and textures, offering a timeless look that complements natural surroundings. Natural stone is also highly durable and weather-resistant.
Cons: Stone can be expensive, and installation can be labor-intensive. It can also get quite hot underfoot in direct sunlight. - Brick
Pros: Similar to stone in terms of durability and classic appeal, brick pavers offer a wide range of colors and laying patterns to create unique designs. They’re also relatively easy to clean and maintain.
Cons: Brick can be susceptible to cracking and chipping and may require periodic re-sanding to maintain its stability. - Concrete
Pros: A budget-friendly option, concrete is versatile and can be poured, stamped or stained to achieve various looks. It’s also very durable and low-maintenance.
Cons: Plain concrete can look cold and sterile. Stamped concrete can crack over time and may not be the most comfortable option for walking barefoot. - Wood
Pros: Warm and inviting, wood decking adds a natural feel to any outdoor space. Pressure-treated lumber and composite wood options offer good durability and weather resistance.
Cons: Wood requires regular maintenance, including staining or sealing, to prevent rot and mildew. It can also be slippery when wet. - Artificial Grass
Pros: Low-maintenance and easy to care for, artificial grass provides a lush, green appearance year-round, even in poor soil conditions.
Cons: Artificial grass can get hot in direct sunlight and may not be as comfortable underfoot as other options. It can also be expensive to install. - Other options:
- Gravel: A budget-friendly and easy-to-install option, gravel is suitable for walkways and paths.
- Pavers: Made from various materials like recycled plastic or rubber, pavers offer a variety of colors, styles, and textures and can be easy to install on your own.
- Tiles: Porcelain or ceramic tiles can add a touch of elegance to your outdoor space, but they can be fragile and susceptible to cracking.
Inviting Fire Features
Fire features add warmth, ambiance and a touch of magic to your backyard, making it the perfect place to relax, entertain and enjoy time with guests. Here’s a look at some of the most popular options.
- Patio Fire Pits. A classic and versatile option, patio fire pits come in a variety of sizes, styles and fuel types (wood, gas, propane) to suit your needs and preferences. They’re relatively easy to install and maintain and provide ample heat and light for cool evenings.
- Fireplaces. Built-in or freestanding fireplaces offer a sophisticated touch to your outdoor space, and they can provide even more heat than fire pits. They’re also a great focal point for conversation and gathering.
- Solo Stoves. These smokeless, portable fire pits are becoming increasingly popular for their convenience and ease of use. They’re relatively small and lightweight, making them perfect for patios, decks or even balconies.
- Fire Tables. Combining a fire pit with a table surface, fire tables offer the perfect spot for enjoying drinks, snacks and conversation around the fire. They come in various styles and sizes to suit your taste and needs.
Water Features for Tranquility
A water feature can add serenity and ambiance to your outdoor living space. The sound of flowing water is undeniably calming, and the visual appeal of a trickling fountain or koi pond can create a truly magical atmosphere. Here are some popular water feature options to consider.
- Fountains: From small tabletop fountains to grand cascading structures, fountains add a touch of elegance and serenity to an outdoor space. They can also be a great way to mask unwanted noise.
- Waterfalls: Create a dramatic focal point with a waterfall feature. Whether it’s a natural-looking rock waterfall or a sleek modern design, the sound and movement of cascading water are soothing.
- Ponds: A well-maintained pond can be a stunning addition to your outdoor space, providing a habitat for fish, plants and other wildlife. Choose the size and style of your pond to suit your space and budget.
- Bird baths: Attract birds to your yard with a beautiful bird bath. These can bring an artsy element to your yard while providing a refreshing spot for birds to rest.
If a water element is part of your outdoor living design, educate yourself about the special care required in Northeast Ohio due to cold weather and freezing temperatures to enjoy your investment year after year.
Live in Greater Cleveland? Talk with Dover Home Remodeling about creating your dream outdoor living space this season.
Meet with our Dover designers to see what options best meet your needs and vision for your outdoor living space. We’d love to be part of your home remodeling journey.
The best is yet to come,
Beth Orr
