8 Tips for Designing Outdoor Living Spaces
1. Whether you are remodeling or building a new outdoor living area, start with an analysis of any existing trees as well as desirable and undesirable sightlines.
2. Keep in mind that sweeping lawns with sprawling amounts of water-hungry grass that requires mowing are passé. Hardscapes and decks surrounded by water-saving native plants and native greenscapes are in.
3. Just like a good designer draws an indoor kitchen with consideration for food prep, cooking, serving, storage and cleanup and considers furniture placement for the living/dining rooms, the same process should be used in planning the outdoor kitchen and living spaces.
4. Specify folding or sliding doors and windows to blur the lines between inside and out.
5. To make your outdoor space cohesive with the rest of your home, use similar colors inside and out for a seamless transition. Use landscaping gravel or sand, available in a variety of colors and textures, to add a pop of color. Pick up interior accent colors in your selections for colored concrete, clay bricks, flagstone, patio pavers or ceramic tile made for the outdoors.
6. Be sure the building budget includes allocation for smart irrigation and installation costs and a solid outdoor lighting plan.
7. Extend enjoyment of the space by adding outdoor heaters and fireplaces or fire pits for the cold season and shaded areas and cool misting systems to relieve summer heat.
8. Add retractable outdoor screens to let the fresh air in and keep the bugs out.
For more info on What’s Trending read Building Savvy’s Focus Section:
Outdoor Living Spaces Are Just as Important as Indoors
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