There
is nothing more inviting than an outdoor room. Sitting outdoors
in a beautiful setting, in a comfortable chair, with a drink and
book....or with friends over wonderful tidbits of food and a grilled
dinner... is one of the most pleasurable experiences in life.
An outdoor room is not just a garden or a yard. It's a cozy,
inviting space that makes you want to sit and enjoy your environment.
It's like taking your living room or dining room outside - in
a weatherproof way, of course.
You can create one or more of these outdoor rooms within the
space that you already have. It doesn't need to be large. In
fact, you don't want it to be so large that you lose the intimacy
of a comfortable room. You can start with almost any space and
bring in the elements and touches that will make everyone want
to spend time there.
If your starting space is large, such as a big
open yard, you'll want to create a definition of your room.
Whether your outdoor room is directly next to your house or
out in the garden, you can do this in a lot of ways:
Create
a floor that defines the space, using stone, wood or
other flooring. Possibilities are slate flagstones,
brick, manufactured pavers, gravel, or any artful combination
of these. Stones can be permanently built-in with concrete
and mortar, making a true patio, or you can simply use
sand between the stones or even let mosses and grass
grow up for a more casual look. For a fragrant touch,
use scented ground covers or herbs between the stones. |
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Cast
Aluminum Bamboo Furniture
Stone and moss flooring
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Think
about adding a roof to your room. A retractable awning can add color, interest and a great summery feeling
while protecting you a bit from the elements. Or build a
pergola over all or part of your space. Then train flowering
vines such as wisteria over it for a soft, shady space and a lovely fragrance. |
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A
pergola creates a warm, relaxing setting.
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Every
room has walls as well as floors and ceilings. You don't
want to close in your outdoor room entirely, but you do
want to have a feeling of protection and coziness that partial
"walls" can enhance. Enclosures can be as simple as planting
trees and shrubs bordering your space. Or planters of different
sizes and heights, with arrangements of plantings can be
beautiful walls. If you have a not-so-attractive fence as
part of your room, you can cover this with bamboo
fencing (easily attainable and easily installed), trellises or a
screen of fast-growing evergreen trees. |
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Containers
and plants of varying heights can create a boundary to your
room. |
Lighting
is important inside and outside. Outdoor illumination can
take many forms. If you have added a roof to your room, you
may be able to also add overhead lighting. This could be electric (a beautiful chandelier, or a ceiling fan with lighting),
or not. Hanging candelabra can create a lovely glow. Candles
scattered around the space, lanterns, and standing oil torches add a soft ambiance. Another fun
idea is to use string lights, which come in many styles and
colors. |
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In a large yard or garden, there are a number of interesting ways of creating rooms independent of your house or other buildings. Gazebos are always attractive. They can be purchased ready to assemble, or you can build one to your specifications. For a simpler outdoor room, you can make a ground floor "deck" by using shipping pallets in an interesting design (maybe in a herringbone, or brick-laid pattern). Add a table and chairs, planters with trees and colorful flowers, and you have a space that you can use for entertaining or relaxing. Another method would be to create your floor with simply-laid brick or stone. As mentioned above, this doesn't have to be permanently installed.
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If
your space is small, such a balcony or a deck, the definition
of your space is made easier because you don't have to create
so many walls, floors and roofs. But you might need to use
some camouflaging techniques, and you'll certainly need
to add the elements that give the room function and beauty.
Rooftops, and other contained spaces, can lend themselves to becoming stellar outdoor rooms. |
After
you've created the room itself by the creation of a floor,
maybe a ceiling, and possibly partial walls, you'll need to
add the furnishings that make your room functional. Tables
and chairs, chaises for larger spaces, cooking areas - grills
or a full outdoor kitchen - all are needed for making your
room useful. The last touches are the ones that personalize
and beautify your space - the equivalent of accessories in
your home, such as plants and planters, garden sculpture,
fountains, wind chimes, lighting and more. |
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