Designing for your own indoor outdoor lifestyle is a fantastic way to live at home. Not only is it good for your overall well-being to be out in the fresh air and sunshine, but it expands the square footage of usable space. Whether your area is big or small, there are ways to create enjoyable moments for things like Outdoor Dining, Seating and Lounging. Looking back at some of our favorite projects over the years, we’ll show you tips and tricks on How to Create a Functional Space for Indoor Outdoor Living.
CREATE ACTIVITY ZONES
No matter what size your backyard is, create a few areas that you can use for a variety of activities. Leaving at least 3 to 4 feet of clear space between each zone is plenty of room for everyone to walk around.
Plan a section for Outdoor Dining or an Outdoor Kitchen closer to the house.
Place seating near natural lush landscaping or around a fire pit, and set Lounge Chairs near the pool or in direct sunlight.
OUTDOOR DINING ROOM + OUTDOOR KITCHEN
One of the best parts about living in Southern California is of course, the weather. So taking advantage of a few hours spent outdoors feels like a luxury. Create small routines like starting the day with coffee and breakfast in the early morning sun. Or end the day or week dining al fresco with family and friends. Outdoor dining instantly feels more informal, laid back and casual, which will help you feel more grounded.
To create a cozy outdoor space, bring in comfortable outdoor furniture, umbrellas, a heater, bistro lights and potted plants.
SLIDING GLASS DOORS
For the ultimate extension and seamless transition of any room in the house, sliding glass doors a must. There are a few styles to choose from. Take your pick of either single or double sliding doors, sliding doors with glass sidelights, stacking or telescope sliding doors, or bi-fold or according sliding doors. Our favorite are pocket telescope sliding glass doors, which completely open up a wall and hide the doors inside an adjacent wall.
We love working with Lion Windows and Doors. They always have everything we need, whether it’s door hardware, interior or exterior doors, and of course windows. And they are so easy to work with.
LOUNGE SEATING + CABANAS
Make your home feel like a relaxing resort with a cluster of lounge chairs or a eye catching cabana. Don’t forget an umbrella, kidney pillows and side tables close by to set your drink, book and phone on. If you’re into a little drama or romance, add a set of drapes to the corner posts of a patio or lounge area to make your space feel instantly elevated.
SEATING SPACES
Indoor Outdoor Living is easiest with comfortable seating. If you have a small patio, set up a couple of chairs and a small table. Carve out built in seating next to a half wall. But make sure you make the seats deep enough to fit a seat cushion and back pillows, otherwise you’ll be sitting quite proper. If maximum comfort is your goal, there are so many options of outdoor furniture that look and feel just like indoor furniture. High Performance Outdoor Fabrics like Perennials and Sunbrella have a wide selection of colors, designs and styles to choose from, like linen, velvet, canvas, twill or wovens.
REPURPOSE AN OUTDOOR SPACE
Whether it’s a garage, a small storage building or any underused area, look at it with a new eye and convert that bad boy into an indoor outdoor lounge of your dreams. This can be a game area for pool, ping pong, poker or air hockey. It could be a pool lounge or a home bar. Or it could just be a quiet nook that’s perfect for having much needed me-time. Whatever it is, make use of the space you have!
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HOW TO CREATE A FUNCTIONAL SPACE FOR INDOOR OUTDOOR LIVING
