Outdoor spaces add value to your home and enhance your enjoyment of it. Whether you hire interior designers Santa Barbara or go it alone, there are many ways to prepare your space for al fresco living. Here are five tips for creating an outdoor haven that fosters relaxation.
1. Provide Shelter & Shade
No matter where you live, shelter and shade make your outdoor space more comfortable to use. If it’s an established structure such as a balcony or screened-in porch, you’re all set. If it’s a backyard, deck or patio, consider adding natural or manufactured features like awnings, pergolas and umbrellas. Whether you wish to keep light rain or intense heat at bay, there are many options to suit your unique space, location and needs.
2. Establish Privacy
When you live close to other people, privacy is a commodity. Adding greenery is a natural way to establish sight and sound barriers, from potted palms and vine trellises to evergreen hedges. Adding manufactured privacy screens such as awnings, fences or walls is another popular option. However, you choose to create privacy, make sure it complements your outdoor space’s aesthetic and ambiance.
3. Create Visual Consistency
This tip is especially valuable if your patio or deck annexes your indoor living space. Decorate or enhance it with complementary colors, materials and styles so that the ambiance of your home extends outward. For example, choose a patio umbrella in the signature color of your interior or seating cushions in the same material as your couch. Visual consistency is key to pulling together your indoor and outdoor spaces.
4. Choose Durable Furniture & Furnishings
If you plan on using your outdoor space often or throughout the year, it’s a good idea to choose furniture and furnishings that can withstand wear and tear and still look beautiful. The same principle applies to kitchen remodeling Pacific Palisades. UV-, water- and stain-resistant materials are a practical, durable choice for soft furnishings such as cushions and umbrellas. Fade-, water- and rust-resistant materials make sense for furniture. If you like to mix up your layout without risking injury, tables and chairs made of lighter materials such as synthetic rattan or wicker are ideal.
5. Incorporate Cooking & Dining
Even if you’ve just undergone a kitchen remodel Los Angeles, you may want to add a grill or oven to your outdoor space. From a rail-mount BBQ grill to a full outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, there is a wide range of creative solutions for cooking and dining outdoors. If you don’t have room for a permanent dining table and chairs, consider purchasing a folding banquet table and chairs or creating a simple breakfast nook where you enjoy your morning coffee.
Whether you take one or all of these tips, they apply to all kinds of outdoor spaces and a variety of budgets. Are you looking for even more ideas on how to prepare your space for al fresco living? Browse interior designers’ websites for their creative designs and photo galleries. Many feature blog articles that contain more design resources.