Outdoor Living Spaces Extend Your Livable Space And Delight The Senses
What started out as a yard in the great American
dream has evolved into an outdoor living space, encompassing dining
areas, living rooms and even play areas that go way beyond the swing
sets of the 1950’s. These spaces extend the livable area of your
home, while saving you money and increasing your home’s value. This
is particularly true in the Southwest, where bug-free, temperate
outdoor conditions predominate for much of the year. In fact, a
little further south, Latin American homes often blur the
distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces – a bedroom might open
to the garden or the dining room might call for outdoor eating all
year ’round.
To take advantage of the wisdom of outdoor spaces, it’s important to
remember that you’ll be more likely to use them if they’re close to
the entrances of your home. One exception to that rule, however, are
retreat spaces – sanctuaries you’ll want to remove from the house to
create a sense of privacy and solace.
One of the most popular outdoor spaces is the outdoor dining
room/kitchen. Plans for outdoor dining rooms can range from the
basic to the outrageous, depending on your inclination and budget.
Merely placing tables and chairs to take advantage of (or avoid) the
sun, with a barbeque set up nearby, may be all you need. Even so,
consider accents to dress up the space, like container gardens and
solar-powered lights.
If you want to go for broke, install an entire outdoor kitchen with
weatherproof cabinets and outdoor-ready appliances. Often the
cabinets and appliances form the “walls” or boundaries of the space
which you can then dress up with Spanish tile and a dining set. Use
a pergola to provide shade and some cover.
Another popular option is the outdoor living room. Some families
create not one, but two outdoor living spaces, one on the east side
of the house and one on the west side. When it’s hot out, they
always have a shady respite, and during cooler weather they can soak
up the sun’s rays all day long. Planting greenery around these areas
will help defray cooling costs in the summer and provide privacy and
protection from the wind. Consider making these spaces more cozy
with weatherproof fabrics, rattan furniture and pillow-draped seat
walls. And to add interest, build your outdoor living room around a
focal point such as a view, water feature or even a fireplace.
There are many reasons to consider creating outdoor living spaces.
They not only raise your property value, but can be a place to
entertain or simply an easy way to enjoy the great outdoors without
having to leave your home.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
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