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Create an indoor and outdoor living space you love. Use these tips to build or re-design your porch or patio so you can enjoy every minute in the sun. You might have a few chairs, maybe you even have a larger sectional that can help you seat more friends and family members when you invite them over. There’s so much more you can do to make your patio or combination indoor/outdoor area a spectacular living space where you love spending time. Use this guide to create a new spot at home that will quickly become your favorite area of the house. Just make sure you have enough seating for everybody in the family because your redesigned deck or patio is going to be the most popular part of the house when you’re done with your update.
Having an outdoor space for relaxing with your family and entertaining can benefit both you and the environment at large. Here are some of the main benefits of creating a patio or deck area that you’ll really use:
A well-designed patio is one that offers lots of functionality for your favorite activities. Before you begin building or re-designing your space, sit down with a piece of paper, and write out how you want to use your patio. If you have a family that you share the space with, talk to them about outdoor activities they might be interested in doing at home if they had space. Do this early on in the design or renovation phase. That way you can craft a space that really works with clear objectives in mind.
If you have a small budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t have an amazing outdoor kitchen as part of your outdoor living space. Link to this sister article on how to create a wonderfully entertaining outdoor kitchen space for a fraction of the cost.
Skip the gym and make space for exercise on your patio or deck. While portable mats are your best bet for bodyweight exercises, you can also include racks of weights, outdoor gym equipment, exercise machines, and stationary bicycles if you have an indoor/outdoor space where they’re protected. Here are a few tips to help you create the ideal outdoor space for exercise:
A dedicated open area for outdoor exercise, yoga, and meditation is a smart addition to any deck or patio buildout or renovation and outdoor living space. Sometimes what you really need is a place to catch up on your reading though. To create a relaxing reading area, your first goal should comfortable seating that you’re happy sitting on for hours on end. Your existing sofa, sectional, or pair of lounge chairs will likely be a good start. Here are a few more focused ideas to help you enjoy reading outdoors:
Outdoor patios can double as a home or garden office if you’re smart about what to include in you outdoor living space. For example, if you build a comfortable table and chair set into your outdoor seating area, it’s incredibly easy to take your laptop out there and work anytime you want. Bonus points if you can add an electrical outlet so you have power for essentials like your laptop and tablet.
Indoor/outdoor spaces like sunrooms also make for excellent, more permanent home office setups. In these areas, you can easily add a desk, bookshelf, file cabinet, and anything you need to get your work done. Just make sure you don’t block the great view and natural sunlight that you’ll get in these spaces. You’ll also want to include some comfortable seating so the rest of the family can join you after business hours are done. Here are a few tips for creating an amazing outdoor office:
If you’re building from the ground up, as in creating a brand new patio from nothing, you’ll need to first start by building your patio or deck structure. In general, durable outdoor materials like natural wood, pressure-treated wood, and stone are excellent building blocks for an outdoor space. Pressure-treated wood is a particularly smart buy on a budget since it can last for many years with minimal care. It also costs less than materials like stone. Scored concrete can provide a more decorative look that’s well-suited to modern homes. Other strong materials include clay bricks, flagstone, and patio pavers can be used.
Mixing and matching materials to fit your budget and aesthetic is also perfectly acceptable when dealing with a patio or deck design, so don’t be afraid to get creative here. Not sure if two materials will work together? Get samples and try them out in your backyard. You won’t be able to cover a large expanse of space with samples, but having a real physical representation – even if it’s a small one – can help you decide if your idea is feasible.
The furniture you choose for your deck or patio plays a big role when it comes to the style of your indoor/outdoor space. Here are a few guidelines to help you make the right choice when shopping for furniture or adding new pieces to your space:
Lighting is an often-overlooked element when it comes to outdoor décor. While you can’t make use of floor and table lamps unless they’re shielded from the elements in an indoor/outdoor space, there are other options that will work. Mounting lighting fixtures around the banister or railing of your deck is a particularly popular option. Overhead lights on the structure of your home nearby can also provide basic illumination for patios.
String lights are a less permanent option that can add a bit of ambient excitement to your space. They’re not particularly bright in most cases, but they have a certain elegant charm that’s ideal for parties and dinners. Up-light canisters designed for outdoor spaces can also be used behind furniture or next to tables. You’ll want to keep these pointed at a structure since they’ll be blinding otherwise, but they can provide both basic illumination and a sophisticated feel. They can also be used to light potted plants and decorative elements with ease.
Your patio and deck are likely positioned over a backyard full of foliage. To make your space more enjoyable, focus on creating a garden area, or maintaining your backyard plants properly. While not specifically related to your deck or patio, landscaping your surrounding areas will improve the overall feel of the space. Including potted plants or incorporating, planter boxes into your design can also help create a more inviting deck or patio space that you’ll want to spend time on. A baker’s rack with an easily accessible small herb garden can also be a great addition for the budding gourmet chef in the house.
Outdoor living spaces like patios and decks should be surrounded by nature and filled with comfortable, durable pieces of furniture like sofas, chairs, and barbecue grills. Maybe you’ve even given yourself a bit of open space that’s perfect for mediation, yoga, or your morning exercise routine. The work isn’t quite done though. One thing many people forget about is adding decorative accessories to their patio or deck to make it feel more like a finished space. You don’t have to go crazy and spend a fortune, but a few finishing touches can really go a long way toward making your space more inviting. Here are a few outdoor decoration ideas for your deck or patio area:
Isabella is Marketing Team Lead and does Content Marketing at Porch. She has an International MBA, and her hobbies are reading, writing, and music.
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