Your backyard wants to become a part of your home.
Yes, your backyard makes up a vital section of your property. It is where you play with the family dog, teach one of your children how to play catch, or lounge in a hammock on a lazy summer afternoon.
You can do better than a hammock and not bust the family budget in the process.
Many homeowners think of outdoor living spaces as a luxury addition to their houses. The fact is you do not have to take out a second mortgage to extend your kitchen and/or living room to the green space called your backyard.
Benefits of Adding an Outdoor Living Space
The greatest benefit of adding an outdoor living space is an increase in your property value. You improve the aesthetic appeal of your home, as well as its functionality. The question is how does an outdoor living space enhance the functionality and visual appeal of your home?
More Square Footage
Your backyard counts when it comes to measuring the size of your property. However, it does not increase the number of square feet that serves a purpose for you as a homeowner. Adding an outdoor living space adds more functional square footage, whether you install a BBQ island or place a large pavilion over most of the backyard.
Open the back exterior door and open your backyard to seemingly endless design possibilities.
Entertainment Room
You might have dedicated a room in your home to be the entertainment center. However, you can take your guests outdoors for some fresh air by creating an outdoor living space. From quiet family gatherings to bustling parties for the entire neighborhood, building a gazebo or a pergola can make you a hit at home and the office.
Good for Mental and Physical Health
Imagine coming home from work one night and the entire household buzzes with activity. You just want a little quiet time alone, and your new outdoor living space waits for you to unwind for the day. Having a place to get away from it all outdoors alleviates mental stress, as well as does wonders for your physical health.
What Are the Most Common Types of Outdoor Living Spaces?
If you are interested in building a large outdoor living space, adding a gazebo, pavilion, or pergola makes sense. You can find custom pergolas at Menards that match the design of your home, as well as the exterior décor accessories that you have surrounding your house. Properties defined by a square or rectangular shape work especially well with custom pergolas.
Because of their round appearance, custom gazebos found at Home Depot complement circular properties and properties that expand significantly in all four directions. The round shape comes in many sizes to accommodate both small and large social gatherings. Both gazebos and pergolas come with flaps to keep bad weather out.
As a popular outdoor living space that migrated from Europe to the United States in the late 1800s, pavilions work well for hosting outdoor wedding receptions and family reunions. Designed with a wood or vinyl roof, a pavilion protects guests against the wrath of Mother Nature while providing plenty of air circulation because of the open sides.
Is a Patio the Best Outdoor Living Space for Me?
If you are searching for a budget-friendly solution to optimize the backyard, building a patio is the way to go. Patios typically cost less to design and construct than the cost of building larger spaces such as a gazebo or pavilion. By adding a cover, you can keep your guests dry when it starts to rain. Lay the foundation of your patio with brick or concrete, and then customize its appearance by using a paver to create signature shapes.
Add an Outdoor Kitchen
“Soup’s on” takes on a whole new meaning when you cook it from a stove embedded in an outdoor kitchen that is stocked with accessories from Williams Sonoma. If you use just about every square inch of the indoor kitchen, consider expanding your culinary kingdom by building a counterpart outdoors. You can double the cooking capacity of your kitchen or simply use the extra space as an enlarged prep area. Customize your outdoor kitchen to include plenty of seating for guests attending a large bash.
In addition to building an outdoor kitchen, consider installing a BBQ island in the middle of it. A BBQ island represents the ultimate social gathering place for friends, relatives, and professional peers. If you have dined at a restaurant like HuHot Mongolian Grill, then you understand the camaraderie that instantly develops around an open BBQ island.
Contemporary Accessories for Outdoor Living Spaces
Customizing your outdoor living space is much more than creating a unique size and design. What you place inside your new outdoor room also contributes to its uniqueness. Adding stylish and comfortable outdoor furniture can make your space shine. Wicker chairs are a particularly popular furniture design for an outdoor living space.
After you add furniture, turn your attention to accessories such as the ones offered by Lamps Plus. Illuminating your outdoor living space turns it into a versatile entertainment area. Sconces strategically attached to the support beams disperse plenty of light for any type of social function. Portable heaters and air conditioners ensure you enjoy climate control comfort throughout the year.
The Final Touch
You can install the most beautiful gazebo and still lack aesthetics when it comes to an outdoor living space. This is because the open space remaining in the backyard needs considerable work. Make sure to put as much effort into the landscaping of your backyard as you put into creating an outdoor room for your home.