What is an outdoor living area? A definition
What is an outdoor living room? The easy answer is simple and very broad: it can be whatever the owner wants, as long as it is outside and it takes a lot of time living room in that. What are your wants and needs? How do you like to spend your time outdoors? These are the questions that will help develop your definition of an outdoor living room. For these reasons, my definition of an outdoor living room includes the following features:
- a furnished patio, dining room and kitchen.
- an activity area that includes a pool and lounge.
- well designed landscaping and garden to add ambience.
First of all, the key elements of an outdoor living room, like the interior of the house, include a kitchen, a dining room, and a patio living room. When the weather permits, our family likes to cook, eat, relax, and have fun outdoors; my wife and I like to invite our friends; Our three teenage sons like to invite their friends. Cooking, then, is important and takes place at all hours from morning to midnight. A good barbecue forms the centerpiece of any outdoor kitchen, but an additional burner or two somehow makes life easier for the cook, too. A large work surface with a chopping board or chopping board can further increase the cook’s pleasure time outdoors. Access to water, be it a complete exterior pipe or just a hose connection or a water dispenser, is another necessity. A more important feature is a means of keeping food and drinks cold and close at hand, either in a refrigerator or in a cooler with ice. An added bonus for me is a counter area where friends can watch me and keep me company while I cook. All of these features need to be arranged to form an efficient work triangle as found inside. Next, the kitchen should have easy access to the dining room. A dining table with seating to accommodate groups larger than the immediate family is a wise decision if space allows. Again, a bonus here would be the outdoor storage space for storing dishes, silverware, and bedding. A chest or garden hutch could easily be adapted to serve this purpose. Finally, an area to sit, relax, read, chat, and even watch TV, if possible, is a beautiful addition to any outdoor living area. Comfortable chairs, capes, end tables, a porch slider or swing, and even a daybed can make this area cozy and inviting. Patio furniture can be purchased in a wide range of styles and materials to suit anyone’s tastes and preferences; my preference leans toward cedar patio furniture. The goal here, ultimately, is to make the outdoor living room reflect the comfort and design of the interior.
In addition to eating, relaxing and having fun outdoors, we also like to be active; therefore, my outdoor living room also includes a pool and space for other activities. Pools come in three basic styles: in-ground, in-ground, and above-ground. Inground pools are by far the most expensive option, but they also offer the widest range of use and the best aesthetics. The pool is best located where it can receive maximum sun, an aspect perhaps not so necessary in warmer climates but certainly so far north where summers are a bit shorter and less intense. A large terrace around the pool is needed for a good flow of traffic and to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. I recommend that two different patio areas be included in the pool deck design. One is an open area where lounge chairs or adirondacks can be placed for sun worshipers. The other should offer an escape from the sun in the form of a covered bar / seating area or some form of pagoda or tiki hut. As a general rule, people will stay by the pool longer if they can get out of the sun for a bit without leaving the whole area. A spa with a hot tub or sauna would be a nice addition too, if for no other reason because they add a year-round drawing card to the patio. Also, space permitting, I would set aside a relatively long but not necessarily wide area to play catch with a baseball or soccer ball, to throw pucks or practice soccer kicks, or to throw horseshoes, bocce ball, bowling. , whatever is. Most shipyards can accommodate all, or at least some of these features to some extent; It is preferable to reduce the size to omit. The more options that are available, the more enjoyment you can take advantage of.
Finally, the atmosphere and environment are vital to any outdoor living area; These elements can be created with a well-designed garden and complementary landscaping. The goal here is to set the mood for whatever activity happens, be it pool parties, dinner parties, afternoon barbecues, or quiet moments with the family. The biggest compliment is that guests comment that they feel like they are visiting a resort. It is highly recommended to have a clear theme in mind when designing your landscape and garden. Some common themes include tropical paradise, desert oasis, northern forest retreat, English country garden, symmetrical Zen inspiration, or an eclectic mix of garden features drawn from various themes. I prefer the tropical theme but with some elements taken from the others to give it effect. Medium-sized trees and shrubs such as Japanese maples, tiger’s eye sumacs, magnolias, dogwoods, and smoke bushes provide a very lush, multi-colored backdrop to any setting; Tall ornamental grasses can create an effective privacy screen and mimic a kind of bamboo forest appearance. Weird succulents add a desert quality; yuccas, for example, will grow anywhere. Honey, trumpet vine, climbing roses, bougainvillea (in warmer climates), or plain ivy can be grown in a fence or other garden feature, such as a trellis, gazebo, or pagoda. If space allows, add a garden bench or stand along a path. Next, I am also a huge fan of natural stone and rock. River Rock makes an excellent border around the pool deck and patio and can be designed to suggest a rocky beach or dry riverbed. Grotto appeal can be added by stacking quarry stone slabs to establish a variety of raised garden beds around the pool or patio. Larger rocks and boulders are always eye-catching additions. Whichever style is chosen, there are a few factors to consider: the amount of space available (don’t overload the space – remember: less is more), the position and movement of the sun, the average rainfall, and the ease of watering if necessary. and, of course, the cost.
In conclusion, my definition of an outdoor living room is just that: my definition. It reflects my personality and my taste. It satisfies the wants and needs of my family and how we want to spend our time outdoors. You may want to reserve a space to accommodate a fire pit or ice rink in the winter. Make your outdoor living room what you want it to be. I just hope my views have provided a starting point.