What Is Outdoor Living?

Outdoor Living can mean  different things to different people. When I think of Outdoor Living I think of bringing the comforts of the indoors out to the fresh air of my backyard. I think of cooking outdoors, eating outdoors, entertaining outdoors and spending family time such as watching TV or reading in a screened porch with the soothing sound of moving water near by.

Outdoor Living can be time spent with friends and family relaxing by your swimming pool, late nights by a fire pit or fireplace or sitting under a pergola in your garden. Lets take a look at some Outdoor Living Spaces that can be added to your home.

Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor Kitchens have become one of the most popular and fastest growing backyard additions in the country over the past five years. An outdoor kitchen elevates the weekend cookout to new levels. It turns the actual act of cooking into a form of entertainment.

Think about it, there stands the cook off by himself in the corner of the yard waiting on the burgers to be done. With an outdoor kitchen the cook is the center of attention, right in the middle of the action in a place where he can chat with guests and be a part of the party.

The beauty of the outdoor kitchen is that it can be custom built to accommodate any existing space you may have. In many cases it has a sitting bar built right in so your guests are part of the experience.

Outdoor Dining Room

Eating outside al fresco is one of the joys of Spring, Summer and Fall. Creating an outdoor living space for dining out is easier than you think. It can be as simple as creating a separate space with pavers or a concrete patio and placing a table with an umbrella and chairs.

You can give it an extra special feel by placing the table under a pergola to provide shade and give the feel and impression that this is the dining room, this is where we eat.

Accenting the borders of your dining area with potted plants or shrubs will reinforce the feeling of this being it’s own space.

Outdoor Living Room

An outdoor living room is another easy, inexpensive outdoor living space you can create in your backyard. Like the dining room it can be created using pavers, concrete, or outdoor carpet to give it separation from it’s surroundings. The key is to use weather proof outdoor furniture and take care of it the best you can by covering it or storing it during the winter months.

Creating separation and shade can be achieved by building a pergola over the sitting area or a large umbrella that hovers over a couch or chairs with a coffee table.

Screened Porch

A screened porch is a room that would be more like your actual living room as it has walls and a roof. The walls are made of screens so that fresh air can pass through while keeping bugs out. A screened porch can be easily outfitted with electrical outlets to provide lights, ceiling fans, TV and stereo. Many times the screened porch becomes the most popular room in the house by letting you enjoy the fresh air while enjoying all the comforts of home.

Fire Features

There is nothing like sitting around a fire at night. A fire pit or fireplace in your backyard not only will extend an evening but it extends the seasons. You can sit out on a spring night while there is still a chill in the air or fight off winter by staying warm on a fall night.

Both fire pits and fireplaces can be wood burning so that you get the sound and smell of crackling wood or they can be set up for propane or gas for easy on and off. There are advantages to both and there is no right or wrong. What kind of fire pit or fireplace you enjoy is a matter of personal preference.

Water Features

The soothing sound of moving water in your backyard is something everyone yearns for. It could be as simple as a fountain or as elaborate as an in-ground swimming pool with a spill over spa.

It could be a koi pond, a waterfall or a man made babbling brook. The bottom line is the sound of moving water is the sound of relaxation, of calm, of peacefulness.

Pergolas

A pergola is the perfect way to cover an outdoor living space. Outdoor living rooms and dining rooms covered by the shade of a pergola give your friends and family a feeling of being in a special place. It reminds them of being on vacation and conjures up memories of good times.

Tiki Bar

Nothing says Caribbean vacation like a Tiki Bar. Everybody has spent at least one Happy Hour at a Tiki Bar while on vacation. Putting one in your backyard brings a party to life and gives your guests the perfect spot to gather and have a great time!

These are just a few ways to add Outdoor Living Spaces to your backyard. In reality the options are as endless as your imagination.

It’s Your Backyard…Use it. Live it. Love it!