Creating Outdoor Rooms With Indoor Style

What is an outdoor room? The best way to define outdoor rooms is to begin in the Home. As with the living areas within a home, the outdoor room can be defined as the living/entertaining areas, kitchen, great rooms and den/seating areas. Each of these indoor rooms are decorated with specific décor elements; furnishings, accessories, rugs, wall art and lamps, all of which help to convey the ambiance and purpose of the room. In this newsletter I will offer suggestions for transferring this indoor ambiance to your outdoor spaces, hopefully inspiring you to stretch your imagination and open the "door" to your outdoor room.

By putting yourself in the mindset of outdoor rooms with indoor style, you can begin to see the lines blur between the two. The first step is to determine your outdoor needs; make a list of all the ways you want to extend your living space. This list might include a great room, separate dining (kitchen), deep seating or conversation area (living room) on the patio or a cozy spot a little further out for reading and relaxing (the den or seating area). As opposed to our pre-positioned rooms in our homes, outdoor spaces provide the opportunity to expand and create new spaces without limitations.

Once you have determined how you want to utilize your outdoor space, take some time to sit in the specific area and imagine how this space can be transformed into an "outdoor room". Think about family and friends gathered at a dining table. How many would you want to accommodate? Can this be close to your kitchen or do you have an outdoor kitchen with a BBQ? Maybe you would like to have a conversation area next to your outdoor kitchen. Imagine how great it would be to say to your guest, "Let’s move to the living room for after dinner drinks or dessert."

The next step is to determine your furniture needs. First measure your area(s). This way you have a good idea as to what will fit. This also helps when you begin shopping for your furniture. Start a wish list of furniture based on what your space will be used for.

Let's say you have determined that you would like enough seating to accommodate six guests around a dining table and the dining table and chairs will be in the same area as your built in outdoor kitchen. Next on your list is a separate area for your conversation/deep seating area, so think about who your guests are. Is it better to have a sofa as opposed to two loveseats? Or would you like four rocking clubs with a nice chat table instead? Hey, you have the beginnings of a great room, literally!

Remember, you want to keep your interior décor in mind, so think of colors. Also, think about your mediums or constructions materials in the outdoor areas. Does your built-in have dark brown granite tops or travertine? These should already complement your indoors, so your furnishings will only had to the smooth transition from indoor to out. Once you have a good idea of furnishings and you are armed with measurements and color ideas, visit one of our four stores. The Exterior Design staff is trained to guide you into the right direction, helping you in furniture selection and design. Visit our product catalog to get some great ideas for furniture prior to going to the store.

Whew! The next step is to sit down and take a breather. You have made a major step in turning your outdoor space into a beautiful outdoor room.

Your furniture has been delivered and now the real fun begins; making your outdoor space come to life with the décor elements we discussed earlier. Accent, accent, accent! You will want to find an accent color that you can splash throughout your kitchen and conversation area to pull it all together. Again, make sure that you keep in mind what colors and style you are offering inside of your home. Take these and carry them outside to your new rooms.

When decorating your "kitchen" area, try and offer boundaries. Create vignettes of potted plants and trees. Using pots in your accent colors you can create visual interest as well as bring a natural, alfresco feel to your dining area. Try wrapping these plants and trees with twinkle lights. Add some statues or art sculptures to the vignettes. You'll be surprised how lovely your dining area can look when the sun sets. Lastly always set your outdoor table as you would your indoor dining table. Bring out your ceramic dishware, use cloth napkins tied with napkin rings or your favorite crystal stemware. Don't forget your centerpiece, fresh cut flowers or fresh fruits strewn done the center with candles will add to the natural ambiance of your room.

Dessert! Moving into the conversation area, you can again create boundaries. Initially start with a focal point. Maybe you have a fireplace or a fountain within this area. If not, create your own focal point. Or maybe you're one of the lucky ones and have a view to die for. Our desert landscape and skies are legendary. What better focal point for you and your guests could you ask for?

Once you have determined your best focal point, arrange your conversation area so guests can see it. If you have a large patio you may want to create a division between the two rooms. Add more potted plants, potted fichus trees or both. Giving the impression of division without obstruction, place these either in clusters of three or line them up. It is best to stay with one or two colors for continuity. Don't forget to leave openings for guest to pass through to your conversation room. Again, bring elements from the indoors. For the few chilly nights we have here in the valley, outdoor rugs, pillows and throws are always a good idea. If you have the wall space, hang an outdoor print to pull your colors together. These accessories can be found at any Paddy O' Furniture store.

I know this all sounds a bit overwhelming. But the satisfaction you get when you are able to enjoy the outdoors in comfort and style with your family and friends definitely makes all your efforts worth while.

Now that your patio is complete, start thinking about other areas in your backyard that can be turned into a special outdoor room. When you stretch your thinking past the patio, you will be surprised how different your yard can look at a different angle. Nestle a small flagstone patio within a corner of your yard. Add a couple of chaise lounges, an end table. Place vignettes of interest (pots, statue or fountain) add an umbrella and, voila, you have another outdoor room!

The possibilities are endless. Just make your lists and don’t give up. Creating outdoor rooms throughout your outdoor area is as easy as opening a door to the backyard!