The best room in the house and its outdoors

Posted by endlessadmin on May 4, 2012 in Lifestyle | 2 comments

After a long day of work, what’s better than starting up the BBQ and enjoying a cold beverage on your patio?  Sounds lovely, but you just had a good look at your backyard and suddenly realized: “My patio is in no shape to even think about BBQ season!”  Well, The Endless Closet is here to help. It’s that time of year to clear off the leaves and branches, and turn your patio or backyard into your own personal outdoor escape.

A popular trend in many homes has been to extend the living space with an outdoor room. This is the idea of creating an additional room tailored to an outdoor environment. It is attractive addition to any home in that it offers a form of shelter from the elements, while providing a perfectly functional and comfortable outdoor space.

Here are some tips on how to create your own outdoor room:

1)      Give me shelter

Create your own personal corner with umbrellas or awnings. This will block the sun as well as shelter you from the elements.  You can dress up this idea by putting up coloured lattice or pieces of wood along the walls giving it a room-like effect.

2)      Creating the atmosphere

Creating your own oasis will come from how you tailor the atmosphere to your personal taste. Adding more greenery will make it feel like you’ve left the city life and are now in your own private getaway. Lining your walls with tall plants or draping vines will give your outdoor room that oasis feel.

Don’t be afraid of colour. Choosing tropical flowering plants will help add splashes of colour to brighten up your space. However, plants can be finicky depending on temperatures based in your area, so be sure to check with your local garden centre to see what will work in your space. You could also try using more common plants that you could raise in your garden.

3)      Fire pits and fountains

Never mind hauling in large rocks to make a fire pit. Today you can purchase fire pits that range from large chimineas to table top models. The same goes for fountains. Depending on how large of a scale you plan on taking your outdoor room, you can create a lavish fountain with colourful fish or simply have a table top fountain for background atmospheric sound.

4)      Outdoor Furniture

Weather-safe furniture and cushions are enough to make a space. Set down cushions in a corner to create an area of relaxation or have an outdoor patio set so that you and your family can enjoy a meal outdoors.

5)      Lighting up your oasis
This can be as simple as a few tiki torches or hanging some white Christmas lights along the walls or ceiling. Large lanterns and candles are an elegant option that provides beautiful and relaxing lighting. Whatever you choose, lighting your outdoor room will allow you to enjoy your space well into those warm nights.

Now that you have some tips on how to create the perfect outdoor space, you can get busy on designing and drawing in your own ideas. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make your neighbours jealous. Here are some of my recommended stores at Sherway Gardens where you can find all you need to get started on your outdoor room: The Bay, Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn.