Outdoor rooms are a huge and appealing trend in modern Australian homes. The concept of taking an average outdoor living space and making it into a comfortable and stylish extension of the home is understandably popular. Most newly built homes embrace this concept in their design, but older homes generally have a distinct separation between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The good news is that even in an older home, it's relatively easy to create an outdoor room from even the most basic deck or patio. Here are two additions that will take your outdoor living space to the next level of comfort and style.
1. Outdoor blinds
One of the challenges in transforming an outdoor area into an outdoor room is adding control over the elements. Rain, wind, sunshine and cold air are all aspects of the outdoor environment that can make spending time in your outdoor room less than pleasant. Adding outdoor blinds to one or more edges of the space is a great way to gain more control over this concern.
Outdoor blinds function in the same way as interior blinds and can be opened or retracted as required. You can opt for clear, cafe style blinds if you'd like to preserve your view and maintain plenty of natural light. Sunblock material and insulated blinds are also a great choice if the area you live in experiences hot summers or very cold winters.
2. Stylish lighting
Options for outdoor lighting have come a long way in recent years. There is a wide and varied choice in functional, weather-proof and beautiful light fixtures that are designed for outdoor use. Great lighting is one of the key concepts in interior design and works to put the final touches and add ambiance to a room. The same idea applies equally to your outdoor room.
Instead of a single, utilitarian light fitting, opt for two or more light sources. This gives you better control over the amount of light in the space and also lets you create different moods at different times. Pendant lights are a big trend indoors and also make a striking, sculptural addition to an outdoor room. Recessed halogen lights installed in the ceiling of your outdoor room are also a stylish and contemporary option.
With these two key features installed, you're well on your way to making your outdoor space feel more like a proper living area in your home. Once you've added some comfortable furniture and some ornamentation, you'll be able to relax and enjoy your new outdoor room.
