The goal for every outdoor living space is that it should be both functional and beautiful. You need an area where you can relax, host guests, and have fun. Just like with designing the interior of your home, designing your outdoor living area needs careful consideration and planning. To help you create the outdoor oasis of your dreams, we have compiled ten tips that you can use when planning your outdoor living space.
1. The Size and Layout of Your Outdoor Oasis is Important
Before you can start designing your outdoor living space, you need to first consider the size and layout of your property, as this will determine how you can use the space. For example, if you have a large backyard, you will be able to fit more features like a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, and fireplace. No matter the size of your outdoor space, whether large or small, you should create zones for different activities, such as one for cooking, one for socializing, and one for relaxation. You also want to consider the layout of your land so that you can figure out the best ways to allow for good traffic flow throughout the area.
2. Create a Design that Will Coordinate with Your Home’s Architectural Style
When it comes to outdoor living spaces, the number of patterns and colors you can use for hardscape features is infinite. To avoid clashing with your home’s existing exterior appearance, be sure you keep your options limited to only design schemes that complement your home and landscape. Your outdoor living area should be an extension of your indoor living area, so your design schemes for patios, gazebos, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and other features should harmonize with your home’s interior design and exterior architectural style.
3. Consider Your Outdoor Living Space’s Focal Point
In order to turn your outdoor living space into a true outdoor oasis, you will want to create a focal point. This is something that you will enjoy looking at while in your outdoor area. It can be a fountain, a waterfall, the pool, the rear of your house, a fireplace, landscaping, or the beautiful view that your space overlooks. Once you decide what you want the focal point of your outdoor living space to be, create it then design the rest of your space around it. You want the rest of your hardscape and landscape features to frame and accentuate the focal point without detracting from it.
4. Think About Convenience
You want your outdoor living space to be a luxurious place of relaxation, so it should be convenient to access to allow you to easily escape to your outdoor oasis. One thing you need to do is make sure your outdoor space is easily accessible from inside your home; you don’t want to have to get to it from some obscure entrance or path. You should also place your outdoor kitchen area near your indoor kitchen so that you can transport food between the two spaces without difficulty. This type of arrangement is typically the most convenient for water and power access as well.
5. Create a Plan with Privacy in Mind
Unlike your indoor living area, your outdoor living space will not have walls to ensure privacy or keep out noise. If you are concerned about privacy, you will need to make sure you keep that in mind when planning your outdoor living space. A fence or tall landscaping between you and your neighbors can create a nice barrier to give you the privacy you need. Just be sure your privacy plans are kept in accordance with the rest of your design. For example, you may want to install a precast concrete fence that matches your other hardscape features or add decorative stone or brick to your fence so that it will complement the rest of your design.
6. Shelter is a Must
Your outdoor oasis needs to provide shelter so that you can enjoy the area despite the weather. This can be accomplished with umbrellas, awnings, gazebos, pergolas, and other fixtures. These features will keep you and your guests sheltered from the sun’s harsh rays and light rain, as well as create a stronger sense of intimacy. When well-designed, these features can add extra elegance to your outdoor living space, making it a more luxurious place where you will want to relax and hang out with friends and family.
7. Create Ambiance with Lighting
The right lighting will elevate your outdoor living space from ordinary to luxurious. Different lighting can create different moods for your space. Candles, chandeliers, and sconces can contribute to a romantic or relaxing atmosphere. Create a soft glow by hiding light fixtures behind plants and along pathways to enhance the moonlight. Lighting in your pool can make it night-swim friendly, and different colors can be used to set a variety of moods, from romantic to energetic. Don’t limit your use of your outdoor living space to daylight hours; enhance the space with lighting so you can enjoy your outdoor oasis both day and night.
8. Build Your Outdoor Oasis in Stages
Building your outdoor living space in stages will make the process more budget-friendly and less stressful. Begin with a decorative patio and a countertop so that you have an area to sit and a place for serving food. Once you have the basics covered, you can install additional features as budget and time allow. Some features that will enhance your outdoor living space are a fireplace, fountains, landscaping, lighting, and a full outdoor kitchen area. You can also upgrade your outdoor furniture during a later stage with whatever money you have left over after building your outdoor living area.
9. Complete Your Outdoor Living Space with Outdoor Furniture
You want to choose outdoor furniture that both is stylish and will complement the rest of your design. You also need to make sure it is comfortable so that you will enjoy spending hours lounging outdoors. Stain and mildew-resistant furniture is a must so that it will stay fresh even after spending time outside. Outdoor furniture comes in a variety of colors, prints, and styles, so you should be able to find pieces that will tie your whole outdoor living space together.
10. Enlist the Help of a Professional
Designing and installing features for an outdoor living space isn’t easy. Though it can be tempting to try to do it on your own to save some money, the finished product will look much more flawless and elegant if you get help from a professional. Hardscapers and landscapers can take your ideas and make them a reality. It is especially important to hire a professional if you want to install complicated features such as waterfalls, fountains, lighting, pools, and outdoor kitchens. Because these features require water and electrical lines, careful planning and expert knowledge are necessary to make sure the project goes smoothly and will be a success.
LaddScapes Helps You Create the Outdoor Oasis of Your Dreams
When it comes to creating outdoor living spaces, LaddScapes is the best company around Knoxville, TN. Our team has years of experience in hardscape design and installation, pool installation, patios, water features, lighting, and anything else you could need to create your dream outdoor oasis. We can help every step of the way, from design through installation and maintenance. If you are ready to have your very own luxurious outdoor living area, reach out to LaddScapes today to get started. Give us a call at 865-590-7673 or contact us online so that we can help you bring your dream to life.
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