For those living in hot or humid climates, having an outdoor living area is a must. It’s important to understand that an outdoor area is much different to an outdoor living area – the emphasis being on living. Having an outdoor space is great, but utilising this space to create a comfortable living area will allow you to maximise the potential of your home. Alfresco dining is a great way to entertain guests and provides an excellent solution for cooling off on those sweltering summer days. There are a number of factors that go into creating the perfect outdoor living area, ranging from your floor and ground covering right through to your furniture. Check out our handy tips below, for creating the ultimate outdoor living space.
Determine what your Space will be used for
The first step in designing the perfect outdoor area is to decide what your space will most likely be used for. If you have a family, for instance, you should consider a varying space, encompassing a play area for the children and alfresco dining area for entertaining. Once you have decided upon your needs, you can then develop a plan for creating your living space.
Floor Materials & Ground Covering
While it is something that is often overlooked, your floor materials and ground coverings will greatly influence the style and comfort of your outdoor area. It is recommended that most alfresco entertaining areas use decking or tiling for floor materials. The main reason to use these materials is their weather resistant qualities and the easy clean surfaces that they provide.
When choosing your ground coverings for the remaining area of your yard, consider children, pets and maintenance. Natural grass is a great option for families, as it provides a comfortable play area for children and pets. If you have a great deal of foot traffic throughout one area of your space, consider creating a path with loose pebbles or pavers, to avoid the destruction of your grass. Always keep in mind that natural grass does require maintenance. If you have a large outdoor area, planter boxes and garden beds are a great source for reducing the area of land that requires regular mowing. Mulch is also great for ground coverage, as it discourages the growth of weeds and creates a healthy living environment for plant life.
Furniture & Facilities
Again, keeping in mind your future plans for your space, you should consider what facilities or furniture you will need, in order to create your ideal outdoor entertaining area. If you plan on entertaining regularly, an outdoor kitchen can be incredibly beneficial. An outdoor kitchen area provides you with the option of carrying out all clean up duties outside, rather than lugging your home wares to and from your main kitchen. Built in BBQs are also great ideas for home owners who like to entertain, as they provide a great cooking source, along with setting the perfect mood on a warm summer afternoon.
Start creating your outdoor oasis by following our simple guide today. If you need more inspiration, check out some of the display homes Sydney has to offer and make the most of summer by enjoying every aspect of your home!
It would really be nice to have an outdoor living area as it feels better and more refreshing being outdoors as against being indoors.
How I wish I have an outdoor living space, especially in a hot country like ours. I can imagine reading a book in our patio or dining al fresco. Not only is it relaxing but it also saves us electricity.
I could only hope for outdoor space, we have a balcony that has been rendered useless since we are at the last floor having one, it’s open and our considerate neighbors are so nice in throwing in stuff waaah! That photo is so relaxing, haaysss!
To have an outdoor living area is one of my dreams, most especially one on the pool side. I just wish we have extra space for that.
This outdoor living area looks very elegant. It’s nice to have a place like it and feel the freshness of morning breeze while having a cup of coffee.
We have an outdoor space but it’s not roomy enough to put comfortable furniture. Besides, that space is the first that gets wet when it starts raining. 😛 But I do spend some “me” time there…we have a plastic table there with stools and sometimes I just drink coffee there or read ebooks.
a cozy outdoor area is one of my longest dream for we love alfresco dining or just cozying outside esp when the weather gets too humid.
How I wish I’ll get to have an outdoor living area in the future. That would be a really nice space to just lounge around while enjoying the cool breeze. I’d love to dine al fresco in that spot too! 🙂