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Living Room



Syndicate

Outdoor Living Spaces Extend Your Livable Space And Delight The Senses. | Print |
By Amy Snyder

What started out as a yard in the great American dream has
evolved into an outdoor living space, encompassing dining areas,
living rooms and even play areas that go way beyond the
swingsets of the 1950s. These spaces extend the livable area of
your home, while saving you money and increasing your homes
value. This is particularly true in the Southwest, where
bug-free, temperate outdoor conditions predominate for much of
the year. In fact, a little further south, Latin American homes
often blur the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces a
bedroom might open to the garden or the dining room might call
for outdoor eating all year round.

To take advantage of the wisdom of outdoor spaces, its
important to remember that youll be more likely to use them if
theyre close to the entrances of your home.




One exception to
that rule, however, are retreat spaces sanctuaries youll want
to remove from the house to create a sense of privacy and
solace.

One of the most popular outdoor spaces is the outdoor dining
room/kitchen. Plans for outdoor dining rooms can range from the
basic to the outrageous, depending on your inclination and
budget. Merely placing tables and chairs to take advantage of
(or avoid) the sun, with a barbeque set up nearby, may be all
you need. Even so, consider accents to dress up the space, like
container gardens and solar-powered lights.

If you want to go for broke, install an entire outdoor kitchen
with weatherproof cabinets and outdoor-ready appliances. Often
the cabinets and appliances form the walls or boundaries of
the space which you can then dress up with Spanish tile and a
dining set. Use a pergola to provide shade and some cover.

Another popular option is the outdoor living room. Some
families create not one, but two outdoor living spaces, one on
the east side of the house and one on the west side. When its
hot out, they always have a shady respite, and during cooler
weather they can soak up the suns rays all day long. Planting
greenery around these areas will help defray cooling costs in
the summer and provide privacy and protection from the wind.
Consider making these spaces more cozy with weatherproof
fabrics, rattan furniture and pillow-draped seat walls. And to
add interest, build your outdoor living room around a focal
point such as a view, water feature or even a fireplace.

There are many reasons to consider creating outdoor living
spaces. They not only raise your property value, but can be a
place to entertain or simply an easy way to enjoy the great
outdoors without having to leave your home.




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