Having an outdoor living area opens up the possibilities for entertaining and how you enjoy your home. To encourage people to make the most of their outdoor living spaces, contemporary architects are looking for ways to blur the boundaries between inside and out, bringing elements of the outdoors in and vice versa to facilitate an everyday connection with nature. Get a primer on how to blend indoor and outdoor living so you too can enjoy nature to the max this summer.

Designate a space

A patch of grass might do for a picnic lunch in your backyard but to really make the most of outdoor living, define the area by building a deck or patio. Make the transition between your indoor and your outdoor living spaces seamless by attaching your deck or patio to the house. If possible, try to keep the floor of your outdoor living space level with your indoor floor so you can effortlessly move between the areas. Keep your outdoor area useable year round with protective shade like a roof, pergola, or awning.

Down with the wall

To make your outdoor living space ‘flow’ into the rest of your home, completely or partially replace a solid wall with hinged, folding, or sliding glass doors to blend the two areas. Even when closed, glass doors let in plenty of natural light and provide a great view of your backyard. When opened, they allow you to connect to nature without even leaving your home.

Repetition, repetition

Unify your two living spaces by carrying a single design scheme through both. Pave a patio with tiles in the same hue as your interior flooring, or build a deck with the same colour timber as one you have used inside. Match metal finishes on your indoor and outdoor furniture or look for outdoor furniture made from weather-friendly fabric to echo the upholstery of your interior pieces. Designing both spaces together will make your outdoor living space feel like a natural extension of the rest of your home.

Let’s get botanical

Outdoor living areas wouldn’t be quite so welcoming and relaxing without some greenery. A well-landscaped yard will feel like a lush oasis. Introducing plants inside your home will bridge your interiors to nature and up your indoor air quality.

All the trimmings

Up the ante of how you use your outdoor space by introducing features traditionally found indoors. Ambient lighting will set the mood for any outdoor entertaining you do and let you enjoy your space well into the light. If like most Australians, you like a good barbeque, then you can try taking your al fresco cooking to the next level with a fully equipped kitchen outside. Add features to suit your lifestyle.

Talk to a friendly team member at an Andersens showroom near you for more help with marrying your indoor and outdoor spaces.