Outdoors
Designing a functional outdoor space is very similar to designing an interior room. Interior Design Boston can help you develop your ideas into an organized sequential plan, working from the most general to the most specific features. We start by committing your design to scale on paper and include all existing elements of your yard, from the pool or patio to any existing landscaping and walkways. Next, we consider traffic patterns, both to and from rooms in your home and to areas in your yard, as well as stationary points where you might like to sit and relax, entertain guests, or just read a book in the sun. Finally, we discuss options to improve your space, using landscaping, furniture placement, new structural elements, irrigation, and any other necessary key elements of design. While we can help you compose the perfect result for your outdoor living space, here are a few ideas to help spark your creativity:
Consider your outdoor space an extension of your home. When possible, always use the existing resources that your home gives. Outlets on the outside walls will provide easy lighting connections while exterior water faucets are a must for any water features. By using what is already accessible on the outside of the home and planning your design around these features will save you money on new utility connections, allow you to use existing walls as part of the structural elements, and offer easy access to the indoors.
Be patient and consider the long-term. Remember that your design is always changing. What you see in the spring will be different than the summer. A great design should also look good and have its own benefits in the fall and winter as well. Many plants and shrubs will change their characteristics over the years, and a well-thought design can help you utilize those changes to their best potential. Even if it takes you five years to implement your design, it is important to have a cohesive plan and stick with it.
Be sure to have proper coverage. When creating an outdoor room with a covered area, keep most of the roof solid, rather than using open rafters or lattice. This not only provides more useful shelter, but also helps define the space as a room.
Choose your furniture wisely. Look for comfortable, weather-resistant chairs that encourage lounging, no matter whether you have a pool or not. Also, be sure to have fun with fabric- outdoor fabrics that stand up to harsh conditions are now available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Consider a hammock with a few pillows for a quiet area in the shade to read a book or take a nap.
Heat things up. Fireplaces create great focal points and allow you to use the space in cool weather. Mantels, fire pits, and chimneas are a great conversational piece when incorporated into the masonry of a new deck or patio. Also consider adding in a proper grilling area for those who like to BBQ. Be sure to check local regulations for any setback and construction restrictions or bans on wood-burning or charcoal grills and fireplaces.
Light and Shade. Adding in several different lighting options can help transform the mood quickly. Try lighted path lamps for walkways, hanging candles in trees and bushes for a romantic touch, or spot lights for a nighttime game of bocce. Weather resistant fabric curtains and awnings can also help keep you cool on those hot summer days.
Factor in landscaping. To enjoy an outdoor room year-round, go with a simple landscape plan with interesting evergreen foliage and trees or bushes that keep flower or fruit late in the season. If you don’t have a green thumb, consider nice containers for flowers which introduce color and softness to the surroundings without the hassle of tending to beds.
Think big. Make the space as large as you can to maximize the benefits.