Outdoor Living Spaces

Published on: July 2, 2010

Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor living spaces are a great way to expand the living space of your home, and provide a wealth of benefits to homeowners and guests. They are often used as venues for entertaining and for family meals and recreation.

Outdoor living spaces also provide homeowners with a place to get away from the stress of everyday life and to convene with nature.  If you live in an area of the country with a mild climate such as central California or the southeast, outdoor living spaces can be enjoyed virtually year-round.  They can be elegantly simple or as grand as both money and space will allow.  Some elements of outdoor living include the following:

  • Outdoor kitchens, grills and bars
  • Outdoor furniture including eating tables and chairs, adirondack chairs, benches, chaise lounges, side tables, umbrellas and hammocks
  • Heating/cooling elements such as heat lamps, fire pits, chimineas, fans and misters
  • Water elements such as pools, koi ponds, waterfalls and  fountains
  • Gardens (flower, vegetable, herb and rock gardens)
  • Container Gardening including planters, pots, hanging baskets and window boxes
  • Shading elements such as trellises, trees and canopies
  • Bird feeders
  • Fences, gates and walls used to section off the space
  • Structures such as flagstone patios or gazebos
  • Lighting such as tiki torches, lanterns and flood lights
  • Insect control options ranging from comprehensive control from companies such as Mosquito Free Backyards to citronella candles, bug-repelling plants, bug zappers and even good old-fashioned bug spray
  • Music systems such as built-in speakers or surround sound systems

Any combination of these elements can create an outdoor living space that will increase the quality of life for an entire family while at the same time increasing the value of a home.

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