Spring is a perfect time for an exterior face lift. It’s time to start preparing your home for sunny days spent outside. Many friends are interested in creating an indoor/outdoor lifestyle by redesigning their home. Blurring the line between your home’s interior and exterior floods your home with natural light and increases your living space. Whether you are planning a new build or just working with what you’ve already got, today we are sharing seven tips for blending indoor and outdoor spaces.
1. Take advantage of the stunning light
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to add curb appeal to your facade is with lighting. Outdoor sconces hugging your door or by the garage create an inviting glow that welcomes guests. They can also distract from other features of your home that you don’t love and are planning to change once your budget allows it.
2. Define and Create Flow Between Spaces
Just as each room in your home has a specific purpose, make the most of your backyard or patio by creating defined spaces. Think of the ways traffic can flow in and out of your house and where it makes the most sense to have an outdoor dining space, a lounge area, a firepit or a play house for the kids.
The outdoor dining space extends from the indoor dining room. This makes it easy to transport food from the kitchen and allows for both tables to be in use when entertaining.
3. Let in the Light
Flooding a space with natural light brings the freshness of the outdoors into your home. In a new build you might consider oversize windows or bi-folding doors. In an existing design, if you don’t need privacy, you might consider removing window coverings. I use drapes and shades in many of my designs, but not all of them. In the bedroom below, I left the window bare to make the most of the outdoor light and views.
4. Coordinate the Design
Bare windows, especially black-framed windows, can frame the view. It's a beautiful way to bring nature into your home and make it feel like a piece of art hanging on the wall. Create flow between exterior and interior spaces through coordinated design. This outdoor lounge space can be seen from the indoor living room. Using the same woven texture, warm wood and white upholstery makes the outdoor seating feel like an extension of the interior space.
5. Use Greenery
Invite nature in with pops of greenery in every space. In this bedroom, a tall green plant in front of the window creates a transition between the spaces and ties them together.
6. Style Inviting Outdoor Spaces
Draw your guests out with an outdoor living space that feels as warm and inviting as your indoor family room. Ground the space with a rug, upholster comfortable sofas in fabric, bring in color and pattern with pillows, provide throws for cooler summer nights, and style a coffee table with greenery and books.
7. Get along with nature
I keep lightweight rattan chairs in my patio for dining and lounging, something natural material adds to the natural charm tremendously.
Make the most of your property and make it easy to spend time outdoors with a design that supports an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Share your outdoor living spaces with us!
