Being at home for so long has many of us reevaluating our own homes to see how we can make more room for ourselves, create our own getaway space, or just get outside to enjoy the outdoors. I find myself looking at beautiful hotels and far away destinations in travel magazines; gazing at the beaches, the mountains, and any other outdoor space that takes me away if even for a moment!
In design, there is always an opportunity to maximize your outdoor living space, be it a balcony off your condo or something as extravagant as creating a sandy beach in your backyard. And building flexibility into the design at the beginning is key to its success. Start with an overall plan, then add in the individual requirements your design needs to meet.
For instance, consider how many individual spaces you may need within the overall space then decide if items need to be mobile and or removable. Consider who is using the space, you and your cat, friends and family, large parties. Will there be a built-in fireplace or a portable firepit, heavy solidly built furnishings or moveable multi-use lightweight pieces, built-in BBQ and pizza oven or countertop appliances?
And don’t forget about lighting, it’s just as important as the furnishings. You’ll need task lighting for whoever is bartending the chef or grill-master, and ambient lighting for the guests. Will that firepit be enough light in the evening or will you need some portable lanterns, wall sconces, or overhead recessed can lights? And speaking of fire, just as a total side note on what’s happening in the West, let’s make sure that whatever fire source you decide on you have water and or extinguishers readily available in case those s’mores catch fire and get out of control.
We’ve also been designing planter boxes and gardens; working in conjunction with landscapers to give people the option to grow produce at home. And lastly, of course, many of us want to update or add new outdoor furniture. Which is great, because there are so many new outdoor fabric and furniture options available for you to choose from.
There are a lot of things going on in the world right now, and many of them need our attention and support, so let’s make sure that whatever it is you need to create in your home and your outdoor space it feeds you, supports you, and reinvigorates you so that when you need to go out into the world you are ready for it.
If you are looking to refresh, redesign, or start a new project give us a call, we’d love to hear from you!
