Having a dedicated outdoor space in one’s house has risen from being a want to being an absolute necessity. Especially in times such as the pandemic, where oru homes are our safe havens, having a pocket to the outdoors right in your home can be such a relief. 

Even when one ends a day of hard work, a palace to relax, connect with nature and unwind can prove to be an absolute game changer. It has been noted several times in studies that spending time around elements of nature has a soothing effect on the human mind making it a vital feature to have in your home. 

Outdoor rooms, in particular, are a unique and practical way to achieve the outdoor tranquility in your home. Wheel features like balconies and backyard gardens are fairly common, outdoor rooms are rare yet amazing.

Outdoor rooms are a part of home layouts in many cultures to this day and for all the right reasons, they offer the peace of nature in the comfort of a secluded space. 

Here’s how you too can set up your own outdoor room for a relaxing experience: 

NAIL DOWN A LAYOUT 

To begin with developing any space, the first thing is to have a clarity on the layout you wish to go with. The most important thing to plan a layout is to first measure how much space you can actually free up for an outdoor room project. The scale of the room would depend on the amount of space you have and how much you can give up for the room.

Next up is the open vs closed debate. Outdoor rooms can be approached with an open or closed concept in mind. If you consider an open layout, you could go for an outdoor room without a roof or open one side so as to blend it seamlessly with the rest of the space and get the vibe of being outside.

On the other hand, if you wish to have a more private space overlooking the outside, you could go for a typical room structure closed off, with modifications to bind it with the outside. Either of the concepts can work well depending on the space and purpose you have in mind. 

PICK A FLOORING

Once you pick out a layout, you can get started on the elements of the design beginning with the flooring itself. The floor that you pick plays a crucial role in the aesthetics, practicality and maintenance of the space.

Depending on the concept you pick, certain flooring could work best with the least amount of hassle. For instance, if you wish to go for an open concept where the floor would have to be  durable enough to endure climatic changes and also interact with dust and mixture, opting for flooring materials like ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, and natural stone floors may prove to be useful and durable.

No matter the aesthetic you pick, you could find a tile that matches it perfectly. With features like dust or water resistance, maintaining them on the outside can be a piece of cake.

On the other hand, if you're going for a closed concept you could explore a whole different set of flooring including carpet tiles or all the all time classic wooden flooring. These options may not be as suitable when constantly exposed to harsh weather, but can work great for a closed concept room giving it a comfy vibe. 

BLEND WITH NATURE 

In an outdoor room, no matter whether you go for an open or a closed concept it is important to remember that the purpose of such a space is to connect you with nature. The association with nature and its elements needs to shine through the design itself.

To begin with, adding flowers and greenery around the space can help connect it to the outdoors. Especially in a closed concept wherein you are overlooking the outdoors, such elements can help reinforce the association with nature. Further, having greenery and plants all around is known to have a positive effect on one’s mind giving a fresh feeling, keeping them around can help promote a better state of mind.

Another way to keep the blend with nature intact is to interact with other elements of nature that can be brought into the design. For instance, you could include a small indoor water display, or even a garden fountain depending on the amount of space you have.

Water elements have a similar association to nature property that gives a soothing effect to one’s mind helping them unwind. Not to forget, using nature inspired elements can make the space feel a lot different and vibrant, as if it is an oasis apart from your home yet a part of it. 

PICK THE RIGHT FURNITURE 

The right furniture is vital to the aesthetic and purpose of a space. Different materials, textures, finishes and colors of furniture all work in ways to create an atmosphere that is unique.

However, from a practical point of view too, furniture of an outdoor room has to be chosen carefully considering the impact that it could have from outside forces. The important thing is to match the furniture with your concept. For instance, if you’re looking to embrace the open concept then you would do better with furniture crafted especially with all weather endurance properties.

You could look into specialized patio furniture or even go with the magic of somber wicker furniture to reinvent the space. Alternatively for a closed concept the options open up to anything and everything you want.

However, try to keep the association with nature open here as well. You could try upholstery couches, delicate wrought iron pieces or live edged wooden furniture, each with a unique appeal of its own to work well with the space. 

ILLUMINATE IT WELL 

Lighting and brightness is a make or break component of any space’s interior design. In an outdoor room in particular, the focus is in association with nature which is why the primal focus would be to find ways for natural light to do most of the work in the day time.

There are a bunch of different ways to ensure the same. To begin with, swapping smaller windows for panoramic ones can really help elevate the look while ensuring a better view and access to natural light. Bigger windows or even sliding glass doors around the space can allow tons of natural light to flow in and illuminate the space.

If panoramic windows don't fit your ideal concept you could swap them for smaller windows spread around the space bringing in light to every corner of the house. Another great way to go is the addition of a skylight. Skylights are glass panes set into the ceilings of a space so as to give a peek to the outside as well as allow sunlight in.

For the darker parts of the day, warm lights can serve the purpose well. Since they have a softer impact they have a non disrupting way to illuminate the room. It can feel well lit without being too harshly lit, maintaining the relaxing and calm environment all around. 

Overall, having an outdoor room in your house can prove to be a real asset. Whether one needs to feel closer to nature or simply unwind after a rough day, our same ol rooms cna sometimes lack the comfort we need.

An outdoor room thus, offers a fun alternative in the form of an additional space to relax and unwind in. While a part of the house’s layout, this room can be developed completely differently to prioritize comfort without disturbing the house’s aesthetic making it the perfect addition to your home this season!