Creating an Outdoor Room

Creating an outdoor room can improve the usable space and increase the resale value of your home by as high as 30 percent. Whether you have an existing area like a deck, patio or screened porch or just beginning, there are numerous methods to make this functional room stylish.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a big backyard or a tiny patio. The most important aspect in designing your outdoor room is to implement your plan in steps. Don’t assume that it will happen all at once. Neither does it cost a lot of money.

For starters, imagine your ideal space. Take time to consider how you want to utilize your outdoor room. Whether it's for family use, entertaining guests or relaxing, make a list of items you want to have there.

Go outside and do some window shopping. This will tell you what’s available and what you can use in your outdoor room. Take notes and pictures of a wide variety of outdoor furniture and accessories for reference. This will help you decide how to decorate your new space.

An outdoor room can imply anything from an attached, screened-in porch or a gazebo. If it's an independent area like a gazebo, make a passageway with foliage to visually connect it to the house. Try to erase the fact that you're outside by using the same flooring material outside as inside. You can also use plants to frame the doorway to your outdoor room.

By placing decking, you can divide that area from the rest of the garden. Decide on the shape of the decking and where you will put it. Many decking areas are square or rectangular and are placed at the side or the end of the garden. When the decking is down, furnish the room.