How to create an outdoor room on a budget
Creating an outdoor room is easier with the following tips.
An outdoor room is a great way to increase the living space of your home - whether you live in a condominium, townhouse or even a house. As a young single, you may have limited funds, but by keeping your needs, lifestyle, and budget in mind, you can create an outdoor room that fits your lifestyle. The following tips can help you create your outdoor room.
Analyze the space
Your first step in creating an outdoor room is to critically look at the space available to you. If you live in a condo, you may have a balcony for an outdoor room. With a townhouse, you may have a patio or a porch, and if you own a house, you may have a deck, a patio, or both. Look at what you have to work with and then ask yourself the following questions.
- How much room does the space give you?
- How do you plan to use your outdoor room?
- What is the primary focus of the space?
- What is your budget?
Using these questions as a guide, write out a plan for your outdoor room. Draw a sketch of how it should look and then make a list any furniture that you need. Possible uses for the outdoor room include:
- a space for entertaining guests
- an outdoor kitchen and eating area
- a place to relax
Characteristics of an outdoor room
Now that you have a general idea of what you want in an outdoor room, the next step is to make it happen. In order to make the most of your outdoor space, it can help to add some of the common characteristics of great outdoor rooms.
- It should be comfortable. Whether the focus of your outdoor room is for entertaining, cooking, playing, or relaxing, it should be a place that is comfortable to hang out. Choose chairs that not only can withstand the weather, but where you actually want to relax. Add cushions and pillows for a soft touch.
- Use natural materials. Your outdoor room is, after all, outdoors. Natural materials fit well in an outdoor room. Wicker furniture or a sisal rug are great for outdoor rooms. Or, simply add some potted plants.
- Have a sense of structure. If you are working with a patio, create a sense of walls with latticework or plants. Your outdoor room should have the feel of a room for a defined space and a sense of intimacy.
- Water is a must. A fountain adds the wow factor to your outdoor room. There is just something about the soothing sound of a fountain that completes an outdoor room. If your space or budget is limited, find a tabletop fountain that adds to the ambiance.
- Use accessories. Whether you hang decorations on the walls or deck railings or decorate the table in your outdoor room, accessorizing adds the final touch that your outdoor room needs. Have a theme and use that as a focus for the accessories.
Sticking to your budget
It can get expensive to set up an outdoor room, but it does not have to be. As a young single you may have other financial priorities, like saving for a down payment on a house or paying off student loans, that discourage you from spending much on an outdoor room. Or, you may know that you are not staying in your current residence for a long time and don’t want to invest a lot when you will move in the near future. A few tips can help you to create an outdoor room without spending a fortune.
- Shop discount stores. You can find great looking outdoor furniture with a nice pricetag for your outdoor room at a discount store.
- Don’t be afraid to buy used. You may find something that works great for you at a second-hand shop or a garage sale. Those can be especially good places to look for accessories for your outdoor room.
- Shop at the end-of-season sales. Although inventory will be limited, you can get great deals.
- Buy what you can take with you. If you know moving is in your future, then purchase pieces that can easily move with you.
With a little planning and legwork, you can create an outdoor room that you can really enjoy.
Published on January 08, 2007
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