How to Turn Your Garden into Another Room of Your Home
Add value and fun to your plot with these great ideas for extending your living space outdoors
Your garden isn’t just an extension of your home; when it’s designed to connect indoor and outdoor living, it can also add value. I’ve lived in New York and London and, in both cities, the creative use of even the tiniest patches of outdoor space is incredible. From striking window boxes to the innovative use and adornment of balconies and patios, using an outside area to extend the home is the norm.
It’s an idea we can all steal. Whether you have a small space yourself or are blessed with a bigger plot, it’s worth thinking creatively about what you can do with it. Take a look at these schemes to get you started and embrace this growing trend.
It’s an idea we can all steal. Whether you have a small space yourself or are blessed with a bigger plot, it’s worth thinking creatively about what you can do with it. Take a look at these schemes to get you started and embrace this growing trend.
Create a covered bar
Covered spaces for outdoor bars and seating are becoming more popular. Providing a solid roof like the one pictured, as well as choosing water-resistant materials, such as stone worktops and splashproof cushions, means the space can be used rain or shine.
Covered spaces for outdoor bars and seating are becoming more popular. Providing a solid roof like the one pictured, as well as choosing water-resistant materials, such as stone worktops and splashproof cushions, means the space can be used rain or shine.
Enclose beneath a canopy
Your outdoor roof covering doesn’t have to be a permanent fixture. Sail-like structures, or canopies, like this umbrella-style one, not only look stylish, they can be easily opened or closed depending on the weather.
Your outdoor roof covering doesn’t have to be a permanent fixture. Sail-like structures, or canopies, like this umbrella-style one, not only look stylish, they can be easily opened or closed depending on the weather.
Invest in an outdoor kitchen
Fully functioning outdoor kitchens or more simply designed areas for cooking are very popular now and are being incorporated into the layout of many gardens.
Design a unit to house a gas-fuelled barbecue, and make sure there’s plenty of space for prep and lots of storage. You can buy gas barbecues to run from mains or calor gas and even add extras such as a hotplate. To take things further still, you could look at an outdoor fridge and sink, too.
Fully functioning outdoor kitchens or more simply designed areas for cooking are very popular now and are being incorporated into the layout of many gardens.
Design a unit to house a gas-fuelled barbecue, and make sure there’s plenty of space for prep and lots of storage. You can buy gas barbecues to run from mains or calor gas and even add extras such as a hotplate. To take things further still, you could look at an outdoor fridge and sink, too.
Build an outdoor fireplace
Fireplaces create a lovely feature in any garden and are perfect for those dry autumnal evenings, meaning you’ll be able to spend much more time outdoors.
From wood-burning fires in various styles to firepits and tables with built-in gas- or bioethanol-fuelled flames, there are numerous options. Find a reputable supplier and investigate what could work in your space.
Fireplaces create a lovely feature in any garden and are perfect for those dry autumnal evenings, meaning you’ll be able to spend much more time outdoors.
From wood-burning fires in various styles to firepits and tables with built-in gas- or bioethanol-fuelled flames, there are numerous options. Find a reputable supplier and investigate what could work in your space.
Choose bifolding doors
The use of floor-to-ceiling glazing is a great way to enhance the connection between inside and outside, which, in turn, will boost the sense of your patio as a living space. Bifolds are ideal, as they give you the largest possible opening.
Having outdoor dining furniture – or indoor pieces you can easily whip outside – will mean mealtimes can transfer to the patio whenever the weather allows.
What to consider when planning bifold doors
The use of floor-to-ceiling glazing is a great way to enhance the connection between inside and outside, which, in turn, will boost the sense of your patio as a living space. Bifolds are ideal, as they give you the largest possible opening.
Having outdoor dining furniture – or indoor pieces you can easily whip outside – will mean mealtimes can transfer to the patio whenever the weather allows.
What to consider when planning bifold doors
Use flooring to create the illusion of additional space
Running the same floor finish from inside to outside will work to connect the two areas, and have the added advantage of making both the living space and the garden appear larger than they really are.
In terms of materials, natural stone is one that works in and out, but make sure it’s anti-slip, since polished tiles could be a hazard in wet weather. Some porcelain tiles can be used outside, but check with your supplier that they’re suitable before buying.
Running the same floor finish from inside to outside will work to connect the two areas, and have the added advantage of making both the living space and the garden appear larger than they really are.
In terms of materials, natural stone is one that works in and out, but make sure it’s anti-slip, since polished tiles could be a hazard in wet weather. Some porcelain tiles can be used outside, but check with your supplier that they’re suitable before buying.
Avoid steps or thresholds
Maintaining a continuous floor level from inside to outside will help the spaces flow well together, so you can enjoy the garden even when you’re inside. This may mean creating a change in level in your garden, but, as seen here, this can work well and create a sheltered area in which to sit or dine.
Maintaining a continuous floor level from inside to outside will help the spaces flow well together, so you can enjoy the garden even when you’re inside. This may mean creating a change in level in your garden, but, as seen here, this can work well and create a sheltered area in which to sit or dine.
Plan vertically with smaller gardens
Small gardens especially benefit from feeling more connected with the living space, so creating a beautiful space to look out onto is really important. With limited floor space, using a vertical planting scheme works best. Try tiered raised beds like these to create an interesting backdrop, and incorporate lighting for impact at night.
Find out how to make your garden look bigger
Small gardens especially benefit from feeling more connected with the living space, so creating a beautiful space to look out onto is really important. With limited floor space, using a vertical planting scheme works best. Try tiered raised beds like these to create an interesting backdrop, and incorporate lighting for impact at night.
Find out how to make your garden look bigger
Consider an internal courtyard
Internal courtyards work brilliantly as outdoor living spaces. Being able to open up the glazing completely and having the same floor finish inside and out makes the space feel totally unified. Introduce a fire pit or outdoor fireplace to allow you to use the space all year round.
Have you embraced outdoor living? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Internal courtyards work brilliantly as outdoor living spaces. Being able to open up the glazing completely and having the same floor finish inside and out makes the space feel totally unified. Introduce a fire pit or outdoor fireplace to allow you to use the space all year round.
Have you embraced outdoor living? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Introducing statement lighting and decorating garden walls will help to create a really attractive outdoor room. Choose things that are easy to bring in and out to protect them from the elements or, if you plan to leave them out, ensure they’re either weatherproof or will look good weathered.
Alternatively, you can find waterproof canvases and outdoor wall sculptures and ceramics that are designed for the job. Vintage enamel signage also works well.
If you wish to hang your pieces on a hedge rather than a wall or fence, you can fit struts within the branches to achieve something like the idea in this garden.
There are plenty of floor, table and pendant lamps specifically made for outdoor use, too.