Open-plan living – with its seamless connection of indoors and outdoors – remains an imperative because it is so well suited to our climate and lifestyle in Australia. Creating a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces is a fantastic way to create an illusion of more space within your home. As Australians we tend to love living and entertaining outdoors, a meaningful bridge and connection between indoors and out is relatively easy to achieve.
Creating Indoor Outdoor Flow in your home – Image from Homes To Love
Having an outdoor living area opens up the possibilities for entertaining and how you enjoy your home. With our own home our verandah is bigger than our actual internal dining and living room and we find that it is used more especially when entertaining. I have created various zones on our verandah which include a dining area a large comfortable seating area and a daybed zone for individual relaxation.
To encourage people to make the most of their outdoor living spaces, contemporary architects are looking for ways to blur the boundaries between inside and out, bringing elements of the outdoors in and vice versa to facilitate an everyday connection with nature. Our outdoor and indoor area are connected via eclectic furniture items and similar coloured decor items.
Designing the space
A patch of grass might do for a picnic lunch in your backyard but to really make the most of outdoor living, define the area by building a verandah, deck or patio. Make the transition between your indoor and your outdoor living spaces seamless by attaching your deck or patio to the house. If possible, try to keep the floor of your outdoor living space level with your indoor floor so you can effortlessly move between the areas. Also utilise large servery windows and sliding or bifold doors to maximise the connection between the indoor and outdoor zones. Keep your outdoor area useable year round with protective shade like a roof, pergola, or awning. This is so important in our hot summers as often the outdoor space is the coolest in the home. Also, with our rainy days it is lovely to relax in the outdoor space and this is only possible with a good roof.
Creating Indoor Outdoor Flow in your home – Image from Katrina Chambers
Unify
Unify your two living spaces by carrying a single design scheme through both. Pave a patio with tiles in the same hue as your interior flooring, or build a deck with the same colour timber as one you have used inside. Match metal finishes on your indoor and outdoor furniture or look for outdoor furniture made from weather-friendly fabric to echo the upholstery of your interior pieces. Designing both spaces together will make your outdoor living space feel like a natural extension of the rest of your home.
Creating Indoor Outdoor Flow in your home – Image from Interiors Addict
Greenery
Outdoor living areas wouldn’t be quite so welcoming and relaxing without some greenery. A well-landscaped yard will feel like a lush oasis. Introducing plants inside your home will bridge your interiors to nature and up your indoor air quality.
Creating Indoor Outdoor Flow in your home – Image from Pinterest
Decorate
Up the ante of how you use your outdoor space by introducing features traditionally found indoors. Ambient lighting will set the mood for any outdoor entertaining you do and let you enjoy your space well into the light. Also, it goes without saying that you will also require several Bungalow Living Outdoor Cushions, available in many sizes, colours and patterns to suit any home decor. Bungalow Living Outdoor Mats are also great for decorating your outdoor space and adding colour and interest. If like most Australians, you like a good barbeque, then you can try taking your al fresco cooking to the next level with a fully equipped kitchen outside. Add features to suit your lifestyle.
Creating Indoor Outdoor Flow in your home – Image from 3 Birds Renovations