Are you interested in creating an indoor-outdoor environment for your home (and save on heating and cooling bills too)? You're not alone. Indoor- outdoor design is one of the hottest trends in home design today. And thankfully, it's remarkably easy to do.
Your home is an extension of yourself and your personality, so why settle for an indoor-only living environment? Instead, take advantage of the weather outside by utilizing your outdoor space with a covered patio, garden room or sunroom. What's more, add new lighting and décor to create a seamless transition from the interior to exterior in your home.
More and more people are choosing to live in homes that connect to the outdoors. This affords homeowners the opportunity of choice when it comes to creating an outdoor living space – whether because they have a large backyard or because they want to maximize the potential of their open deck space. Whatever your reason, here are some things you should consider when deciding how to use the outdoor spaces in your home.
Include a movable wall system
Source: nanawall.com
One of the biggest challenges of renovating a home is getting the indoor-outdoor flow just right. As a renovation contractor in beautiful North Vancouver, we know what summer means to homeowners and we want to help them to make their living space feel seamlessly integrated with the outdoors. As we have researched different options for clients, we have felt drawn to a movable wall system that would allow homeowners the feeling of an outdoor room while still having the option of closing it off when weather conditions warrant it.
The movable walls are made from polycarbonate panels that provide maximum thermal efficiency, as well as sound and UV protection. The panels are mounted onto a rigid aluminum frame with a variety of mounting options for either permanent or temporary installations. The system is also designed for ease of use: in addition to being able to be opened by one person, they offer an optional hydraulic opening system—no more straining to get those heavy wooden doors open! And if you're worried about security, don't be: each panel comes equipped with its own lock and has been tested for resistance to impact and breakage.
For those who want more than just one movable wall, there are kits available that give you multiple panels and allow you to arrange them in whatever configuration works best
Invest in large windows
Incorporating natural light is one of the simplest ways to make your home feel like it's connected to the outdoors—the more light that comes in, the less you'll want to close up your house and lock out the outside world. You can open up your windows and get new light by adding big windows that let in lots of natural sunlight or by having skylights or roof windows installed that bring in extra daylight.
Expand the home into the yard
Another option is to expand your house into the yard—add patios, decks and terraces. And if there are things you'd like to keep out of sight, consider installing glass doors so you can open them when you want fresh air and sunshine. There are even sliding glass doors that can be opened with just a push of a button—they're especially useful if you have small children who might not be able to manage a more traditional door opening.
Select glass doors that are easy to operate
An important step in creating a seamless indoor-outdoor living space is to choose the right materials for the doors and windows. The glass you select should be strong, elegant and easy to operate. Glass doors can be easily controlled by adding an awning or roof cover for protection from the elements. Awnings and roof covers are a quick and easy way to turn any patio into a year-round space.
There are many different kinds of glass doors available: sliding, swinging, and French doors are all popular choices. Each type has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Sliding doors are good for rooms that have limited space for movement—they don't require as much clearance as swinging doors do, but they may not be as aesthetically pleasing. French doors offer an open feel with the ability to see from one end of the room to the other, but since they swing both ways, they might not be ideal for rooms with high traffic flow. The best option for your home is likely something that balances your needs and aesthetic preferences in equal measure.
Section: Add an awning or roof cover
Source: shadefx.com
You can add an awning or roof cover over the top so that you get protection from both rain and sun, but still have plenty of air flow through the space. This is especially great for people who want access to their outdoor space even when it's raining—you don't have to go out all the time just because it's raining!
Install skylights or roof windows
If your ceilings are high enough for them, roof windows will be a more permanent solution, as they're actually built into the structure of the house and can't blow off in high winds. Since they are custom-built, however, they are also more expensive than skylights which are meant to simply be installed on top of a regular roof. With skylights, all you need is the right location, which can be an attic or a dormer area; if your ceiling is too low to support a skylight installation, there's always an option of installing one above an entranceway.
Skylights and roof windows both have their pros and cons—a skylight is great for bringing in natural light and air on sunny days, but it's not going to keep out heat or cold like a roof window would. A roof window will let in both light and temperature control but only works when it's not raining—it's installed flush with your home's surface so water just
Consider including patios, decks and terraces
Patios, decks and terraces are a great way to add space for entertaining and relaxation to your house. With the right design, you can also create some outdoor living areas that can be used throughout the year. A deck or patio will make your house more attractive to buyers as a result of creating value in the home.
In order to minimize potential pitfalls when completing your deck or patio project, you should always consider hiring someone who has experience with this type of home improvement project. It is also important that you follow local building codes and any additional requirements determined by your homeowner's association. Many cities have strict guidelines that must be followed when installing decks and patios in order to prevent accidents and preserve the integrity of the neighborhood.
With the right planning and forethought, adding a deck or patio can increase the value of your home while providing you with additional living space.
If you have the space and the budget, there are many options for expanding your indoor living spaces into outdoor areas.
There are many different styles of decks and patios available, including:
-Wooden decks
-Concrete decks
-Stone patios
-Gravel patios
You also have many different materials from which you can choose when building them out, such as:
-Plants and flowers
-Cement pavers
-Slate tiles
-Laminate flooring
There are many options to creating an indoor-outdoor space in your home.
In the end, there are many ways to create functional indoor-outdoor spaces during a renovation project. For homeowners who value easy access to nature or who get tired of sitting inside all winter, it may make sense to personalize outdoor living space. For others, it might be irreplaceable open space that they don't want to encroach on. Regardless of what you're looking for during your renovation, there is likely a way to incorporate an indoor-outdoor focus into the design. And if done correctly, you can make your new home as nice and functional as ever, without sacrificing the beauty of the outdoors.