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For too long, your backyard entertainment area has consisted of nothing more than a patio table, a few chairs, and a rickety grill you use for the occasional holiday barbecue. You’d like to use your yard more, but it’s not very inviting. It’s time to change things up by building a beautiful outdoor living space.
Designing outdoor living spaces involves more than just laying down a few pavers and buying nice furniture. If properly planned and executed, your patio or deck can become an actual extension of your home. As you dream of busting open your back doors and inviting your friends and family to relax in your brand-new outdoor living area, here are three important things to consider.
3 Things to Consider When Designing Outdoor Living Spaces
1. Your Overall Goal
What do you want in an outdoor living area? Will it be a place for people to sit and relax over drinks? Are you a chef with dreams of crafting delicious pizzas in a wood-burning oven, or do you simply want a grill to roast a few hot dogs? The sky’s the limit when it comes to what’s possible when designing outdoor living spaces. From a lounge area centered around the warmth of a fire pit to a full outdoor kitchen with a fridge and sink, your outdoor living space can be custom built to perfectly fit your individual lifestyle.
2. Your Individual Property
Speaking of a perfect fit, you’ll also want your outdoor living area to match the style of your home. A contemporary outdoor area with very modern furniture may look out of place attached to a home with Old World-style architecture (and vice versa). Think of your outdoor area as you would any indoor remodeling project and keep the style consistent.
You’ll also need to take into consideration what you have going on in your yard. Does it slope off sharply downhill? If so, a patio won’t work, but a deck will be perfect. Does your yard lack trees and heat up horribly in the summer sun? For sun-drenched yards, designing outdoor living spaces with a pergola or some sort of canopy helps create an outdoor space that’s beautiful, as well as usable.
3. Codes and Regulations
Finally, when designing outdoor living spaces, all homeowners must pay attention to their local city codes and homeowner’s association rules and restrictions. There’s nothing as frustrating as paying to put up a privacy fence around your brand-new patio, only for the city to make you tear it down. Are you designing a smaller sitting area in hopes of installing a pool later? Make sure your city and neighborhood will allow a backyard pool before finalizing your plans.
If you’re working with a professional contractor who is experienced at designing outdoor living spaces, they’ll likely be familiar with city codes and will be aware of the common HOA restrictions that you may need to research before getting started. With the proper goal-setting and planning, you’ll avoid upsetting the neighbors — and will have an amazing outdoor living space in which to relax on these gorgeous summer days.
Don’t let your dream home be delayed any longer! With our new unbeatable financing options, there’s no reason to wait on that project you’ve been wanting to complete. The rates are so great, you may even be able to upgrade and make more renovations that will truly turn your home into the dream home you’ve always wanted!
