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Indoor Outdoor Room Ideas and Tips

The best thing about building an outdoor room is that it typically costs less to build this room than it does to add on a room. Also, it gives you the ability to have a living space with inclusions that typically don’t work indoors, such as a spa, plunge pool, barbecue area or landscaping. 

January 01, 2015

Sydney AwningsIdeal for our balmy Australian climate, an indoor outdoor room offers one of the best architectural elements that allow your indoor living to expand and blend with the outdoor space. Creating an exterior area that opens your home right up to the outdoors and lets the breeze in will enable you to make the most of outdoor living while still giving you all of the advantages of an indoor room. The best thing about building an outdoor room is that it typically costs less to build this room than it does to add on a room. Also, it gives you the ability to have a living space with inclusions that typically don’t work indoors, such as a spa, plunge pool, barbecue area or landscaping. 

Indoor Outdoor Room Ideas and Tips

The style, design and components of an outdoor room are only limited by the imagination; they can include living, entertainment, dining, cooking, and even sleeping spaces. But it’s important to ensure that the outdoor room complements your existing home architecture and surroundings. Your roofing material, pavers, furnishings, landscaping, colour palette, and so on, should blend with the style of the rest of your home.
Whether you’re looking to create a new indoor outdoor living space or renovating an existing one, here are some great design ideas and practical tips to help you create the perfect outdoor room with indoor appeal.

1. Awnings

Awnings allow you to make the most of outdoor living by providing a fresh, modern and beautiful way to create an indoor outdoor entertainment area. If you’re in the process of creating an outdoor room in your home this summer, consider installing an awning. Besides providing a colorful and sophisticated look, retractable awnings allow you to choose how much sun coverage you want. These stylish shade structures also create a continuous flow from the inside out to help coordinate with indoor and outdoor furniture and design themes.
Awnings are also very cost effective, and come in a wide range of colours, patterns and designs so you can easily match any colour in your garden or the paintwork on your home. With a well-crafted awning, you can create a beautiful indoor outdoor room that can be a living room, an entertainment area, a dining room or a combination of all three at a fraction of the cost building a conventional outdoor room.

2. Huge Sliding Windows and Doors

Installing large pane of glass and sliding doors is one of the most effective ways to bridge the exterior and interior. Sliding doors particularly work well wherever space is tight, but you could also use bi-fold doors, French doors or swinging doors to link internal and external entertaining areas. These doors will not only let in the breeze and natural light, but also allow you unobstructed views over your garden.

3. Weather-Proof Furniture

Use furniture to create different zones for lounging and outdoor dining. Choose durable, UV-protected pieces that filter out sun damage and select fabrics with weather-resistant features. How to clean awningsLook for weather-resistant, well-made and comfortable chairs and a table and then add colour with interesting cushions or pillows. Decorative, cosy pieces, such as throws, rugs and cushions, which complement the decor theme in your house can help you replicate an indoor atmosphere and also maintain a smooth transition between the areas. If space allows, add chaise lounges, storage cabinets, serving tables, side tables, and other furniture to make the most of your indoor outdoor entertainment area.

4. Feature Piece

Consider creating an attention-grabbing piece that adds a warm, inviting touch to your indoor outdoor room. A wall-hung artwork, statues, signs, a coffee table and other various colourful items can add attention-catching style to the outdoor entertainment area, whilst also blurring the distinction between the indoors and outdoors.
Adding a well-designed fireplace is another great way to add life and a distinct, lived-in feel to your indoor outdoor living space. A dining area instantly conjures the intimacy of the indoors and is also an easy way to blend indoors and outdoors.

5. Outdoor Kitchen and Bar

Adding a well-styled outdoor kitchen and bar will enable you to create a perfect indoor outdoor entertaining area. Alternatively, you could build a kitchen that spills out into the backyard deck and then use awnings to create a shady spot for entertaining. Make sure all of your kitchen surfaces and hardware are weather-resistant and recommended for external use. And don’t forget to plan for lighting and air circulation.

6. Use Plants

Use your favourite plants and tropical flowers to transform your outdoor living room into a colourful, peaceful haven where you can relax and entertain. You could also use flowers to define the different areas. There are limitless possibilities when it comes to plants and flowers for indoor outdoor living area. This is because there’s no end to the range of plants and flowers that can be grown in pots or containers. By combining long term evergreens with seasonal fillers, you can provide colour to your outdoor room throughout the year.