Many people have rethought their interior design, if not moving out entirely into new homes. Perhaps they’ve grown tired of the same old experience and being stuck at home during the pandemic. Or they feel that their living needs have outgrown what their houses’ structure could offer.
More and more are experimenting on home customization ideas like convertible furniture to maximize space. Some are tearing down walls that used to divide the rooms in their houses. Despite these remodeling efforts, they may feel like the house still lacks oomph.
If you’re one of those mentioned, you probably haven’t considered the idea of a seamless indoor-outdoor design yet. This design method that fuses indoor and outdoor spaces in an attempt to make the home larger than life was, in fact, all the rage during the extended quarantine period and is still so today. The following are ways you can do this for your home too and do whatever you want with your newfound space:
Glass Doors and Walls
If you are still building your house, make it a point to install a glass door on the wall that is facing your yard. There are sliding and folding ones, but the latter are the better option to achieve a seamless experience traversing inside-out and will create an illusion of bigger space. For those whose house has a traditional timber door, you can always consider replacing it with one that is glass.
An even better course of action is to make the wall entirely glass with a part that opens. Just make sure that you choose the best type of steel frame to hold your glass panels firmly. If you are worried that outdoor light might glare so much into your house, especially during the warmer seasons, you could have photochromic glass installed instead.
Being with Nature
One of the main concerns of those who are exploring a seamless indoor-outdoor home design is having to sacrifice their privacy for making their living spaces open. A good solution to that is by installing barriers like screening hedges. Besides adding natural vibrancy, screening hedges also block the view of outsiders. While it’s up to you how tall you want these natural barriers, you would rather have plants such as Leighton Green, Pittosporum, and privet that naturally grow as tall as several meters high and because they are evergreen, they are easy to maintain.
If you want to achieve a more exclusive look to your yard while keeping it nature-oriented, a retaining wall system is a good investment. You can choose from brick, timber, limestone, or any other finish. Embellish the expanse of the wall with path lights to make it more inviting to walk by at night and, again, to make your space appear bigger.
Deck
Whether it’s a full-on hardwood flooring or a deck, it’s a great idea, especially for owners of small homes to have a leveled sprawl just when you step out to your yard. But note that wood decks tend to rot, whereas those made with other materials such as wood-polymer composite and aluminum can get too hot under the sun making it uncomfortable to walk barefoot. You can opt for the same flooring material used indoors, provided it is warp-resistant and would be just as easy to clean, being more exposed to natural elements.
Transitional Elements
One way to achieve that indoor-outdoor experience that feels like you are outside when you are technically inside and vice versa is by extending an indoor element out. By extending a wall perpendicular to the one facing your yard, for example, you can maintain a secure indoor vibe while elongating lines of sight. You can also enshroud your patio with trellis to partially shield you and yet allow entry of natural light. Glass is optional, but you can put retractable ones that will come in handy during rain showers.
There is furniture that is versatile for indoor and outdoor use and would allow you to eat or engage in recreational activities closer to nature. Tables that are made of warp-resistant wood and have wheels, couches reminiscent of poolside chaise lounges, and accent lighting that can work to complement both your urban-chic interior and more villa-oriented outdoor design. While building a fountain or pool nearby creates a relaxing ripple effect on your walls, it may not be the most practical idea for many. For this, a wave illuminator would do the trick for a more affordable price.
A seamless indoor-outdoor design has a lot to do with increasing the aesthetic value of your home. But, more than making it look more refined than ever, you should remember that you are doing this to cater to your habits and lifestyle that continues to change. A house that allows you to spice up an otherwise repetitive routine, wherein you can eat or bathe in or outside, for example, can contribute to your overall well-being.
