Guest Author: Darren Wilson
Interior design has always been a challenge, as you want to pick out furniture that will aesthetically last as long as possible. But most suburbs and residential areas are faced with another decorating dilemma: outdoor living spaces. In the past, nobody paid much heed to patios, pool decks, rooftops, and backyards. However, there are now a plethora of possibilities for creating a homey and safe space for entertaining and lounging.
The minimalism trend that made waves in the past year had a massive influence on decorative preferences. Clean, chic, and sophisticated spaces took over home decor editorials, celebrity house tours, and Pinterest boards. If you are looking for ideas, then here are some of the most practical and chic additions to your outdoor living spaces; from Shade Sails to hanging planters and hints of technology.
A Secondary Living Room
To a large number of people, outdoor living spaces are synonymous to living rooms in form and function. They are meant for entertaining guests and relaxing after a long day at work, which means that many opt for lounge furniture. However, you can give your patio or yard a separate identity by choosing benches, tables, and side chairs made of wood instead of a couch material. You can further set a comfortable ambience by throwing in some cushions and putting up fairy lights.
If your outdoor space contains walls and roofing, then you can install an LCD TV screen for movie nights with fresh air and the sound of nature. Fire bowl pits have also been increasingly popular and make for wonderful centrepieces in place of a coffee table. Think of it as a contemporary mini bonfire, but without the fire hazard.
A struggle with outdoor spaces is that they are often open-aired and lack appropriate roofing. It dramatically limits your furnishing options to waterproof and weather-resilient materials, which may not necessarily be your cup of tea. But do not fret — you can still bring out your favourite indoor furniture, such as couches, bean bags, and cloth folding chairs for a lounge spot that is on point with your definition of cozy.
To make it work, you will have to install Shade Sails, which are heavy-duty roofing systems that you can put up on any outdoor space. It will allow you to cover up anywhere from a small to an expansive area and protect it from the rain and the sun’s UV rays. That way, you can furnish with the most delicate materials without having to worry about weather-induced damage.
A Plant Haven
Some of the popular interior design trends include adding indoor plants to almost every corner of the room, creating visuals that emulate at-home greenhouses. After all, plants have a myriad of practical benefits, including the ability to filter and purify the air by absorbing excess carbon monoxide, allergens, formaldehyde, and the like. It is a fantastic decoration idea that you can certainly take to outdoor spaces.
If you are not a fan of caring for large pots of plants, then consider outdoor hanging plants such as Tassel Ferns and Begonias. They hang beautifully in both large and small spaces and create visually-appealing foliage. You can hang them by the roof or terrace or in areas not covered by Shade Sails, as they will survive with some rain and sunlight.
Decorating an outdoor living space entails plenty of considerations, including the weather, season, and the feasibility of your design idea. However, with the right set-up with Shade Sails, comfortable seating, and the like, you can create a cozy environment that you may end up enjoying much more than indoor spaces.
