Interior design for exterior rooms
Homeowners have become inspired to integrate their garden with their interiors, and vice versa. Terraces mean that outdoor garden areas have become an extension of the home and an ideal introduction to your garden. It is a room with the best view in the house.
Because terrace areas are a merger of garden and interiors, you should apply the same interior design principles for your garden room. A well-decorated terrace can have relaxed seating areas, dining areas, design pieces and clever lighting. Barring a roof, you have all the necessary features of a room to play with including entrances, flooring, walls and furniture pieces.
Walls or fences can be treated in the same way as your interior wall: you can paint them or even add texture by covering them with bamboo screens. Floors obviously can’t feature carpets but they can incorporate brickwork, stone slabs, tiles and wood.
The garden decor you select will give your outdoor room style and character. This should be a continuation of your interior style to create a real sense of fluidity. If your home is modern and contemporary, think about using edgy materials such as metal and concrete as a canvas for some sculptural planting. If your interiors favour natural materials, go with materials like hardwood and bamboo.
When choosing garden furniture, wrought iron, cedar or teak garden furniture are all excellent choices for patio and garden furnishings. Though style is crucial, durability and functionality should also drive your choices. Unlike your indoor furniture, it will have to brave bleaching from the sun, drenching from the rain and hefty gusts of wind. Remember that although many patio sets claim to be durable hardwood, some of the cheap hardwoods are pretty low-grade and won’t last as long as you would hope.
Once you have chosen your furniture, floor and wall/fence coverings, spend some time focusing on outdoor lighting. Lighting can change the entire feel of your outdoor room with a view of your garden. You can go for subdued, ornamental, warm or bright. Outdoor lights are made to endure all the elements and feature insulated and weather-resistant components. There are quite a few styles you can choose from including freestanding lamps, table lamps, globe lamps, lanterns, umbrella lights, string lights and ground lights. Shop around for what appeals to you, as well as what’s practical.
To create focal points in your outdoor room and adjoining garden, set out a range of planters filled with beautiful seasonal flowers or more design-led sculptural trees. These are the ideal decorative items which bring the garden into your outdoor room and soften the look. It is all about blending the seams of your interior and exterior. Think of your garden room as a place where your home and garden come and mingle together.
You can also think a little more creatively about how you use your outdoor room. The obvious choices are dining areas and barbeques but you can think about adding play areas for children and even a work station for your laptop if you work from home.
