A well-designed outdoor living space can serve as an extension of an existing room in a house or create an altogether new space for enjoying at-home living. You don’t have to have a huge backyard or large home to achieve this goal. At Archadeck of Raleigh-Durham, our designers can design and build custom, flexible, multi-purpose spaces to fit any home. Read below for inspiration.
Outdoor Living Ideas for Cozy Backyards
Some of the most popular strategies for transforming small outdoor spaces include:
- Converting a porch or deck into a three-season room. Three-season rooms are indoor/outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed in multiple weather conditions and for a longer stretch of the year.
- Adding multi-functional features. Many outdoor accessories can be used for more than one purpose. For example, an outdoor fireplace can add both warmth and privacy to an existing space. Deck benches can serve as railings and seating, freeing up valuable deck space. Deck stairs can also be widened and used for overflow seating as well as moving between deck levels.
- Carving out a space for a grill or smoker. When every inch of space is important, bumping out the edge of a deck or patio specifically to hold a grill or smoker can help with roominess and traffic flow in the rest of the space.
- Adding luxury enhancements. High-end finishes can make a petite outdoor space feel more like a luxurious spa or outdoor retreat.
- Incorporating retaining walls. Retaining walls can be used to create new, usable flat space within a sloping lot.
- Installing an under-deck gutter system. If you have a second-story deck, you can transform the space underneath by adding an under-deck gutter system that will keep the area below dry and covered. You may want to transform this space into a new patio or opt to use it for lawn and garden storage, freeing up space elsewhere on your property.
Focus on the most functional elements.
An important part of transforming a small outdoor space is to study your home and how you use it to prioritize what you want in a new outdoor living structure. For example, suppose your backyard faces south. In that case, you may want to focus on adding a shade structure so that you can protect the interior of your home from damaging sunlight and also spend more time outdoors in the heat of the day. If your home’s main living space is elevated, adding on a deck with stairs to the ground increases the flow from inside to outside and adds convenience for moving between the outdoor living space and the yard. Lastly, if your interior kitchen is too small for your cooking and entertainment preferences, you may want to create a more elaborate outdoor kitchen and dining space to expand your options.
While having a smaller house or yard may seem like an obstacle to achieving your outdoor living dreams, it doesn’t have to be. At Archadeck of Raleigh-Durham, our talented designers know how to give you the most WOW to fit your particular space and circumstances. Call today to request a design consultation: 919-973-1523. We look forward to working with you!
