After another frigid winter, homeowners are eager to extend their living space beyond the confines of their homes. Outdoor living spaces are evolving into stylish, functional retreats that highlight ambient lighting, lush greenery, and architectural design. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows by the fireside or hosting intimate gatherings under the stars, your backyard no longer has to only be for summer use.
With the right equipment, you can enjoy your outdoor living space all year long! This is your comprehensive guide on all outdoor living trends, from string lights above patio nooks to furnishing your pergola.
Lighting Up Your Outdoor Living Space
Your outdoor living space might seem like the perfect setting, but as the sun sets, you and your guests begin relying on cell phone flashlights just to see each other’s faces. The right lighting can both improve visibility and add a warm, cozy ambiance that brings your outdoor living space to life.
While accent lights illuminate paths and walkways, string lights can enhance larger areas like decks, patios, and pools. Whether you prefer a vibrant entertainment area or a relaxing night under the stars, outdoor lighting can be tailored to match your aesthetics and preferences.
Accent Lights
Accent lights, commonly used indoors to highlight artwork, can also bring a touch of elegance to your outside living space. The subtlety of minimalist lighting creates a peaceful atmosphere while showcasing the beauty of your backyard. Strategically placing accent lights around your outdoor living space allows you to highlight its best features, while also enhancing precaution.
Positioning accent lights around winding paths, sharp curbs, and stone steps helps to prevent trips and falls. With accent lights, you can highlight the best parts of your backyard both during the day and at night. From hydrangeas and roses to decorative trees and shrubs, highlighting greenery can add depth and character to your backyard, revealing a new perspective after dark.
High-Tech Lighting
Smart systems equipped with LED technology have become increasingly popular in outdoor living spaces, allowing for seamless connectivity and remote-control automation. With smart systems, you can easily customize every light feature, from brightness levels and color changes to scheduling settings. Smart system features can all be activated from the touch of a button, or in some cases, voice commands!
LED bulbs have been a cornerstone of outdoor lighting. Smart technology uses these bulbs to enhance your outdoor living space with advanced, high-tech features that make light adjustments effortless. From evening family celebrations to romantic dinner dates underneath the twinkling lights, smart technology can adapt to your needs and create the perfect atmosphere for any occasion.
Bringing Indoor Comfort to Outdoor Living Spaces
Tired of retreating indoors to escape the sweltering summer heat? You no longer have to miss out on enjoying the short-lived summer weather by going inside to cool down. Shady outdoor living spaces, such as pergolas, covered patios, and screened-in areas, offer shelter from nature’s elements while outside. These structures not only provide relief from the burning sun but also add a stylish architectural touch to your outdoor living space.
Pergolas
Customized to fit a variety of needs, pergolas stand as one of the most versatile forms of outdoor architectural design. Pergolas can be small and narrow, placed over a walkway or garden path, creating a comfortable atmosphere and seamless transition between spaces. Alternatively, pergolas can be larger structures, offering coverage at the patio dining table or sofas around the firepit.
With their latticed roof, pergolas offer a perfect balance of shade and sunlight. When in need of more shady coverage, pergolas can be fitted with an outdoor canopy, draped with vines and greenery, or adorned with hanging flower baskets and planters. From providing shade to escape the heat to a tranquil garden entryway, pergolas add a natural, decorative element to your outdoor living space.
Covered Outdoor Living Spaces
Covered outdoor living spaces provide a serene sanctuary, regardless of weather conditions. Serving as an extension of your home, these spaces remain open yet remain protected by a roof, often accompanied by a ceiling fan for added comfort. Furnished with wicker sofas, water-resistant upholstery, and nylon rugs, outdoor-friendly furniture can often double as storage to simplify winterization.
For enhanced versatility, a screened-in porch provides full protection from outdoor weather patterns while still keeping you connected to the outdoors. With additional features like firepits and heat lamps, you can fully maximize your outdoor living space. From roasting marshmallows on crisp summer nights to staying warm during chilly winter days, covered outdoor living spaces create a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere year-round.
Incorporating Nature into Your Outdoor Living Area
Upholding an authentic backyard environment is key when structuring your outdoor living space to be as comfortable as your indoor areas. Greenery can seamlessly blend into any part of your outdoor living space. Whether it’s colorful flower beds in your garden, potted plants around your patio, or a greenhouse filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, incorporating greenery can revamp your backyard into a luxury oasis.
Gardens & Greenhouses
Balancing native planting with nectar- and pollen-rich flowers can transform your garden into a backyard paradise. Native plants are eco-friendly and low maintenance, while flowers such as lavender and zinnias offer shelter for bumblebees and other pollinators. Gardens not only add vibrance to your yard but provide an opportunity to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.
Greenhouses can elevate your gardening experience by creating a controlled environment that extends the growing season, enabling year-round plant production. Whether seeking beauty or tranquility, incorporating flowers and greenery can fully enhance your outdoor living space.
Ultimate Outdoor Dining Spaces
Once the sunshine hits, homeowners embrace their outdoor living spaces hosting everything from pool parties and family picnics to backyard barbecues. By integrating outdoor kitchens with a built-in bar, you can elevate your backyard into a culinary paradise. Incorporating fire features can further enhance the ambiance of your outdoor living space, allowing you to stay warm and toasty long after summer.
Outdoor Kitchen & Built-In Bar
Offering countless benefits, outdoor kitchens can be a fantastic addition to any home. With outdoor kitchens, homeowners can cook in the serenity of the outdoors, allowing chefs to stay close and connected with their guests. Outdoor kitchens extend your living area beyond the pool and lounge chairs, featuring a built-in bar that can easily accommodate all your guests. Seamlessly combining the joy of cooking with the tranquility of nature, outdoor kitchens can be fully customized to suit your needs. From pizza ovens and specialized grills, your outdoor living space can be equipped with high-end appliances, perfect for outdoor entertaining.
Fire Features
Fire features add a warm and inviting ambiance to your outdoor living space that everyone from energetic children to adults looking to unwind and relax can enjoy. Picture gathering around a wood-burning firepit or relaxing beside a cozy stone fireplace or a sleek gaslit fire table. Today’s fire features go far beyond traditional campfires, they create a welcoming atmosphere that extends summer enjoyment well past the season. Whether you prefer the traditional firepit, a rustic fireplace, or a modern fire table, each one can be customized to reflect your unique style.
Bring Your Outdoor Living Space Ideas to Life with Shoreline Pools!
From designing summer-ready patios to constructing custom outdoor living spaces, Shoreline Pools is ready to assist in all your backyard needs. Outdoor living spaces create the perfect atmosphere, whether you’re watching the rainfall from the comfort of a covered patio or cooking fresh vegetables from your greenhouse. Equipped with a dedicated team and expert craftsmanship, Shoreline Pools can transform your outdoor living space into a functional and beautiful extension of your home. Dial (203) 967-1203 and let outdoor living space ideas come to life.
