When it comes to increasing the space in our homes, we often look to grand conversions or extensions to give us the extra room we need. Due to unpredictable weather, we often don’t make the most of our gardens. Still, with modern technology and innovative design solutions, we could create an outside living space which is usable throughout the whole year.
When you go on holiday, it’s common to see outdoor kitchens, showers and even living areas but it’s not something that many homes in the UK have. We might have a set of garden furniture and a patio heater, but this is seldom used in bad weather. But what if you could create a space that worked in the summer and the winter months? Offering shelter when you need it but opening up your kitchen to a stunning outside seating zone.
You need to look at what is possible within your home first, but if you can replace the wall to your back garden with full-length bi-folding glass doors, then this will make your house instantly feel much more substantial. If you are on a budget, you could speak to a bifold door maintenance company and see if they have any systems that could be repurposed for your home. If your budget is more substantial, then invest in a tailor-made bespoke glass door system.
You could use decking as a base for your outdoor space, although there are multiple flooring options such as natural stone. You should try to keep the floor level with your indoor space so that there is a flow from the inside out, without you having to traverse any tricky steps.
You have two options if you want to keep your outdoor space usable all year round. Either a pull-out shelter which can be remotely operated to offer shade in the sun or shelter from the rain or you could build an open-sided structure with its own roof. This will mean that you lose sunlight in the summer. However, you could create an area without the shelter for those that wish to bask in the sun. Having a sheltered structure will help keep you cool during the summer months and will allow you to use the space in the winter.
Invest in good quality lighting for the darker evenings and make sure you install a couple of patio heaters. There are some stunning garden heaters which can be run off gas and look like a real fire. These give off incredible amounts of heat and will keep you warm no matter what the weather.
Don’t be afraid to extend your home into the garden and use it throughout all the seasons. Even a cold winter’s night will be incredibly romantic if you have the fires burning and some warm blankets on your patio furniture. It will make an excellent stage for parties and help you to create lots of memories in your home even when your family starts to expand.
