Add Outdoor Living Space Easily & Inexpensively

Great Ideas for Extending Your Living Space

Over the last year-plus, all of us have been spending more time outdoors or trying to. With COVID-19 we have spent more time at home than ever before. Plus outdoor time refreshes us and it gives us a wonderful place to be with friends and family that is safer than indoor activities.

We started talking at Shed Windows and More about some easy and inexpensive ways to extend indoor living space to the outdoors. In short, creating more livable space for your current home. In our brainstorming we came up with some wonderful ideas that are easy to create, are fun DIY projects, and are relatively inexpensive to build or add to your home.

 

Think Patio Roofs & Gazebos

Extending your current roofline to add a patio roof or front porch roof is sometimes easier than you think. Especially with patio roofs, you can use lattice, corrugated plastic, not just traditional roofing materials to top your patio roof enclosure.

When you have a patio roof or gazebo you are more likely to spend more time outdoors and move some activities to the outdoors, such as working out, yoga, reading, eating meals, creative projects, and family time and get-togethers. With your added protected outdoor space you are likely to stay outdoors during more seasons and when temperatures start to fall.

Whether you have a postage stamp backyard or live on expansive acreage, a gazebo is a wonderful addition to your backyard experience. Top your gazebo with one of our cupolas and/or a weathervane for a beautiful finishing touch.

If you want more privacy you can add privacy screening to the sides of your gazebo or covered patio roof, these are temporary and an easy solution for more privacy if needed.

 

Year-Round Outdoor Comfort with Added Lighting & Heating Sources

There are so many great ways to add heating and lighting to your outdoor spaces these days. Propane outdoor heaters come in all sizes and outputs, whether free-standing or table-top varieties. Making your outdoor space an extension of your indoor living space is easy if you think of what will create warmth a cozy feel to your patio, gazebo, or porch. Think of adding pillows, throws, or blankets to cozy up to when the weather gets chilly and you are enjoying a warm beverage or a glass of wine while being curled up on your outdoor sofa reading a book and glancing at the beautiful night sky.

Outdoor lighting has come some far over the years and can add a great finishing touch to your home’s exterior. Also, if you don’t want to wire for new outdoor lighting there are some great solar lighting solutions for outdoor spaces these days.

From hanging lights to permanent fixtures there are simple solutions these days for outdoor lighting. Lighting ideas can transform the exterior of your home in so many creative ways and new style and curb appeal at the same time.

 

Add a Fire Pit or Outdoor Fireplace

People have gathered around fires for centuries. A warming space in your outdoor structure is the perfect place to cozy up after a long day’s work or to gather with friends around the fire. Fire pits come in all sizes and fuel types as do outdoor fireplaces these days. Consider fuel type, ease of refueling, placement of your fire interest for best seating, and whether you want a fire pit, a fire table, or outdoor fireplace for warming your outdoor space.

 

Outdoor Kitchen or Outdoor Dining or Both

If you have the budget adding an outdoor kitchen is a wonderful way to bring both cooking and dining outdoors. Your outdoor kitchen can be as simple as an outdoor barbeque or as elaborate as the photo above with marble countertops, barbecue, refrigeration, outdoor pizza oven, bar, and seating.

For many of us, it’s just a really well-equipped barbeque and some comfortable outdoor dining seating that will accommodate our family plus guest. Whatever your budget or style bringing your cooking outdoors saves energy for many months and allows your family and friends to gather outside for eating and socializing.

 

Add Outdoor All-Weather Furniture

Probably one of the most relaxing elements you can add to your new outdoor living space is all-weather outdoor furniture. Whether you are adding an outdoor dining set or outdoor sofa, each of these elements extends your indoor living space to the outdoors. Probably one of the coziest outdoor furniture pieces to add is an outdoor sofa, love seat, chaise lounge, or deep lounge chair with ottoman; think curling up with a drink and spending cozy and relaxing time outdoors.

 

Hot Tubs & Water Interests

There is nothing like a hot tub at the end of a day to relax you and put the stresses of the day behind you. Hot tubs come in all sorts of sizes from portable hot tubs to installed larger hot tubs that can accommodate 10 people, there is a size, jet action, a hot tub to fit about any budget!

If hot tubs aren’t your idea of relaxing, some people just love a water interest such as a fountain, a pond. or a pond with a waterfall. All these water interest projects are simple DIY projects and add so much to your backyard getaway and outdoor living space.

 

Outdoor Living Space Ambiance

 

Creating an outdoor living space is about taking your style and lifestyle needs and translating them into a design that fits your needs and budget while delivering a beautiful place to relax and renew your spirit at the end of the day or when you need a much-needed break in your day. Whether you are adding a gazebo, a front porch extension, a patio roof, or other structure to extend your indoor living space to the outdoors, Shed Windows and More is here to help. From copulas to weathervanes, specialty windows, gate latches, gate hinges, and decorative finishing touches for your DIY project, you can count on us for a great selection, customer service, and how-to to help you with your project.