The outdoor room is the new place to be, Creatives! Well, it is when the weather is warmer, anyway. The rooftop of my apartment as I type this article looks like the cast of Jumanji has stampeded through it because I haven’t been up there in months, but when the sun starts to shine I can’t wait to style this space again.
A few weeks back I caught up with the design team from Metricon to film a whole stack of decorating, design and home tour videos. The first one is on the outdoor room. In the clip below you’ll see loads of visual inspiration from Metricon’s new Bayville 49 display home; a full tour of which is coming up on the blog soon.
In the meantime, let’s crack out with making your outdoor area look sublime!
Taking your Outdoor Room to the Next Level
I’ll recap below some ways in which you can add designer wow factor to your own space, regardless if it’s a new home or you’ve been in it for years. Some are more design/construction focussed, but even if you’re renting there are style ideas you can implement that aren’t permanent. And considering that winter is coming to an end, now is the time to think about this zone.
The Ceiling
Think about wood panelling for your ceiling, in a colour that matches the walls of the outdoor room. It’ll add an extra dimension to this zone and it’ll make the area feel warmer and more intimate.
Screening
Vertical screens have come a long way (I’m looking at you, lattice!). If you have an outdoor room that you want to enclose, consider a screen like the ones you see in the slides below.
Wall Lighting
Overhead lighting is great for meal time, but over a quiet drink or later in the evening after too many drinks (guilty), consider wall sconces to add some mood to the outdoor room.
Contrasting Furniture
Renters, this is where you come in! A great way to elevate the look of the space is to use furniture that contrasts in colour from the flooring and walls of your outdoor room. If the lounge chairs or table are in a brighter hue, they’ll definitely pop and make this zone feel fresh. You don’t even have to spend much. I have this outdoor furniture set and it’s great.
Vertical Gardens
You don’t need a lot of room to achieve a garden that looks amazing. Vertical gardens are a great way to bring greenery to your space if you’re tight on room. The photos below have a few small gardens in them that prove my point perfectly.
Indoors Out
Consider bringing homewares and cushions (like these) from inside and placing them in the outdoor room. If this space isn’t covered, you’ll need to bring them inside once you’re done, but it is a great way to blur the lines between the indoor and outdoor zones of your home – making the whole house feel larger and more unified.
If you’re after more outdoor room inspo from Metricon, check this out.
What are you planning for your outdoor room this season? I’d love to hear about it in below!
This post includes images and/or videos of Metricon display homes and events, reproduced with permission. © Metricon Homes Pty Ltd 2016.
