Designing Outdoor Space as an Extension of Your Interior

by Rachel Lyon, Editorial Director for The House Designers

Your home doesn’t end at the walls around its finished interior—make sure to consider your outdoor living spaces as well! Expansive porches, decks, and patios have been tied to certain architectural styles and regions with amenable weather, but now you’re likely to see them included on all kinds of houses due to their growing popularity. Why the shift? As we’ve started spending more and more time inside between work and home, it can seem impossible to find time for the great outdoors. So, if you want to enjoy fresh air and sunshine, your best bet is to make it convenient.

Outdoor living space is not an entity of its own. As it connects to indoor living areas, you should plan to complete a cohesive picture. Just imagine stepping from a beautifully finished great room onto a plain and basic deck—it wouldn’t inspire you to spend more time outside, would it? Here are some tips to design a wonderful outdoor space that brings the comforts of home outside!

Proper Patio Doors

Think about how your indoor and outdoor spaces adjoin. Most of the time, it’s with patio doors. Traditional options include simple swinging and siding doors, but there’s a lot more to consider these days. Homeowners trying to stay true to older architecture might opt for a classic configuration—like a row of French doors with divided lites—while those going for a modern look that blurs the line between indoors and out will be drawn to today’s expansive glass doors.

First take stock of the door opening you have to work with. Roughly how many panels will fit? Patio door panels come in a range of heights and widths including extended sizes, so you’ll likely need fewer than you think. But the choice is always yours—you can minimize panels to maximize the view through the closed door or fit more in to add visible structure to the wall of glass. Next, decide on a type of patio door. Nothing says you have to stick to regular two-panel sliders or French doors if you have a smaller opening—you can also try a folding door. Multi-panel folding and sliding doors are preferred for wider openings for obvious reasons. They can open in one or both directions to completely do away with the barrier between the interior and exterior. Just be aware that folding doors need clearance on the outside as they fold out. Sliding doors stay neatly in their tracks to avoid this issue and stack alongside a fixed final panel on the side, or you can opt for a pocket configuration that disappears into the wall instead. Look at the choices from an aesthetic and functional standpoint to find the right solution!

Beautiful Decking

The base of your outdoor living area really sets its tone. That’s why it’s a good idea to use decking—you can continue the look of wood flooring on both sides of the wall, which definitely gives the outdoor area a homey boost. With all the products available now, you should be able to find something that matches your hardwood floors or gives your deck its own unique appeal. Whether you extend your interior aesthetics out or go with something different, you want a complementary look that looks nice from both sides. Remember that you’ll see everything through glass patio doors!

There are so many ways to achieve a gorgeous deck nowadays, and many homeowners gravitate toward a relative newcomer to the scene: composite decking. This material combines wood scraps with recycled plastic to give them new life. Resistant to the challenges of moisture and insects, exceptionally durable, and requiring minimal maintenance over the years, many find composite decking a great all-around choice from a practical perspective. Visually, it also gives you tons of options with different levels and types of grain texture and a wide variety of single- and multi-tonal colors. Composite decking costs more than wood up front, but it saves over time with less upkeep and degradation. Consider it an investment!

Cohesive Finishing Touches

Finally, if you want your outdoor living space to look and feel as comfortable as inside, don’t skimp on the details. Everything from decorative trim and other millwork to the style of the furniture you select will make a difference. Try to match any porch railing to the stair balusters inside. Look for cues around doorways and on the ceiling. If you have a Craftsman-inspired home, for instance, make sure to add rustic elements like beams and columns to your porch. Exterior products come in a range of styles for a reason—and the only reason you should stick to the bare minimum is if you have a contemporary design that calls for it! When in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask the pros for suggestions.

Are you inspired to create a dream outdoor living area? Take a well-rounded approach and hit the key points outlined here! Between the Veris™ Collection from Therma-Tru® that offers amazing glass doors, the spectrum of beautiful decking possibilities from Fiberon®, and all the decorative millwork options from Fypon® to tailor the final picture, you can design a remarkable space that adds tons of value to your home.