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This Thursday, in the Design Central at the International Builders’ Show, I will be presenting Outdoor Living: Small Lots to Luxury. I thought today I would share a quick preview. If you are attending the show, I’d love to see you there! I will be in the Orange Country Convention Center W311A at 9:30 AM.

Gone are the days when a lonely concrete slab qualified as “outdoor living”. Buyers today are putting almost as much focus on their outdoor living as they do their kitchens. Whether you’re building a townhome, a small single-family home, or a large custom, I wanted to share my design principles to make outdoor living extraordinary.

It starts with understanding three functions needed in an outdoor living space: lounging, dining, and cooking – in that order of priority. If you have limited space, you may not be able to accomplish all three.

But often you can add additional functions if you consider going outside the building envelope. I like to provide covered spaces, uncovered space, and even try to utilize the entire backyard.

Within those spaces, I like to layer in some awesome extras like TV’s and fireplaces for lounging.

Don’t forget to harness the soothing sound of water – whether a small water fountain or a grand waterfall feature. The sound of water serves a secondary purpose by helping to masking unwanted sounds of a nearby roadway.

Outdoor living for all Seasons

Next, don’t forget to include seasonal adjustments so your awesome outdoor living can be enjoyed year-round. In the summer, I like ceiling fans and screening bugs. If you include a retractable screen, you can enhance the living space when the weather cools and the bugs become less of an issue. For the winter months, consider roll down clear vinyl for wind protection.

If you include some outdoor heaters, the clear vinyl can also keep the heat inside.

Finishes

Now you can start considering some fabulous finishes like stone, pavers, or porcelain tile for the floor.

What about a wood ceiling with beams above?

If you’re in the south, painting your front porch ceiling haint blue allegedly keeps bugs and evil spirits away – or it just looks good.

Today there are so many wonderful ways to connect indoor and outdoor living. You could consider stacking sliding glass doors or foldable glass panels. You can even use the same finishes indoor and outdoor to visually extend each space.

Lighting

Lastly, don’t forget how lighting can not only enhance your outdoor living spaces but also extend their use – especially during the shorter days during the winter months. It also nice to layer in the lighting so you can vary the light level and mood. Outdoor lighting beyond your outdoor living space visually extends the space. String lights above are great for uncovered spaces, creating a cozy “ceiling”.

Wow. There really is lot to consider when designing a great outdoor living space. And whether it is a small lot, a townhome or a giant custom– it is still someone’s home. Make it awesome!