Image by Jesse Bridgewater from Pixabay
An outdoor living room gives you a place to enjoy fresh air while spending time with family and friends, gathering around a fire or watching a movie. When you have this type of outdoor living space, you can make it as comfortable as possible with the right design. Use the following tips to help you come up with the ideal outdoor living room for your home.
Consider the Layout
One of the first decisions to make about your outdoor living room is the kind of layout it should have. This depends in part on the size of this space and the layout of your yard. For example, you might want to consider a rectangular outdoor living room, which offers a more spacious feel overall if you plan on having guests over often or if you have a large family. However, a square layout or even a rounded one might work better if you’re aiming for a cozier atmosphere.
Select a Style
The style you choose for your outdoor living room should go with the rest of your home’s overall style. A vintage-style outdoor living room might look out of place next to your modern or contemporary home, for example. A rustic outdoor living room might work just fine if your home has a more naturalistic or eco-friendly design.
Choose the Right Furniture
The furniture for your outdoor living room should provide comfortable seating while adding visual appeal. Look for upscale couches, loveseats, armchairs and side tables that match the style you’ve decided on for this area. Keep in mind that you’ll need to get furniture made specifically for outdoor use to protect it from rain and other outdoor elements, especially if your outdoor living space is uncovered.
Decide on a Fireplace
Adding a fireplace or a fire pit to your outdoor living room means you can enjoy it more often, even on cooler evenings and nights. You can have an outdoor stone or brick fireplace installed at one end of your outdoor living room, or have one built in the middle of it. A central fireplace or fire pit can have built-in seating around it on all sides where you and your family and friends can gather.
Weigh Your Entertainment Options
You can add entertainment to your outdoor living room with a state-of-the-art sound system for music and movies. Whether you simply add a big-screen TV to one wall or invest in an outdoor theater setup, your outdoor living room can provide you and your family or friends with hours of enjoyment.
About the Author
Ryan Mandigo
Ryan Mandigo is an award-winning professional broker associate with Omni Real Estate. Originally a native of New Hampshire, his love of real estate began 30+ years ago while swinging a hammer on a framing crew. He has always had a strong passion for helping people, whether it be assisting a couple in purchasing their first home, finding a home that fits a growing family's needs, or downsizing for those with an empty nest. He strives to build strong personal and professional relationships with being a true believer in the power of positive thinking and always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is also a co-founder and board member of the Swing Fore the Kids organization. A local charity that is 100% nonprofit and their sole purpose is to help needy children and young adults within Horry County communities. He finds great satisfaction and pleasure in seeing how working hard for a great cause and raising funds can help others in need. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Waccamaw Youth Center in Conway, where their mission is to provide at-risk youth "A Place To Call Home"
When he is not working, he enjoys music, working around the home, spending time with family and friends, turning wrenches on vintage vehicles, getting some wind therapy on the Harley or chilling with their dogs.
Some quotes he lives by - "Do what you like and like what you do" - "You have to be odd to be number one" - "Dreams don't work unless you do" And one of his favorites. "Positive and enthusiastic thinking in all you do"
