How to Create the Perfect Indoor-Outdoor Space

Indoor-outdoor spaces have become a staple in home design as more people look to enjoy the outside. By paying attention to the design, you can create a natural flow between the interior and exterior of a house. It’ll feel like you added more square footage and extra spots for lounging and entertaining. Manuel Munoz, a production designer at Living Spaces, offers a few ideas for achieving the right design.

Create an entertainment spot.

For example, consider carving out a backyard basketball court. Since the pandemic, people have been looking for more creative ways to stay active at home, picking up on sports and hobbies that involve going outside and getting fresh air. Backyard basketball courts aren’t just for huge estates. Half-courts can double as spaces for entertaining, playing tennis, or outdoor workouts. With added lounge seating and ambient lighting, these courts can blend in beautifully with the home’s landscaping.  

Prepare for the sun—or the lack of it.

This Outdoor Market Grey Umbrella can block the sun during the day and is equipped with LED lights that can light up your space at night. It also includes a built-in Bluetooth speaker to set the mood while you’re entertaining. 

Incorporate concrete furniture. 

Concrete tables, bench seating and firepits are becoming more popular because they are naturally weather-resistant and can withstand many years of use. They are also easy to clean. 

Add in a multi-use firepit.

Backyard firepits are a great way to add light and warmth to your indoor-outdoor space while also giving you the equipment to roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Some firepits, such as this Wood Grain Round Firepit, double as a table, enabling you to eat outside comfortably.  

Keep a basket of blankets ready.

We all know that fall can mean comfortable temperatures during the day but chilly nights. Having a basket of blankets is a stylish way to keep an outdoor gathering from being forced inside. 

Consider the architecture of your home when choosing styles.

By matching outdoor furniture and decor with the style of your home, your outdoor “rooms” will feel like a seamless addition to your home and add a natural flow into the backyard. 

Incorporate plants to emphasize the beauty of being outside.

Try using planters to set boundaries—just as walls and room dividers do for the indoors. Use them to line walkways, wrapping them up with fairy lights so they are visible at night.