Whether it is a dining area, outdoor kitchen, reading nook, corner for two, children’s play area, evening lounge, or yoga garden retreat, creating outdoor rooms is something that can enhance your landscape and increase the amount of time you spend in your yard. You may want an outdoor space with well-designed rooms but you do not know where to start. Creating functional yet beautiful outdoor rooms can be very easy, here are some general guidelines.

Space Layout
Begin with considering the various uses and functions you want for your yard. Are you always sitting on your front step after dinner enjoying the evening sun, or taking your chair to a protected corner of your yard to relax out of the wind. Reflecting on the way you use your space will be important in deciding where to situate your outdoor rooms. Additional factors to think about are traffic patterns and accessibility. For outdoor dining you want the table in close proximity to the entrance that has the most direct access to your kitchen. The key is positioning the outdoor rooms in such a way that they make sense.

Size and Shape
Next you need to consider the size and shape of the outdoor room you want to create. You will need to evaluate the number of people that will be using the space and what type of environment you want it to provide. For example if you want a more formal outdoor room to accommodate eight for dining you need to look at the space required to move chairs in and out from the table as well as the movement around the table for serving. As for the shape you may want to make it very linear with straight edges to give it a more formal appearance as opposed to a space with curved edges which would have a more casual feeling. Shape does not only include the ground surface but overhead and vertical elements such as an awning, wood pergolas, and lattice. Incorporating these elements will provide vertical visual interest while adding protection and privacy.

Defining the Space
After deciding the size and shape you will need to decide how you want to define the area for each individual room. You can use hardscape materials such as pavers, natural stone, iron, or wood in the form of retaining walls, decks, patios, or architectural features to define the space. Using hardscape materials to create a floor, wall, or overhead feature provides the outdoor space with structure making it feel more like an indoor room.

You can also use softscape materials such as trees, shrubs, and flower beds to outline an area. Plants in containers at various heights and sizes placed as groups in key locations around the space will help create a boundary and further define the room. Which ever materials you choose it is important for visual flow that they are consistent and tie in with others used in the rest of the yard.

Décor
Now that the hard work is complete and you have your new outdoor room you need to decorate the space. Décor is the final touch that will make your outdoor room really feel like a space of its own. There are many great ways to decorate including the use of colour. When you pick a few colours and repeat them throughout the room in the various elements you further enhance the visual cohesiveness of the space. Colours can be incorporated with the use of plants, flowers and other accessories such as cushions, pots, furniture, or garden art. In addition to colour, you will need to take into account the style of the outdoor room you are creating and use accessories that achieve the desired look. Tuscan, country, contemporary, cottage and Oriental are just a few styles for you to choose from. Once the style has been determined there is a wide selection of accessories, lighting, fabric, and furniture you can choose from to harmonize and ensure you achieve the perfect décor.

With summer just around the corner now is the time to reflect on your outdoor space and determine how you want to transform it. Regardless of the size of your yard or budget there is a perfect outdoor room waiting to be created in your outdoor space. NL

Katherine Kinch lives in Calgary and provides interior and landscape design services. For more information, visit http://www.yourspacebydesign.com