Outdoor living spaces have begun to explode in popularity thanks to the trend of downsizing homes. Whether you’re a retiree with a newly empty nest or a brand new family just purchasing their first home, a living space situated outdoors can significantly increase the value of your home and your ability to live outdoors during the more temperate months of the year. An outdoor kitchen or other living space usually incorporates two primary components, seating area and a focal point, with a number of other components added in for a little spice.
To begin, determine where you want to locate your outdoor living area. Select a place where there is a little sun, but not full sun throughout the day. Avoid blocking any views from your home windows, but consider also the view from your structure, whether it be a canopy tent or a pergola. Consider placing your structure right at the back of the home. Chances are good that you’ll already have a concrete slab patio on the back of the house that you can work with.
If you need to expand the size of your patio to accommodate your structure, begin by leveling the ground surrounding the patio, and then determine the type of material you want to use for the project. Using pea gravel is easy and inexpensive, but you have to properly prepare the surface for this material so that you don’t end up with pea gravel embedded well below the level of the patio itself. You can also use flag stone, but the pieces you need for this are extremely heavy, and you’ll probably want to get someone to help you with the project if you go this route. The only thing you’ll want to avoid, if you can, is attempting to extend the concrete slab with more concrete. If you choose to do this in order to maintain the appearance of continuity, hire a contractor who will do the work for you.
To prepare the site for either pea gravel or flag stone, begin by excavating the site to a depth of six inches wherever you want to put the extension. Next, fill the base of the excavation with crusher run gravel. This is a very dusty gravel that will settle and won’t be able to unseat after you’ve installed the top surface. Next, apply a layer of weed blocking mat over the crusher run, and finally the pea gravel. The gravel should be even with the height of the surrounding patio. If it isn’t, then add more pea gravel until it is.
To decorate your outdoor living space, you’ll need some seating. Whether you choose to use high-end outdoor furniture or standard lawn chairs makes no difference. They just have to be comfortable and inviting. The second component is some sort of focal point. A focal point can be as simple as a firepit or as complicated as an outdoor video-screening area. Situate your seating space to the best advantage for viewing your focal point.
The next consideration you should account for is shelter. Do you want to spend your summer days outdoors, as well? You might find that you need some shade to take the edge off the heat, particularly in the south. In colder temperatures, on the other hand, you’ll want to have a heat source. A fire pit is a good choice for basic outdoor living spaces, doubling as a focal point, but shouldn’t be used in spaces that have overhead shelters such as canopies. For obvious reasons, heating up those canopies is a bad idea. If your area experiences large numbers of insects throughout the summer, you might want to consider adding a screened tent canopy over your seating and focal point. This will add significantly to your guest’s and your comfort.
One thing you should be aware of is that it isn’t generally advisable for you to attempt a major building project if you are just learning home improvement. It’s a good idea to start out with small projects like erecting a screened tent and assembling a fire pit, and then progress to a project as complicated as a full-size outdoor kitchen later on. You might just find that the addition of a simple gas grill to your outdoor living space is all you need to raise your landscape from dull to invigorating.
“The Outdoor Room” David Stevens; 1994
