A Guide To Styling Your Home’s Outdoor Spaces

By Author: Klaudia Hubbard
Total Articles: 3
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How ironic is it that open spaces like balconies, terraces, and backyards are usually the most underrated, and most often ignored, parts of a home? The perfect blend between outdoor and indoor space, depending on their size, balconies have great potential for being something more than just a place to stand or dry clothes. And although they do require some effort in being weather-proof and dust-proof, you’ll be surprised at the results that you can get from just a little bit of maintenance.

Why Balconies are great?

Balconies are great and there’s a lot of reason behind the idea. With the correct entrance doorways, balconies can make for great extensions to spaces. And the kind of space your balcony is depends on the space adjoining it. If attached to living rooms, they can make for great extensions for a party or gathering. If attached to a bedroom, balconies make for exclusive spaces that are ideal for watching sunrises and sunsets, engage your inner flaneur by people watching, or just around the city at night if you live in a high-rise building.

What About Patios and Terraces?

Patios ...
... and Terraces are larger outdoor transition spaces, which means that they have greater scope for improvement and ingenuity. Patios and terraces can make for whole sitting areas such as bonfire seatings, barbeque-pits, projector movie theatres, swimming pools, or just general relaxation areas.

What can you do with these indoor-outdoor spaces?

When it comes to doing up these spaces, the possibilities are endless and are only limited by your imagination. Here are some ideas:

Extension to the kitchen: If you have a balcony adjoining the kitchen, then why not turn it into an extension of your kitchen? This space can be used to cook the things that are difficult to cook in a kitchen, such as grills or barbeques. However, before proceeding with this, do check with your building authorities if it is permissible. We also recommend against this if your home is prone to strong winds.

Start a Herb Garden: What’s better than fresh herbs or vegetables for your cooking? Nothing. A herb garden can be an easy extension to your kitchen supplies and a hobby as well. Herbs like mint, lavender, rosemary, thyme, and basil are easy to cultivate and don’t require a lot of effort for them to thrive. A thriving herb garden in pots and planters will make your whole house fragrant and bring in a fresh mood. Your herb garden doesn’t have to be attached to the kitchen, it can be attached to any other room in the house that you visit frequently enough to remember to take proper care of your potted friends.

Alternative Dining Area: How about bringing the charm of a romantic outdoor cafe to your own place. A balcony can be an alternative area to put a dining table and chairs in. A small table fit for two can be accommodated on most balconies, and there is scope for larger tables on terraces and patios.

Relaxing Corner: Forget being utilitarian at all times. Turn your space into a large corner for your relaxation. For such, relaxing decor is necessary. Set the vibe for this space using outdoor rugs which are specially made for such settings. They are generally made of Jute or synthetic fibers that offer great texture and are made for rugged use. Put your outdoor rugs under a swing or a rocking chair, and you’re good to go.

Reading Corner: If all fails, just put a minimal chair and a table that are comfortable for you, and turn the space into a small reading corner.