More and more people are creating outdoor rooms; especially in Georgia and the Southeast because they can be enjoyed throughout the year. Planning an outdoor room area can be an exciting adventure. It’s just as much fun as planning your homes interior. As with any room in your home, you want to design for the way you live. You can start by creating a collection of ideas. You can take clippings from magazines, photos from local home tours, and images from the web. Also visit stores that feature outdoor living products and get paint swatches, tile or paver samples, stone samples and whatever items you think will help inspire you.

The following is a list of potential ideas to get you started:

Fire Feature: When considering whether you want a fire pit or a fireplace, you should consider your budget, space, and any safetyconcerns. Built in brick or stone firepits generally cost significantly less than a fireplace. Consider your space limitations as well. Can your outdoor room tolerate a grandiose fireplace? Could you use the extra privacy screening that an outdoor fireplace can offer? Do you prefer to have a more intimate gathering place that a fire pit can offer? If you have small children, safety is obviosuly an issue. A fireplace is a safer alternative in this case, if the children will be playing in the outdoor area.

Seating or Dining Area: When considering your seating area you should consider your lifestyle and the weather in your area. Picture yourself enjoying the outdoor room. Only you know if your lifestyle involves entertaining. If so, you want to make sure you have adequate seating for your guests. Also consider the weather. For instance, in Atlanta, the winters tend to be rainy. In this case, I would suggest having some covered seating area so you can get the most use out of your outdoor room.

Kitchen Area: Consider whether or not you’d like to be able to do more than just grill in your outdoor area. If so, you’ll want to consider your space limitations once again. If you decide to go with an outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to plan ahead for utilities, select durable materials, and provide shelter from the weather. You can incorporate everything from a sink to a wood burning oven. The possibilities are endless when it comes to designing your outdoor kitchen area.

Creating an outdoor room can be an exciting adventure. It is no small undertaking. You can always seek help from a design professional. These were just some ideas to consider when creating an outdoor room at your home.
Watercolors Custom Pools specializes in custom pool construction in Atlanta. Look for our future blogs where we go more in depth with this topic.

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