Basic Elements of an Outdoor Room
How to Design and Include Amenities for the Perfect Outdoor Living Area
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Length: 01:56
Options for what to include in the ultimate outdoor entertaining area.
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Today, almost any activity you enjoy inside your home you can bring to the outside. Depending on your budget, your outdoor room can be simple, with a stamped concrete patio, a grill and a table for dining, or more elaborate with a fully functional outdoor kitchen complete with concrete countertops for preparing and serving food, a sink and a refrigerator. You can take the concept even further by adding such amenities as a concrete pizza oven, a fireplace or firepit, a concrete bartop for serving cocktails, an architectural concrete fountain, landscape lighting and concrete statuary.
Here are ways to use concrete to build the basic elements of your outdoor space:
The Green Scene
in Canoga Park, CA |
Decorative Concrete Surfaces
Start by installing stamped, stenciled or stained concrete patios and walkways to establish the basic floor plan and design scheme for your outdoor room. You can even pattern your outdoor floor with a permanent, weatherproof rug that adds visual interest and helps define dining and conversation areas.
See:
Concrete Patios
Outdoor Concrete Carpet
Pool Decks
Concrete Walkways and Sidewalks
Advanced Concrete Enhancement
in Sun Valley, CA |
Cooking
Something to cook with, such as a barbecue grill or wood-fired pizza oven, and countertops for food preparation and serving are key elements in a well-designed outdoor kitchen. Concrete countertops offer the advantages of weather resistance and versatility, since they can be formed into any shape you desire to suit the space. A coat of sealer will simplify cleanup by protecting your countertop from stains. Other amenities, such as concrete bartops and outdoor sinks with plumbing, can expand your entertainment options.
See:
Concrete Countertops
Concrete Sinks and Vessels
Craftsmanship Workshop
in Aguanga, CA |
Hearth
Wood-burning or gas fireplaces, firepits, chimineas and portable patio heaters extend the enjoyment of outdoor living well into the evening while creating a cozy conversation area for people to gather around.
See:
Outdoor Fireplaces
Firepits: Stone & Concrete
New England Hardscapes, Inc.
in Tyngsboro, MA |
Furniture
No outdoor room is complete without ample furniture for dining and lounging. Attractive high-quality outdoor furniture also provides a smooth transition from the indoors to the outdoors and helps define the space as an extension of your home. Concrete seat walls and cast concrete couches or chaises, softened with pillows or cushions, can be used as permanent, weatherproof outdoor seating.
See:
Concrete Seat Walls
Outdoor Living: Creating Rooms for Outdoor Activities
Progressive Concrete Works, Inc.
in Phoenix, AZ |
Water features:
If space and budget allow, installing a concrete swimming pool, spa, waterfall or pond can provide beauty, relaxation and tranquil sounds.
See:
Concrete Water Features
The Green Scene
in Canoga Park, CA |
Lighting
Use pathway and landscape lighting to add ambience, accentuate key architectural features, and extend outdoor enjoyment well into the evening.
See:
How to Include Lighting in Concrete Seat Walls
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