The term Outdoor Living usually brings thought of picnic tables, mismatched pool chairs and the fragrant aroma emanating from the hibachi. If this is your idea of outdoor living, you need to wake up and discover the new reality of backyard space. Today, outdoor living means extending the inside of your home to the outside. Home remodeling is at an all time high and the vast majority of projects are creating these wonderful outdoor living spaces. Every year billions of dollars are spent here in the United States by home owners wanting to expand their living quarters; designing an outdoor living area is one of the top three projects. By using your backyard as an extended living and entertaining area, you will not only increase your living space, but you will also increase your property’s value. Basically, anything you can use inside your house, you can use just as easily outside.

The major components for creating an outdoor living space include:

A cooking appliance – this can mean just about anything ranging from a free standing bar-b-cue grill to a built-in cook island complete with grill, oven, refrigerator and sink;

Dining table and chairs – these are of course the focal point for eating the delicious meals being created and makes it much more pleasant than paper plates sitting on your lap.

Natural heating – translation: a fireplace, a wood burning stove, a chiminea, a firepit, or a patio heater. The idea is to extend the outdoor season into late fall or early spring, plus the light from the fire creates a wonderful ambiance;

Seating furniture – we’re talking couches, loveseats, cushion chairs and so on. No more plastic or webbing furniture. The idea is to make a comfortable place to gather after the meal, enjoy the warm fire and pleasant company;

A Covered Patio and Deck – or at least partially covered over the cooking appliance and dining areas. It creates a cool shaded retreat as well as protection from the weather without ruining your outdoor fun. The deck (whether wood, concrete or stone) will provide a stable and appealing floor system.

Just remember that these items are a basic starter list and you can add or change what you use in order to suit your own personal style, budget and needs. Your imagination and wallet are the only limits to your outdoor living design. If you wish to add a pool or garden area, the best designs will incorporate all the outdoor living and entertaining spaces you choose to add. How and when you choose to add each section is purely up to you, you can do the entire project at once or start small and build-up as time goes on. That is the beauty of an Outdoor Living space, it can be however you wish.

Don’t forget to check out my Deck Building Guide for more great ideas on making the most of the outdoors!

US $19.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Nov-26-2008 12:36:46 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

US $91.05 (10 Bids) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 19:08:39 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

US $61.00 (7 Bids) End Date: Friday Nov-21-2008 19:00:16 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

US $10.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Nov-25-2008 18:15:00 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

US $79.16 (3 Bids) End Date: Tuesday Nov-25-2008 17:18:18 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!