Whether small or large, home plans with outdoor living spaces are becoming part of the norm.
From senior housing to private homes, a place with an outdoor space has an edge on the competition. Porches, patios, loggias and courtyards can make a modest size home live large and unforgettable, so many homeowners are including al fresco spaces in their plans or adding them to existing structures. Even home plans on small lots are now utilizing every square foot to incorporate fabulous outdoor spaces. Why? As a country in general, we’re having a love affair with nature, getting back to barbecue basics, and enjoying unplugged moments in our backyard.
Studies show the outdoor living lifestyle has developed into a rapidly growing, $6.2 billion industry over the last decade. For most Americans, the thought of having an enjoyable outdoor space, whether a garden patio or full kitchen, is on
the Top Five list of home necessities. For builders, open-air spaces provide an opportunity to offer more living space at a lower cost, as well as to create a feature easily customized to the buyer’s lifestyle.
As interior rooms give way to outdoor spaces, we are seeing more products that could easily find their way into the living room
as well as the landscape. Traditional doors are being replaced with window walls that open so an outdoor space literally becomes an extension of indoor space. Furniture, materials, fireplaces and cooking equipment are being customized for outdoor use and entertaining.
The nice thing about an outdoor space is that you can spend as little or as much money creating it and still reap its benefits. For example, a brick fireplace is a nice feature, but a portable fire pit provides the same coziness on a cool evening at a fraction of the cost.
With outdoor living in such high demand, you’ll find plenty of ideas and products to get you started creating your own outdoor space.
