There’s a thrill in turning less into more. At The Guest Room, we love a challenge. So for those of you with a small outdoor space, here are five fabulous ideas to expand your exterior and overcome your outdoor living obstacles.
Divide and Conquer
Think about what activities you plan to do from your patio or deck. Once that’s settled, we recommend creating separate spaces for each activity. Yes it seems counterintuitive for limited space but the idea is to draw clean lines; one for reading, another for lounging and another for hosting friends or a party of one – Y-O-U. For example, a Kingsley-Bate daybed paired with a small bench (even better if it has built-in storage) works for entertaining guests or relaxing with a book. If you add a table with lightweight chairs, then you have extended the form and function of your outdoor space for reading, working from home and dining. Three Coins Designs celebrates warm weather and invites outdoor living with its bright collection of mixed-media side tables and portable seating.
Scale Back
If you don’t have a large patio, then small-scale (not minuscule) but well-positioned furniture is key to the layout. Choosing a unified palette for furniture and accessories (preferably one that accentuates the surrounding natural environs) lends to making a patio or a deck feel more expansive. Summer Classics’ family of fabrics set the tone and texture for an idyllic outdoor living with their sophisticated patterns and soothing hues. Too many decorative elements or oversized plants can make a small space feel and look crowded, so opt for a few colorful pillows, succulents in planters and dwarf patio trees.
Clear the Way
Clients often view the interior and the exterior of their home as two separate spaces. We encourage establishing a seamless path from the indoors to the outdoors. Introduce colors, patterns and details from your everyday living quarters onto your patio. For example, placing all-weather floor coverings atop flagstone or cement adds unexpected warmth to the deck much like it would in your living room. North Carolina-based Capel Rugs, America’s Rug Company, offers a vast collection of stylish outdoor rugs.
Glass tables from Summer Classics also create the illusion of more room. Another way to deliver depth to your patio is a tried-and-true trick used in interior design. Hang a mirror onto an existing (supportive) wall. Cyan Designs, one of our decorative accessories partners, produces traditional, rustic and contemporary mirrors reflective of diverse style statements and settings.
In a Good Light
From candles and lamps to portable fire pits, outdoor lighting maximizes how much time you spend on your patio and treats the space as an extension of your indoor rooms.
Upward Mobility
With limited floor space and ample wall space, there is room to grow up and out. Hanging shelves frees up the deck floor while offering storage solutions and a landing spot for artful accessories. Window boxes provide a home for flowering treasures. Consider a pergola for heightened visual interest and much needed shade.
It’s time to dream BIG and implement small decorative elements to maximize your patio space. At The Guest Room, we see beyond square footage; we see the wow and wonderful possibilities, so visit our showroom today for more inspired solutions.
