say an outdoor living space is their priority. Following a pandemic where many spent significant time in their homes, people are ready to get the most out of their living spaces.
One way to extend your home and its living space is by creating outdoor living spaces.
With so many ways to extend your outdoor living space, you might wonder how to execute making it happen and wondering what contractors to hire to help you create those outdoor living spaces.
Read on to learn more about outdoor living space ideas and who you should hire to help create those spaces.
Planning Your Outdoor Living Spaces
It’s essential as you consider your outdoor spaces and your goals. What’s important to you as you design and plan those spaces?
For some, it will be a pool for recreation. Others will want outdoor space to offer entertainment areas like an outdoor kitchen and dining area. Other landscaping garden areas are a priority.
There are three areas to focus your attention, including:
- Outdoor living spaces
- Hardscape landscape
- Landscape design and maintenance
Knowing your priorities for outdoor spaces will help get you to the best outcome for your needs to ensure you get the right contractors to execute those spaces.
Outdoor Living Space Ideas
Every homeowner will have different goals and priorities for their outdoor spaces. Knowing what you want helps to ensure you’re hiring the right contractor for the job.
Let’s consider what you should consider when planning these spaces.
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens have become a high priority for outdoor living spaces. This allows you to move all your entertainment to outside spaces.
An outdoor kitchen has many of the same features as your indoor kitchen but with more options for cooking. Many outdoor kitchens feature grills and smokers built into the space.
The well-equipped outdoor kitchen allows users to keep all their cooking and entertaining outside. Like you’d hire a general contractor for kitchen renovations, they could also create outdoor kitchens, too.
Fireplace and Fire Pits
Another priority for outdoor living has become a place to build a fire.
For some, that means a built-in fireplace in the outdoor space. This might have the same stone and brick appearance as an indoor fireplace.
Some outdoor fire features even have gas lines that allow you to have a fire you can turn on and off without using wood or having smoke. Others like an area in their outdoor space for a firepit. These places go well-beyond the hole in the dirt with some rocks thrown around them.
A general contractor or landscape designer could help create a fire feature in your outdoor space.
Pergolas, Gazebos, Decks, and Outdoor Patios
Creating covered outdoor living spaces has become a priority for some. This allows you to be outside while still protected from the elements. You could avoid rain or sweltering hot sun and still enjoy being outside if you have a covered terrace.
One choice is to build a pergola that connects to their outdoor kitchen space. This part protects you from the elements. It also creates a designated living and dining space in your outdoor area.
A gazebo creates an interesting outdoor focal point for people with more space outside. You could use it for outdoor seating for dining.
Some homes work well to add a deck space to create a designated outdoor living space separate from their yard area.
The general contractor could help to create any of these options.
Pools
Many prioritize their outdoor living space for recreation. They want to put in a pool and hot tub.
Depending on your space and budget, pools come in various shapes, sizes, and features.
Adding a pool to your outdoor space guarantees you’ll be the house all your friends want to visit.
If you don’t want to commit to an entire pool, a new idea is the dunk pool. It gives you a small pool for dunking into without taking up all the space.
Work with a pool specialist to decide the best option for your overall outdoor design plans.
Water Features
You might like having water in your outdoor space but aren’t ready to commit to a pool.
Adding a water feature to your outdoor living space adds a focal point and often a lovely sound. Water features might include:
- Small ponds
- Fountains
- Moving streams
A water feature allows for the sounds of water near your living spaces without the maintenance and space of a full-blown pool.
It’s smart to talk with a landscape architect to plan outdoor water features.
Landscape Design
An important feature of outdoor space is how it’s landscaped.
Many think about landscaping as what bushes and flowers get planted. It’s actually much more than that.
Landscape design has many categories. You want to consider your hardscape features like rocks, patios, sidewalks, and steps. These are the parts of your landscape that the plants are built around.
Then, of course, you have all the plant life that’s a part of your landscaping. This includes trees, bushes, plants, and flowers that help decorate your outdoor spaces.
It also includes lawn areas. Don’t forget to consider your irrigation needs for landscaping.
It makes sense to work with a landscape architect or landscape designer in conjunction with your general contractor to ensure all the parts of your outdoor spaces work together.
Find a General Contractor in Mount Pleasant, SC
Outdoor living spaces have become a priority for many homeowners. It allows you to extend your living area and create a place to enjoy the outdoors while still being in the sanctuary of your own home.
If you’re interested in learning more about creating more outdoor living space for your home, we can help.
