Creating the Perfect Outdoor Space: Sunrooms, Covered Patios, and Lanais

Creating the Perfect Outdoor Space: Sunrooms, Covered Patios, and Lanais

As the days grow longer and the air becomes ever-so-slightly less chilly, we can’t help but be reminded that brighter days are coming. Spring is right around the corner, and summer will be hot on its heels. This is fab news for anybody who enjoys spending time in the great outdoors. 

For those of you who enjoy spending time outside, creating the perfect outdoor space in your backyard or garden is a great way to do exactly that. Outdoor living spaces are growing in popularity with each passing year and if you’ve been thinking of creating one yourself, now is the ideal time. 

When designing outdoor living spaces, sunrooms, covered patios, and lanais are all very desirable, and if done right can really help to lift any garden or yard. But what are the differences between each one, and what can you do to design your dream living area outside? 

Here’s a look at creating the perfect outdoor living space and some of the different options available to you. 

Covered Patios

To begin with, we’re going to look at arguably the most common feature in any outdoor living space, and that is a covered patio. 

Patios are very common in gardens and backyards all over the globe. If a property has a half-decent sized garden, chances are it has a patio of some sort. Patios are typically paved or decked areas adjacent to homes. They are essentially paved areas made from decorative stones or rocks, where people can place outdoor furniture, sit down, and relax. 

Most patios are uncovered, though covered patios are now proving to be more common. Here, things like awnings, pagodas, pavilions, or even shade covers are used to provide a roof and offer some shelter for the patio and protection from the elements. 

Covered Patio Outdoor Design Tips

If you’re thinking of creating a new patio, or even providing a roof for your existing patio, there are several things you can do to ensure the design flows flawlessly and looks great in the process. These include: 

Decide on the Purpose 

Before designing a covered patio, make sure you determine its purpose and what it will primarily be for. 

Are you planning on hosting parties or just adding a roof to help keep you dry if it rains? How much space do you need, how much coverage is required? All these things need to be considered. 

Decide on the Roof

Next up, you need to decide what kind of roof coverage you want.

If you want a really professional and upmarket look, a pagoda or pavilion would be ideal. If you’re thinking more of practicality and just want somewhere to keep out of the rain, a simple awning or shade sail will be perfectly fine. 

Use Furniture for Finishing Touches 

A great way to really bring any covered patio area to life is to make use of patio furniture. 

Rattan garden furniture such as seats, sofas, and coffee tables all look great and are also practical as they’re waterproof and can be wiped down easily. Make sure you remove cushions and covers after each use and store them somewhere dry and you’ll be all set. 

You can also add large ceramic pots and potted plants to really help bring the space to life. 

Sunrooms

Sunrooms are a great way to enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer, while staying dry, clean, and warm at the same time. 

Sunrooms are typically attached to homes and made primarily of glass. They feature large glass doors, windows, and even roofs, to allow as much natural sunlight and warmth in as possible, while providing unobstructed views outside at the same time. 

Sunrooms can typically be accessed both from the garden, and from the home and they provide a very welcoming living space. 

Sunroom Design Tips

If you’re in the process of designing a sunroom, or if you simply want to modernize your existing sunroom, here are several design tips to help you out. 

Create a Four-Season Sunroom 

As great as sunrooms are, in the winter they can be extremely cold, especially if you don’t have ample heating options. A great way to create a more inviting sunroom is to build a 4-season sunroom. 

Four-season sunrooms are constructed to a higher spec and are typically insulated much better, with additional heating in there to keep you nice and warm all year round. 

Make it Nice and Relaxing 

Another top tip for creating a welcoming and friendly sunroom is to make it as calming and relaxing as possible. 

Add comfortable seating, throw in some decorate artwork and accessories that you find peaceful and relaxing, add a little reading area where you can read and take in the views at the same time, and simply make the interior as relaxing, calming, and appealing as you can. 

Lanais

Finally, we have lanais. 

Lanais are very similar to porches, except for the fact that they aren’t attached to the front of a home like a porch is. Instead, they sit independently in the garden away from the property, similar to how a summerhouse would. 

Lanais usually feature concrete floors, along with windows and/or screens for additional protection from the wind, rain, and wildlife. They help create a feeling of being outdoors, while being warm and secure indoors at the same time. 

Lanais Design Tips

To help you bring your Lanai to life and give your outdoor living space that wow-factor, check out these useful design tips. 

Build an Al-Fresco Dining Area 

A lanai is great because it is like having an additional room outside, while still letting you enjoy your garden, the views, the wildlife, and nature in general. 

Many people will use their lanais as an outdoor dining area that they can enjoy over the warmer months of the year. Adding things like a large dining table and chairs, sun protection, and accessories such as potted plants, and even TVs, will really help create the ultimate outdoor dining area. 

Add Some Light 

Lanais are great for relaxing in in the evening as the sun begins to set. Of course, as it gets dark you’re going to need some lighting. 

Adding lighting to your lanai will really give it a sense of decadence and will make it feel more like an extension of the home. It will also make life much easier as it gets dark. 

Get Creative with Seating 

Instead of just adding some generic outdoor furniture to your lanai, why not get a little creative with the seating instead? 

Consider uniquely designed chairs and sofas for more of an aesthetic feel. You could even build a sunken seating area, complete with a firepit to really bring the space to life. 

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