Real Homemaking

Decor used to be a word associated only with home interiors, but outdoor spaces have become full-fledged living areas in their own right. Both spaces require a lot of planning and attention to design detail. Working on them together will help you match your indoor and outdoor styles to create a sense of flow and give your home a distinct personality.

If you’re not sure where to start, remember that seating, artwork and amenities are vital parts of planning both an indoor and outdoor space because they are the tools that pull your look together. These details provide a great opportunity for you to have some fun designing your dream home and garden.

Just as you would decorate your living room with paintings or sculptures, you can also liven up your outdoor space with some weatherproof art, urns or a fountain. Choose pieces that enhance the mood of the garden and compliment the materials used in your landscape.

Place garden art close to the house and outdoor seating areas to provide visual interest year-round. Position it in view of windows so it can be enjoyed both indoors and out.

Develop a color story for your garden, just like you would for any room in your house. Continue in pots, planters and accessories. Layering delicate flowers and plants with larger plants and trees will provide visual variety.

Outdoor rooms have never been so sophisticated with fully equipped kitchens, entertainment areas, up-market dining areas and fireplaces. This is the perfect opportunity to mimic your indoor living areas as the traditional boundaries between what has been interior and exterior fades.

Create your own outdoor rooms as a visual and livable extension of your home. You can re-create almost every room in the house outside, from the kitchen to the bedroom. Features like carpets, curtains and cushions can work wonders. Look for easy-care outdoor fabrics in bright seasonal colors that can be stored indoors over the winter months. Re-create the inviting comfort of indoors so you can spend hours lounging around outside on sunny days.

Whether your taste is casual, classic or contemporary, your interior and exterior living spaces can complement each other with harmonious details and corresponding finishing touches. You can make your garden feel more like an extension of your house by designing it with the same care as another room in your house.