Outdoor living is the hottest thing since sliced bread. People are spending an increasingly high amount of time outdoors, but they do not want to sacrifice comfort. The result is this new concept of the outdoor living spaces, a backyard oasis that combines the openness of nature with the comforts of your living room.

This article from eHow.com explains several ways to design a backyard living space that meets your needs and increases your living space.

Outdoor Kitchens

As of 2010, the “leisure lifestyle” industry was a $6.2 billion industry, which is a 5.4% increase from 2002. The newfound demand for these outdoor living spaces is a big reason for this jump in revenue. And the main components of any successful outdoor space are a grill or appliance to cook, a place to sit and eat, a fire pit or fireplace to extend the seasons and accessories.

Things to do:

  1. Figure out your budget.
  2. Establish a focal point, like a fire source or water garden.
  3. Abandon the traditional grill and install an outdoor over. The Sky’s the limit. Everything from pizza ovens, grilling stations, ice makers and wine refrigerators are being integrated into outdoor rooms.
  4. Outdoor plumbing. No kitchen is complete without a sink.

Comfort Is Key

Bring your living room outdoors. Incorporate fabric, paint, plants and accessories into your outdoor living space. And, of course, no outdoor living space is complete without all-weather furniture, an outdoor weather-resistant rug, and a high-performance outdoor flat screen TV.

Landscape

You are outdoors, so utilize the landscape. Select plants that change with the season, offering different colors, blooms or scents depending on the time of year. Add smaller, hardy perennials to add color and layers of texture. Consult a landscape designer before you plant to make sure you choose plants native to your location and conditions.

If you have any questions, contact Rhine Landscaping by calling 410-442-2445 or click here today!

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