Matching indoor and outdoor spaces: new design trends
With the warmer months coming, our outside spaces are gaining more popularity. Outdoor activities such as sitting in the -pool, or entertaining by the fire pit are fun but less so if you don’t have access to the indoors, especially kitchen and bathroom.
To achieve cohesiveness in your space takes more than just a well thought out floor plan. Here are five new design trends that combine the best of both indoor and outdoor and give you a perfect flow between the two.
Flooring
Flooring is definitely number one on our list, since it is the least accessible to change, once you put it in. Therefore, we thought it would be best to start with the floors, to show you the ways in which you can combine outdoor and indoor.
When choosing flooring, we would opt for something durable, and easy to clean. You don’t need dark, rich mahogany wooden floors that will stain and get ruined after a few months of pool water on them. Choose something light in colour, as well as something waterproof.
The best waterproof floors are definitely tiles. You may not want to have tiles on the first floor, but don’t worry, there is a catch! You can now buy wood-look ceramic tiles, without the upkeep of the wooden floor. Just be sure that your outside flooring matches your inside flooring in style and colour. Shape is something you can play with.
Lights
We chose lights to be our close second because we feel that lights often get put aside when combining indoor and outdoor. For a household that likes to spend their time on the outside, it is equally important to have good lighting in the yard or patio, to actually enjoy it!
However, you should be careful not to mismatch the styles. Say you bought a beautiful, ornate chandelier that will go perfectly above your dining room table. In style with this, choose a chandelier for your outdoor eating space. It doesn’t have to be equally ornate or as big, but a similar style will make your space feel cohesive and complete.
On the same note, if your indoor lights are more modern, sleek and give off an industrial vibe, make sure you go with a similar style for your outside lighting. Match raw materials like wood with metal for an even more industrial feel.
Doors and windows
There’s nothing more important for a house that connects its outdoor space with indoors that doors and windows. Windows are like the eyes of the house, and they are an integral part of the quality home design. Big windows that let in a lot of lights will make you feel like you are on the outside even when on the inside, and even when the weather conditions don’t allow you to spend time outside.
When it comes to doors, there are many ways in which you can connect indoor and outdoor space. Be careful to choose doors that give you the opportunity to open your indoor space to the outdoor and create a better flow between the two, such as bi-fold doors. They are easy to maintain, weatherproof and cancel noise when you want them to be closed. But even closed, they offer you a great view of the garden. And, if you are in the market for great bi-fold doors, check out Prestige Plus, for example.
Plants
For many, plants may not be an obvious choice to match outside and inside, but for us, it is one of the best ways. By adding plants in your living room or space that you use for entertaining, you are practically taking pieces of the outside and putting them inside.
And, by putting the same types of plants in your garden or on your patio, you will make a cohesive and well-connected area that is visible even to an untrained eye. And don’t forget the benefits that plants have in your indoor spaces! They can improve your mental health, boost your immune system, and improve your productivity. And all you need to do is water them.
Matching furniture
Sometimes difficult to achieve, but matching furniture is one of the priorities in matching styles of the indoors and outdoors. However, indoor furniture is different from outdoor furniture in materials. They have to be, because of the different weather conditions.
But, even by matching colours or one simple detail on the two sets will make a big difference in the overall look. For example, you have a grey futon and a wooden table. Opt for wooden outside chairs with grey cushions. Play with textures, styles and colours, but keep one colour palette and one type of wood for a more cohesive feel.
Conclusion
Having a well-styled outdoor space is equally important as having an indoor space styled to perfection. Keep in mind that you match the style and colour palette when you are styling both these spaces and you are set! We hope you enjoy your summer outside!
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