Creating an Outdoor Living Room

It seems that everyone is trying to get back to nature or save the planet anymore. There is a huge push toward green alternatives and organic lifestyles. There is also a huge push toward technical advances, computers, entertainment, and all the other gadgets you "must have" to live your life. One way to balance this out is a return to an older idea. Whether you call it a patio, sun room, Arizona room, or outdoor living room, these additions are quickly becoming a must-have. They are also getting a technical make-over. I am sure we have all seen or experienced a by-gone age where people would sit out on the porch and converse with each other and passers-by. It was a time to socialize and come together as a family as we all got a breath of fresh air. This nostalgia can easily be added to your home in a manner that people will still enjoy. This may be a costly room to fill, but it is relatively simple to add.

Design your outdoor living room
The first thing that you will need to do is the design phase. Just like any other home improvement project, you will need to map this idea out and visualize what you want to accomplish. This is a great reason to go window shopping. By browsing around at what is on the market, you can get a better idea of what you want and what is possible to add to yours.

Once again, your imagination is the only limit to this project. There are several things that you can add to this room. Whether it is an ice chest embedded in a La-Z-Boy or a completely voice activated remote system to control every aspect of your room, there are options out there. Do not let your budget limit your project either. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is that technology is getting smaller and cheaper every day. What you cannot afford now, may be in your budget in about six months. Secondly, it is easier to add things to the design and wait to implement them, than to not add them and have to reconfigure your room after it is built. Having the empty spots can also be a motivation to put a little aside every month. Filling those empty spots is a very rewarding feeling as well. Remember that this room is your dream, so you need to design it as such.

If you are having a problem with the dimensions and placement of things, get some boxes. I find myself having to do this to get a better mental image and get the right size down. Use cardboard cutouts, boxes, kids, toys, neighbors, or whatever you have available to represent the items you want to include. Bob from next door may wonder why he has to pretend to be a couch, but it may save you from spatial mistakes later. By getting a more visual layout in your mind, you will not only be able to get more exact measurements, but you will often think of things that wouldn't occur to you on paper.

Choose your materials
After you get an idea of what to include in the room, you will need to think of what to make the room out of. If you have an existing patio to upgrade, you may be a step ahead. If this is an addition, you will need to consider what to make the floor and walls from.

For the floor, there are several options. A flagstone and sod combination may give you a more outdoors feeling, but it may be more difficult to place some of your items on. A nice wooden deck is another option for a more level and smooth taste. Artificial turf is a very popular flooring material for these "outdoor" rooms as well. It is really a matter of taste at this point.

Once you select the floor, now you can pick the walls. Since this is an outdoor room, you will likely want to go with glass or clear vinyl walls. If you live in a cooler area or one with severe weather, you will want to use sturdy windows for this. Storm windows may be a necessity in some locations. Screens are a very good idea for bug prone areas. After the walls are planned, you will want to look to the ceiling. You will want to have a ceiling that will provide shade in the heat but can be transparent at night. There are several options for this but here are two that may work for you. Retractable awnings are great for this. You can roll it out in the heat, and roll it back to stargaze or watch the clouds on cooler days. If you are more concerned with the night sky, you can also include a star projector in the design. There are some very advanced ones on the market for relatively cheap. There is one type that will display the stars in the exact same position they are in outside. Based on the day and time, these have a computer that projects the night sky on your ceiling with the stars in their natural positions.

Begin building
Now that everything is planned out, you can start the building process. You want to make sure you have any required permits and clearances before you start. A flagstone and sod mix will not require any foundation, but if you are planting a wooden deck or solid foundation, you will need to call the utility companies to mark off the lines going to your home. The last thing you want to do is hit a gas, water, or even worse, sewer line when digging your postholes for the deck.

Choose your toys
Once you get your outdoor living room, or "party room", built, it is time to make sure it is safe for your gadgets and toys. You will want to close it all up, grab the hose, and saturate the entire thing. You want to make sure the walls and ceiling are completely waterproof. Electronics and water do not mix. If your room can not hold rain or other elements out, you may find yourself needing a new television or home entertainment system after every storm. Once you know it is safe, start to load it down. Get everything hooked up, decked out, and plugged in. That leaves one last step: invite the friends and family over to check out your sweet new addition.

Whether it is for an intimate night by the fire with your significant other, or inviting the "guys" over for the big game, this room is a must. With glass walls and ceiling you can enjoy the several feet of snow and ice from a nice cozy easy chair. No matter what time of year or what the weather is like, this addition will let you bring it into your living room, without having to suffer the elements.