Staging Outdoor Areas at Home

Add more square footage to your living space by staging an outdoor area into a spot for entertainment, relaxation, or both. Transform your porch, patio, and even part of the yard by adding furniture, yard art, and some other personal features.

Setting Boundaries
Create a wall or the illusion of one by hanging bamboo blinds or wispy sheers on three sides of the area. You may choose to outline the area by setting out a line of large flower pots or outdoor lights. Conserve on energy by using solar lights. The soft glow of those lights also creates a cozy nook when the sun sets.

Furniture
Plastic furniture and folding lounge chairs works well at the beach or on a camping trip. Staging an outdoor room means choosing furniture that holds up under the elements but still looks like it could be indoors. Choose metal furniture with a weatherproof finish and washable cushions made for outdoor use. You don't need an entire room full of furniture, just a few attractive pieces to give the impression of a room.

Repurpose the extra furniture in your home by giving the pieces a coat of exterior paint and finishing with a coat of clear polyurethane. If the item is a dresser or table with drawers, remove the drawers and paint each piece separately.

Flooring
Define the space even more by using a large bamboo mat or other outdoor rug. You may choose to outline the area with a baseboard of 1x6 treated boards and filling the interior with a layer of sand or small pebbles, as a foundation for your furniture. The sand and pebbles work well if you plan to add an outdoor fireplace or burn pit.

Décor
Water features, such as a solar water fountain or small water garden, add a unique feature to your outdoor living space. A small fountain takes up minimal space and provides a relaxing atmosphere to the area. The water garden brings fragrance to the space with water lilies and lotus blossoms. A few fish add to the atmosphere, as well.

Resin or concrete statues allow you to personalize the area with whimsical figurines and other creatures. A sun dial is easily created for a focal point to your space. You may prefer to use a fire pit or outdoor fireplace as the center of attraction.

No matter how you design your outdoor living space, as long as you use your decorating flair outdoors as you do indoors, your space will be beautiful and functional.