Handyman Articles - Creating Outdoor Living Spaces
     By Tina Gleisner, My Handyman

• 50% of American homeowners say they spend more time at home than 5 years ago.
• 35% of homeowners have a finished outdoor room while 34% say they are planning to design one in the next 1-2 years
• Homeowners decide to add/remodel an outdoor room to create space to relax (89%), spend more time outside (87%), add value to a home (79%), extend a home's living space (78%) and create space to entertain (74%)

Where traditionally we thought of the backyard as a single space, dividing outdoor living space into rooms is gaining popularity. By creating separate rooms, each one can have its own mini-landscape design. For example, you need storage for towels in the pool area but the bin does not need to be visible from other parts of the yard. You can create the pool "room" by adding a tall hedge or fence and within that space focus on safety, maintenance and privacy. 

Almost any room in the home is being moved outdoors. Where previously decks served as a place to barbecue, eat and entertain, people are now creating outdoor kitchens and entertaining in outdoor living rooms with fireplaces. People are working in outdoor offices and grooming in outdoor showers, previously found at the beach. Play areas are being separated from other living spaces and many home owners are creating space for meditation with privacy and water, either a fountain or waterfall.

o Floors - may involve grass or alternative ground covers (remember you pick different types of carpeting depending on foot traffic), stone, sand, mulch, patio materials such as blue stone or pavers and decks which can be built from a broad array of materials like Azek Deck.

o Walls - can be created using hedges, lattice screen, hardscape materials, fencing or a combination of these materials. You want to consider the function of the wall and plan accordingly. Fencing will provide more security around a pool where plantings are more relaxing than hardscapes for areas where you plan to relax. While waiting for hedges to grow, you might use lattice and a vine plant like climbing hydrangeas.

o Ceilings - offer choices from arbors and pergolas to shade trees. You can find a wide selection of canvas canopies to awnings and even lawn umbrellas.

• Outdoor lighting units, and there are some on the market now which are solar powered
• Gas grills all the way up to kitchen like appliances
• Outdoor fireplaces or pits
  
• Living room type furniture, i.e. more than your standard outdoor table and chairs
  
• Patio space heaters
• Mosquito eliminators