Transform Your Space: Outdoor Living Indianapolis Ideas for Every Home

Benefits of an Outdoor Living Space

In Indiana, we are lucky to have access to so many parks and outdoor recreation spaces. Sometimes though, we want to be able to bring that outdoor experience home. That is a huge benefit of having an outdoor living space. Homeowners everywhere are investing in their backyards so that they can better enjoy the outdoors - just by stepping out the backdoor of their house!

Designing the Perfect Outdoor Space

There are quite a few things to consider when deciding to design a living space outdoors - and it's easy to get overwhelmed by the many decisions, wish list items, and ideas that play into your unique vision for a beautiful backyard living space!

Maybe you're looking at climbing vines, or want to set up a grill and outdoor kitchen, or maybe you just want a cozy space for your family to relax outdoors. Whatever all your ideas are, put a pin in them for now (and write them all down so you don't forget!) there will be time to be detailed oriented later; we should start with the the big picture.

How to Design an Outdoor Space

First, begin with a broad vision: Where do you want to set up your outdoor space? How much space do you have to do it? How do you want to use your outdoor space? And what aesthetic/feel do you want to go for? What do you want to do in this backyard space?

Then, start blocking things out into zones: This is usually done through landscaping (the use of plants, planters, and groundcover as aesthetic focal pieces) and hardscaping (stone paths, pavers, decks, and other stone/concrete/wood "hard elements" to sketch out sitting areas, walkways, etc.).

At this point, you can start filling in the space with furniture: Seating and table areas, outdoor kitchens, etc. The furniture is what gives each area of your patio purpose, but it's also a big contributor to the overall look and feeling of the space. After that, fill in everything with decor and fun accessories.

We'll go over each of these steps in more detail, and at the end of this post, we'll give some thoughts on the practicalities of budgeting and planning out your outdoor living space, along with some final tips - so stick around!

Outdoor Room Ideas

An "outdoor room" is a patio area that sits right outside your home that is meant to be an extension of your regular living space. It can be a screened in porch, a covered patio area, a sun room or three season room, or simply an open deck or porch that is designed to be a comfortable outdoor living space to relax with family and friends.

This sort of space works as an intermediary between the house and the outdoors, and therefore it often incorporates design elements from both. People often choose to add some sort of patio cover to provide protection and shade from the sun and rain, and also to better create a smooth transition from indoor to outdoor living. These covers can include awnings, pergolas, a screen porch, a simple umbrella, or even just well placed trees and foliage around the backyard.

Covered Patio Designs

A covered patio can be either attached or separated from the house. It's a great way to create an inviting environment in your backyard where you can sit and relax with relative protection from the elements.

Louvered pergolas are a great option for the often chaotic weather of central Indiana. Whether it's the harsh sun, a heavy rain, or the powerful tornado level windstorms that the Midwest is known for, a well constructed pergola will hold up and is suited for whatever the weather throws at you.

Motorized louvers are a nice perk that allows you flexibility in your space: Easily adjust the level of shade and ventilation by opening and closing the roof with a touch of a button!

Landscaping and Hardscaping Essentials

Plants and pavers are the building blocks of any patio project (literally, in the case of the latter). Hardscaping uses stone, brick, concrete, and wood to distinguish different areas and pathways in your backyard, while landscaping tames and shapes the wilds of the outdoors to work cohesively with the house and patio, so that the manmade elements and the natural elements compliment each other.

During this step of the process, think of it like making a house floor plan - just without walls. It may even be useful to sketch out some plans on paper, or go more hands on do chalk lines or stakes and string in your backyard to map out your vision.

Look for inspiration! Garden magazines, Instagram pages/hashtags, and Pinterest boards are a great jumping off point. Find some patio designs you want to emulate, and then study how it was set up. How did the designer use the contrast between foliage and masonry in order to mold the space? Where did they put pathways, and where did they put planters? How did they set up a natural flow between areas, and what pieces did they add to create focal points to draw the eye?

A good rule of thumb is that hardscaping is where the people will go (sit, stand, walk, eat), while landscaping is where the people will look. So there needs to a balance, because they both work together to create an outdoor space that is more than the sum of its parts.

It you're stuck, you can consult a landscape architect to help you figure out the best way to utilize and beautify your patio space.

Outdoor Furniture and Decor

Now that you have the space outlined, you can start filling it! Start with the larger more functional objects, like furniture, and the add accents with decor. This is the best way for you to start to make your backyard uniquely your backyard with a personal touch.

Furniture

Choosing outdoor furniture is where you have a chance to express your sense of style: There are so many options when it comes to textures, color palettes, patterns, and design styles. This is another step where looking for inspiration can be a huge help!

In addition to the many different styles and designs to choose from, there are some practical considerations like layout of furniture and materials. Make sure that you're leaving plenty of room for people to walk around the furniture even while it's in use, and that you have enough to chairs and table space to properly host as all your family and friends.

Double check that all the furniture you purchase is made from outdoor fabric and weatherproof materials. The last thing you want is a patio filled with musty cloth and rotting wood!

Decorative elements

Outdoor Rugs and Mats define different areas and add a pop of color. Planters and pots, wind chimes, outdoor art, and sculptures are all different ways to add personality and flair to your space.

More Comfort and Entertainment Throughout the Year

Now that your space is designed (both functionally and aesthetically) it's time to pick out some accessories to enhance the comfort and luxury factors in your backyard.

Heating and cooling

Heating and cooling systems, such as outdoor heaters or misting systems, can make your space usable even in extreme temperatures.

Don't worry about the cooler Indiana nights: You can add a firepit, fireplace, or heaters to your backyard space letting you maximize the amount of time you can be outside. Or consider installing a fire pit or chiminea for added warmth and ambiance on chilly evenings. These features not only provide heat but also serve as a focal point for social gatherings.

Ceiling fans or outdoor fans are great for circulating air and providing shade during hot summer days - but a fan can only do so much with the sun beating down, so the first line of defense should be some kind of patio cover, like an awning or a pergola.

Outdoor Lighting

When planning out lighting for your backyard, keep the ambient lighting in mind as a starting place. Where will the sun normally fall as you're using the space? Then brighten up darker and shaded areas with secondary lights.

If you're planning on using the space at night, you'll need a more elaborate lighting setup. This can mean installing recessed lights in your pergola, or getting outdoor lamps, or go for a cumulative effect with string lights, lanterns, and solar powered pathway lights!

Outdoor entertainment

Bring your backyard parties to the next level with some outdoor entertainment!

Outdoor televisions or projectors a perfect for movie nights or watching the latest game under the stars; Sound systems or outdoor speakers can add a cultivated soundtrack to your outdoor activities; And outdoor games like cornhole, giant Jenga, or lawn darts can provide hours of fun!

Budgeting and Planning for Your Outdoor Space

When budgeting and planning for your big backyard projects, its important to remember the age old trifecta, from which you can only pick two: You can get something that's good; you can get something done fast; or you can get something done cheap. Very rarely can you get all three.

If you want it all good and fast, you'll probably need to hire professional consultants, architects, and installation services every step of the process - which can be quite pricy. If you want it good and cheap, then you can do everything DIY and figure it out through trial and error - which could take a while.

And if you want it fast and cheap? That's where the old adage "Do it right or do it twice" comes in. The quick budget options can be fine for a couple of years, but they won't last as long and won't offer as seamless an experience.

Take pergolas as an example (we're a pergola company, it's kind of our thing): You can buy a cheaper aluminum louvered pergola at Costco or on Amazon, or any of the other online brands that import pergola kits from overseas. That pergola may be fine for a couple of years, but it won't meet building codes and will begin to deteriorate (or go out all at once in a big storm). But when you buy from the Luxury Pergola, you can expect it to last forever - and so do we, which is why we back it with a lifetime warranty. In the first scenario, you got an okay pergola that you had to replace in a couple of years; but in the second scenario, you got a top of the line American made pergola that will stand as long as your house does (or longer).

Ultimately, it's not like you have to "choose two" on good, fast, and cheap, for the entirety of the project. You can parse it out prioritize: Maybe you're okay with getting cheaper furniture that you replace in a few years; or maybe the patio cover isn't as important to you, so you don't want to invest that much money into it. Just be conscious of those decisions and set your expectations accordingly.

It's important to note though: the more structural an element, the more important it is to get it right the first time (and the more expensive it will be to replace). So if you can invest more money up front into the structural elements (deck, landscaping/hardscaping, outdoor structures, etc.) it'll be easier to then upgrade the rest of the backyard setup in bits and pieces over the years.

Final Tips for Building Your Dream Outdoor Oasis

In summary:

• Start big picture: Plot out a vision and basic idea of where the space is going and how you'll use it

• Sketch out the structure: Use landscaping and hardscaping to create a basic flow

• Fill in with function: Add furniture and larger practical pieces

• Compliment with form: Add decor and aesthetic flourish

• Accessorize it: Creature comforts to help you use your space year round

And our final piece of advice: Take it slow! Your backyard will still be there tomorrow. the worst thing you can do is spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a trendy, beautiful, and pristine patio that you don't even like or end up using.

Take your time, enjoy the process. An outdoor living space is an investment in your future happiness and enjoyment, so take the project slow and and steady, and you'll be sure to come up with something that will bring you joy for years to come!