Extend your living space to the outdoors with these simple tips for creating outdoor rooms:
1. Take advantage of existing landscape.
For new construction, think about your home's orientation. Design your home within the existing landscape to take advantage of mature trees and natural gradients on the site.
2. Consider a central atrium or an internal courtyard.
Wrapping your home around a central atrium or internal courtyard creates sheltered outdoor space and constant glimpses of nature from within.
3. Connect indoor and outdoor with repeat materials.
Connect your living space to your outdoor room physically, with large sliding doors. Connect them visually by using the same material inside and out.
4. Use sunbreaks.
Keep your outdoor room shaded with sun-breaks like a trellis, or a retractable sailcloth covering.
5. Use indoor style outside.
And when you're furnishing, take your indoor style outdoors - to make your outdoor room as inviting as your modern home.
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