Design Trend: Bringing the Inside Out
For years (in particular over the past few!) we have been talking about bringing the outside in – focusing on incorporating nature into our homes through plants, natural textures, and finishes. Now, as we turn our attention to our outside spaces, this design trend has developed into connecting our indoor and outdoor spaces, even more, ensuring our gardens are direct extensions of our homes. From outdoor kitchens to soft furnishings, let’s go through the best ways to bring the indoors, outdoors.
The Fifth Room
To truly master the ‘bringing your indoors outside’ trend, you need to think about your garden as a fifth room. By thinking about it as a genuine room, it will become a true extension of your home, transforming it into a space that matches your home’s aesthetic. Think about colour palettes in the same way you would inside; choose furniture that suits your living room and dining room style and accessorise with items that can be used both inside and out to create a true sense of cohesion. For an example of how to achieve this, take a look at
@theperryrenovation, who has created a wonderful seating area in the corner of their garden that feels just as inviting as an interior living room.
Replicate Your Living & Dining Rooms
Depending on the space we have available, our gardens tend to be focused on a seating area and a dining area. To expand your home to the outdoors, you should seek to emulate your dining and living rooms outside. Look at things such as your furniture colour choices, armchairs, side tables, and coffee tables… you will soon notice there is plenty that can be easily matched to ensure a smooth transition from indoors to out. Other touches such as choosing plants that work both indoors and outdoors are a great touch, enabling you to create an exterior that is just as inviting as your interior. We think
@cotty_lee and
@rachael_hobson show us how to do this just perfectly!
Create Continuity with Surface Choices
Developments in technology have meant that we now have far more choices than ever before when it comes to our
outdoor surfaces. From natural stone and marble-effect porcelain paving slabs, to tiles that are
suited to both indoors and outdoors, it’s now easier than ever to connect your interior and your garden. If you are lucky enough to have bi-fold doors opening out onto a patio, choosing the same floor choice for your indoors and outdoors will create the perfect seamless expansion of your home – nothing will beat that feeling of having the doors wide open in the summer! Similarly, if you happen to have quite a small courtyard or garden, choosing the same tile choice for inside and out will create an illusion of more space, and make your home feel bigger during the warmer months.
Decorate & Accessorise Your Garden
As with any room in the home, it’s the finishing touches that will bring a scheme together. To make your garden feel as inviting as your home, add plenty of cushions and throws to your seating – be sure to opt for weatherproof textiles, there are plenty out there! Outdoor rugs are ideal for adding a soft and comforting feel and have become incredibly popular over the past few years; most are extremely durable and ‘hosable’, meaning you can leave them out all summer long (even in British weather). Lastly, good lighting will transform your garden and allow you to enjoy your outdoor space well into the evening. For a relaxed feel add festoon lighting from one corner to the other or around your seating area and add some candlelight to your key areas. Solar-powered lanterns, fairy lights, and pathway lights are an easy and effective way to light up the garden too.
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We love seeing your garden transformations, especially as the weather warms up! Don’t forget to tag us on social media so we can see how you have extended your home into your outdoors!