Outdoor room: How to maximise your outdoor space and dial up the luxe factor

Australians love to live outside whether it’s entertaining, eating or simply bathing in the sun on a warm day. We enjoy creating exceptional outdoor spaces within our homes to share with friends and family.

However, in many parts of the country, the weather is either too sunny, rainy, windy or cold and our outdoor spaces are left unused because they are impractical, or because they haven’t been designed effectively to cater for all weather conditions.

We are also rethinking the ways we use our homes learning valuable lessons from global lockdowns and working from home. Our homes have been reconfigured and reworked to optimise space and create more comfortable areas for work and rest.

How to create the perfect outdoor room – and enjoy the outdoors

A retractable awning or operable roof are fantastic design elements to begin using your outdoor space throughout the year. Whether they form part of a backyard, side courtyard or patio, and offer excellent flexibility with the option to open and close the roof, or open or close the side walls allowing full control of the space as you use it.

For absolute luxury, you can now create a glazed outdoor space with a louvred roof that not only tilts, but also fully retracts the louvres, allowing you to choose the perfect balance of light and shade. You can also add fully integrated LED light and quartz heating, a trend that is only just starting to emerge in Australia.

Open it up for summer – Best ways to enjoy your outdoor space

To effectively create an outdoor space, it must be able to open to take advantage of the warmer weather. Whether this means being able to open on three sides, fully or partially, it certainly means factoring in a retractable roof.

A room that can physically open up can cost less than building a fixed room. Unlike a conservatory, with large walls of fixed glass, an outdoor room doesn’t have the same design and build cost, but has the added flexibility to remain open or closed depending on how you interact with the space.

How to create a watertight outdoor room when it’s raining

A great option for wet days is a water-proof canopy above head using a pergola awning or a louvred roof. When the louvred roof is closed, a watertight canopy is created. Furthermore, the support structure features a discretely concealed downpipe, which collects the rainwater run off.

The water is captured and reticulated into an integrated down pipe. Then, you can plumb the rainwater into the rest of the house’s plumbing or position it away from the outdoor space to be reused in your garden.

Take advantage of your outdoor space in winter

For many, a rainy or windy day can force us inside during the colder wintry months. But there are options to make your outdoor space habitable when the mercury drops. Clever walls comprising a range of materials will allow you to be outside, protected from the elements.

For example, Warema’s range of vertical EzyZIP blinds are often used on the outside of windows. They have also been designed to work seamlessly with louvred roofs, hidden in the top rails until needed. As a result, they not only provide excellent wind protection, but they will also help you achieve a more seamless room look and feel, which will ultimately be warmer and more comfortable.

Solid options are available too. Think glazed panels or timber panels that slide open and shut, with the idea that the outdoor room can be locked away when not in use.

To help create your perfect outdoor room, feel free to reach out to our team.