Outdoor Living Essentials - Outdoor Rooms and Outdoor Living Area brought to you by Casual Living

	Outdoor Living Essentials - The Outdoor Room

	Outdoor Room in the Top 5 on List of Features Requested of Home Builders and Real Estate Agents. Using the outdoor areas of our home for recreation, socializing or solitary endeavors is not a new concept. What is relatively new, however, is the rise of the concept of an outdoor room. Where we once placed a few pieces of furniture (often cast-offs from inside that were no longer being used when we redecorated), we are creating entire “rooms” that have all of the accoutrements of those inside our home. These “rooms” are becoming so comfortable and well-equipped that they rival the rooms in our homes. So, what’s all the fuss about? Why is an outdoor living room in the top 5 on a list of features requested of home builders and real estate agents? How has it come about that the once oh-so-popular deck that was simple, basic and a great place for the grill, has been replaced by a whole room? What does all of this mean? Well, for one thing, Americans lead very busy lives. We work in climate controlled buildings for long hours during the day. We are craving to be outside — to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. (By the way, Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise). We long to connect with nature — to listen to and watch the birds, feel the breeze on our skin, smell the fresh air, freshly mowed grass, even the dirt. These things help us relax. There’s freedom in life outside our homes and it’s refreshing.

	Another consideration is the simple fact that when an idea begins to spread, an industry is born. With more and more merchandise being marketed as “outdoor,” people realize that they need specialized outdoor furniture and accessories to enhance these areas. Not without good reason, mind you. The furniture, accessories, appliances and building materials used for an outdoor room do need to be evaluated for appropriateness for use in the weather and sunlight. The important thing to remember when planning your outdoor room is that your home includes both the inside and the outside. Making your home beautiful, comfortable, enjoyable and more valuable in every way means including the outdoor areas. When designing your outdoor room, consider your lifestyle. Ask yourself who will use the outdoor living area and how it will be used before beginning your plans. You may have just one outdoor room, but, given the opportunity to use your whole yard, why stop at one?
	Questions to consider might include: Do you want to combine dining and comfortable seating? Is a weekend afternoon nap high on your priority list? If so, you will want to consider a sofa or at least an ottoman with a comfortable lounge chair--something with a back high enough to support your head. Are you hoping to have a comfortable and quiet place to read? An ottoman is a must, as is an outdoor lamp. It is very important to use a lamp that is made as an outdoor lamp. These lamps are UL listed for use in wet areas. Covered Outdoor Room: Certainly, screened porches or sunrooms are the structures most closely resembling a true room, with a ceiling, floor, walls and doors. This type of area, along with covered porches, offers the most protection from the elements and, therefore, the biggest opportunity to accessorize. With a roof overhead, issues of rain, direct sun, unwanted pests (including wildlife) and, to some degree, wind are minimized. Covered areas allow us to use the most comfortable outdoor furniture complete with thick cushions, without having to deal with wet cushions and drying time. Open Outdoor Room: Outdoor rooms can be created without a ceiling overhead, or walls to contain and define them. Direct rain and sun will be more of an issue, but with good quality outdoor materials having no roof overhead is not a barrier to a complete outdoor room. Outdoor furniture, fabrics, lamps, area rugs and many accessories are designed for complete exposure.
	In addition, protective covers are available to cover outdoor furniture when not in use, or during those times of the year when Mother Nature makes a mess. A small investment in protective covers will keep your furniture looking new longer, not to mention the time you will save in clean up. In order to create the feeling of a room in those outdoor spaces that do not feature a wall, there are many ways to help define a space. Hedges and shrubs, or an allee of trees (or potted plants) will definitely create a wall effect. A trellis can be added in the ground or in a pot to give the effect of a window. Pathways define and separate areas to the same effect as walls do in a structure. Many people have multiple outdoor rooms created throughout their yards by utilizing terrain and natural elements. These "rooms" can function for different activities, socializing, dining, games, quiet reflection, to name a few and be equipped with furniture and accessories accordingly. What fun to move through the yard, from "room" to "room" and to enjoy them all at different times.
	Outdoor all-weather wicker, cast aluminum, wrought iron, wood and recycled products are good choices for outdoor living areas. Sturdy frames and weather resistant materials used in the frame finishes, cushions and fabrics are easily serviced. You may want to include a swing, glider or rocking chair in your outdoor room as many people find the easy motion of these pieces very relaxing. Spend a little time in one of these "action" pieces and you will feel stress and tension melt away. Be careful, however, when selecting any "action" outdoor furniture. You want to be sure that the quality of the frame and action mechanisms are sturdy and can support repeated use by people of all sizes and shapes. How embarrassing to have a guest land on the floor, not to mention the hazard of an unexpected fall. Adding an outdoor rug will certainly add warmth but an outdoor area rug is also useful to help define a space. If your porch or open area is large, you may want to add one or two to separate different areas, for instance the dining area from the seating area. Children and pets will be more comfortable with a soft rug to sit on and, in cooler temperatures, you will be happy to have an outdoor area rug over a cold surface. Keep in mind that the more comfortable and inviting your outdoor room is the more it will be used. The more it is used, the better the investment. A word of caution. Not all outdoor furniture is created equal. The performance of each component of outdoor furniture varies with the quality of the furniture. Better raw materials means better performance. It is often difficult to see these differences between products. Doing your homework and consulting with trained and experienced professionals in the area of outdoor products will help you make the best choices to suit your needs.

	Select the articles you wish to read from the list below. When you have finished the entire series, you will be on your way to living the outdoor lifestyle! Outdoor Living Essentials Articles The Outdoor Room Aluminum Furniture Iron Furniture Outdoor Cushions Outdoor Kitchen Outdoor Lighting Outdoor Rugs Wicker Furniture Wood Furniture