Q: How can we increase the livability, comfort, and enjoyment of our home without investing significant funds or incurring massive debt?
A: Adding outdoor living space and other amenities can be an inexpensive way to improve your home and your quality of life. It’s unsurprising that recent industry surveys reveal that outdoor living spaces are growing in popularity, even in cool, wet climates like the Pacific Northwest. A covered patio can serve as a living space nearly year-round, especially if it features a fireplace, radiant heaters, or even just strategically placed landscape elements to insulate you from the damp environment.
Depending on your lifestyle, this can be a viable cost-saving alternative to more interior floor space. But be aware that while options like an outdoor kitchen, entertainment center, and stamped concrete flooring can add enjoyment to an outdoor space, they can also drive up the cost to levels comparable to adding new conventional floorspace. Figure out what you want to do with the space and judiciously decide what you really need. It will save you money and headaches!
If you have a covered patio adjacent to your primary living area, it’s possible—but very expensive—to install an operable glass wall that completely opens the outdoor space to the interior, dramatically expanding interior living space. This is something to consider doing instead of building a much larger interior living space, especially if that space only accommodates large groups a few times a year.
Regardless of what you decide to do with your outdoor living space, it’s important to remember that the quality of the surrounding environment can have a big impact on the quality of the space. Here are a few things to consider before you begin your project:
Views
If you have a beautiful view to enjoy, make sure it will persist when plants and trees mature, both in your yard and the neighbors’. On a related note, if you want to enjoy a degree of privacy, then you should integrate appropriate screening into the design, whether it be a privacy wall or mature plantings.
Trees
If large trees surround the outdoor space, consider removing or thinning them to let in more light and prevent needles or leaves from accumulating. If preserving trees is important to you, then the space should be strategically located to minimize the impact on established root systems and future tree growth. A professional arborist can provide recommendations on the best way to do this.
Sound
If you are bombarded with unwanted sounds (traffic, neighbors, or mechanical equipment), consider including a water feature, sound system/proofing, large plantings, or fencing to reduce their impact.
Smell
Unpleasant odors can make an otherwise enjoyable outdoor space intolerable. While fragrant plants can help mask the smell of animals, stagnant water, or furnace exhaust, some plants produce their own unpleasant odors and allergic reactions. If possible, place seating areas upwind of exhaust vents, garbage cans, and other smelly sources, then seek out a qualified landscape architect for valuable guidance on plant selection to mitigate any unavoidable odors.
Once you have a plan to address all the above issues—or if you’re lucky enough to not have any of these issues to begin with—it’s time to get started on the fun part: designing and creating your new outdoor space. Good luck and remember, have fun! These are the great outdoors after all.
Philip W. Frisk, AIA, is a principal at PWF Architecture, a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’ nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.
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