As the days get shorter and the morning and evening air starts to feel a little bit crisp, thinking of being outside again starts to become more of a reality. We love to be outside and so creating a comfortable outdoor living space to enjoy is a priority.

Regardless of your space it is possible to come up with creative ways to enjoy the season outside.

Step 1: Start Somewhere

Think about a location that would be the most convenient to create an outdoor living space. It could be a patio, porch, covered porch, just outside in the grass.

Step 2: Test out Ideas

Test it out. Start with what you have and see what is the most practical before investing into your space. For a dining space, use folding tables & a sheet as a tablecloth, folding chairs, or bring indoor chairs temporarily outside. If you have multiple locations that are a possibility, look at sun vs shade at various times of the day. Make sure the location you have chosen for your outdoor living space is comfortable and practical during the times you will be using it in various seasons.

To create a fire area, buy an inexpensive container fire-pit or choose one that is movable so you can design your space around it. You can also find one on Facebook MarketPlace and Craigslist for inexpensive ones for sale in your area and then you can resell it there as well. Think about what types of seating will be comfortable. If you want to be able to have food and drinks, think about tables or stools to place it on. If you’d like to be able to play games outside, incorporate that into your space.

Step 3: Get Inspired

Look on apps and websites such as Pinterest and Houzz to get inspiration and creative ideas from others. Search Outdoor Living Space, Outdoor Fireplace, Outdoor Dining, or any other elements you want to see in your space. Dream big and pin things you love but also look for photos that mimic what your space and budget will allow as well.

Step 4: Use Your Space

Use the outdoor living space you have created and think about what works and what doesn’t and what you’d like to change over time. Create a plan and implement it in stages. Landscaping, Gardening, and Outdoor Living Space Renovations and Improvements take time to develop, fill in, and grow unlike indoor ones. Even once the Hardscapes gets is in, the landscaping, grass, plants etc take time to grow and develop so work slowly at it over time and enjoy it as you go. This really gives you a great opportunity to change your plans and pivot as you go as you see how you use the space and what additional wants you have.

Step 5: Implement Your Plan and Make Changes as Needed

Once you have tested out some of your ideas, add your hardscaping first, then layer with your landscaping and outdoor furnishings. Hardscaping includes patios, pergolas, permanent stone fireplaces and fire pits, concrete landscaping edging. Outdoor furnishings and landscaping will change over time and as the seasons change but your hardscaping is the permanent part of your landscaping. Bring in some fun fall touches such as mums, plaid blankets to stay warm, and pumpkins for your space. Most of all be patient. Whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring professionals, these plans will develop over time. Don’t forget to take before and after pictures at each step so you can look back and see how far you have come.

Finally, if you are ready to take the leap and build the outdoor patio, fireplace, or firepit of your dreams and are located in the South Metro Atlanta Area, Contact us. We will come out and discuss your options and provide a Free Quote. We would love to work with you to start creating the outdoor living space of your dreams or put the cherry on top of what you already have with an outdoor fireplace!

The post How to Create an Outdoor Living Space for Fall first appeared on Double Arrow Hardscapes.

The post How to Create an Outdoor Living Space for Fall appeared first on Double Arrow Hardscapes.

First, gather inspiration and assess your needs.

Look on Pintrest and in magazines. Look around the neighborhood and also think of outdoor spaces you have enjoyed on trips that you have been on. Do you need a place for dining? For sunning or lounging? Would you like to have a place to grill that is close to where the action is happening? Do you want an outdoor fireplace? Do you need shade? What do you want the material underfoot to be? Create an outdoor space in a location that you will want to use all the time that is convenient and accessible.

If you have some existing furniture you can use outside, take it for a test drive in the area that you are wanting to create your outdoor space. See where and what times you get sun and shade. Will that size table work? Do you need something larger or smaller? Do you need more outdoor seating? Think through how you and your guests will use the space the most.

Also, keep in mind what it will take to maintain the space. You likely want to choose both hardscape and furniture that require less maintenance so you can spend more time enjoying.

Second, start thinking about and researching what you want to implement into your yard and how you will go about executing your plan.

Think about what your budget is for your outdoor project. Do you want to tackle it in stages or complete it all at once. Are you going to DIY or hire out some or all of your project? Do you need to hire someone to help you come up with an overall plan?

These are some important questions to ask and research. If you are going to get help with your overall plan. Do that first. Ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors for someone they used and at garden centers. Look for local landscape planners and architects. If you are local to the South Metro Atlanta Area, we can help with that. Along with our landscape curbing solutions and fireplaces, we can help you design flower beds and make recommendations for plants that will thrive in each area of your landscape.

Once you have a plan in hand, now think about how you will execute it. If you hired someone to help you with your plan, they likely have a number of contractors on their staff or that they recommend to help you with the work. Since outdoor projects take time to grow and develop, there’s no problem working on it in phases as your budget allows.

Third, start implementing your plan.

You may need to take some time to get bids from contractors and discuss timelines with them. Depending on where you live you may need to get approvals from your Home Owners Association or Permits from your City or County. Don’t neglect looking into these because they can cost you big time down the road if your project wasn’t approved and doesn’t meet local codes or doesn’t comply with your association requirements.

Typically you will want to have your hardscaping or permanent structures such as walkways, pergolas, outbuildings, landscaping edging, patios, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, etc in place first. Then you can start planting trees, shrubs, or plants that might have to be moved later. If you are anxious to get the greenery in, consider sticking to just the ones that you know won’t have to be moved or plant in pots and planters that can be used later as well.

Have patience with this part, especially if you budget allows for just one aspect of your landscape plan at a time. Landscaping and gardens take time to grow and develop. Allow yourself that time as you implement each project to see how things are working in your yard, what you want and need now and what you can wait and see on.

Finally, ENJOY!

Most of all, don’t wait until it is finished and perfect to enjoy what you have already worked so hard on. Enjoy the dining space during different times of the day or week or put in a makeshift one to have a place to sit and eat and enjoy. Put out a fire pit where you might want to one day put in a fireplace. See how the garden evolves over the seasons and see what changes you need to make to the landscape and what hardscapes you still want to implement.

Like interior spaces, exterior spaces will probably never be truly DONE. They will need to be able to change and adapt to the seasons both in nature and in our lives.

The post 3 Steps to Creating an Outdoor Living Spaces You’ll Love first appeared on Double Arrow Hardscapes.

The post 3 Steps to Creating an Outdoor Living Spaces You’ll Love appeared first on Double Arrow Hardscapes.