Design Flow: Connecting Your Indoor and Outdoor Spaces With Style 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• Discover things one should experiment with (color, material, layout)
• Understand how furniture and landscaping can connect both areas
• Learn ways to use lighting, fabric, and texture in the design

Did you know, 82 percent of consumers are almost neglecting their outdoor living space, where only 18 percent use it as much as they want to? Shocking but true statistics. But you know what can fix this thing? 

Fortunately, the solution to fix this issue is to smartly and smoothly connect the indoor and outdoor spaces to make the most of both. I used to be one of those 82 percent people, but not anymore. How? This year, I felt that my home could be more open.

So I put my thinking cap on and started the task of connecting the indoor and outdoor spaces of my home. Let’s dive into the article to see how things ended up. 

Start With Color and Material Continuity

When I started thinking about connecting my living room with my outdoor patio, I noticed how different those two areas are. The living room had soft white and beige color walls, while the patio had all red brick and gray concrete. I felt that ain’t going to work, so I took the matter into my own hands, and it actually worked. Here is how you can do the same: 

• Pick a Main Color: Choose whatever shade you like and use it on both indoor and outdoor. I opt for warm, earthy colors as I wanted a calm and peaceful vibe. 
• Match Materials: If you have wooden flooring inside, try to add a wooden coffee table. My indoor hallway has tiles, and the patio needed some repairs, so I installed tiles and voilà!
• Repeat Patterns: I put striped pattern cushions on both areas, which really helped connect the vibe of both areas.  

You can even use phone cases that match the overall home’s style. Trust me, these things might look small, but they work like a wonder. 

Use Open Layouts and Strategic Doorways

One thing that changed everything was adding big glass sliding doors, and honestly, although it was a big investment, it was actually worth it. And right away, the entire thing became like a big open space. Apart from sliding doors, you can even go for French doors, folding doors, etc. 

Also, to make a smooth transition inside and out, Furniture placement is very important. Try to avoid placing any bulky furniture between these areas. For some reason, if you can not change the door, go for a big window, as it can also bring a lot of light inside. More light can change the entire feel of the home.  

Integrate Complementary Furniture Styles

This took me furniture shopping, too. Of course, I had mismatched furniture inside and out. My patio sofa was classic, but my inside sofa was ultra-modern. Leave the connection, it was even looking so bad together after installing the sliding door. 

So I picked one main style for both areas, and it was classic and timeless. I bought a new set of sofas for my living room. I also tried to match the patterns of the sofa throws and furniture covers. Apart from this, I added classic metal chairs in both areas. These furniture adjustments actually helped a lot. 

Create Visual Continuity With Landscaping

One thing that I learnt during that process is that landscaping is like nature’s bridge between inside and out. What do you think is better, looking at a plain glass or looking at my beautiful green garden through the glass sliding door? It’s the second one, right? So I: 

• Planted some matching greenery in pots by both doors
• Continue a stone pathway from the outdoor into the entrance
• Built raised planters and used trellises that start outside and continue in 

Trust me, this visual continuity really worked a lot in connecting both areas, and it does not even look like I did it intentionally. 

Incorporate Consistent Textures and Fabrics

I knew this thing earlier, that fabric and texture are important when it comes to styling the house, but they can do this blending of two spaces amazingly, is something I learnt from my colleague. So I follow her instruction and:  

• Used similar throws and cushions. I used a soft beige color throw on my inside sofa and a similar waterproof version outside. 
• Picked rugs with similar weave patterns, which actually tied the space together. 
• I mixed natural textiles, like jute and bamboo, and used them in both areas. 

To my surprise, changes in fabric and texture truly give character to both areas and look amazing.

Make Lighting Part of the Design

To be honest, this was actually a game-changer. Earlier, I used to use harsh spotlights outside and soft lamps inside. Which, let’s say, was not a great decision, but now I use: 

• String lights and soft lanterns outside to make that cozy environment
• Dimmers inside so that I can match the outdoor lighting level whenever I want
• Solar-powered lights for my garden area

With these lights now, my patio looks not less than a cozy movie night place.

Living With Seamless Flow

After all these changes and efforts, when I look at my home, it looks like a unified place, meaning everything was worth trying. By now, I had many friends over and barbecue parties, and to be very honest with you, they all were a hit.

After parties, a few of my friends even slept on the patio, and they found it fun yet comfy. What can be a better example than this, that these steps actually did their job? 

If you are also thinking of starting this project, do it now; that’s totally okay if you start with small changes, and with time, you might end up with a beautiful space that you dreamed about.

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