How to Create an Outdoor Living Room on a Budget

Everyone needs a peaceful respite to get away from the everyday stresses of work, traffic, financial responsibilities and other pressures. Our homes provide the perfect place to relax and clear our minds of all these anxieties. More and more people are putting time and effort into creating sophisticated, creative spaces that provide comfort and peace. Outdoor living rooms successfully blur the line between indoors and outdoors, so you can enjoy fresh air, beautiful views and close contact with nature with all the comforts of an indoor retreat.

Creating an outdoor living space is simple if you think creatively. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on enclosed sun porches, expansive terraces or built-ins. There are a few basic elements necessary for a good outdoor living room that can be easily obtained on a budget: comfort, intimacy, function, and style. Here's how to incorporate them into your new outdoor living space:

Comfort - The idea is to treat your outdoor room like any other room in your home; just as you have stylish, carefully chosen furniture indoors, you should have it outdoors as well. Many people love to have a nice bistro set for their outdoor space - they're compact, comfortable, and provide a great spot for meals, conversation, or just to relax. Garden benches are another great choice for seating in your outdoor living room. The Leaf Bench shown at right is a great example of high style for outdoor spaces, though it is on the high end of pricing - you can always use it as inspiration for finding something else that fits your budget. Large pillows and cushions made with outdoor fabric are great for placing on benches or lounge chairs, or just to toss around the space as additional seating.

To provide a central gathering point, nothing works better than a fire pit. People love congregating around them for warmth, conversation, and flame-cooked goodies such as s'mores. To combine all the benefits of a fire pit with a functional surface for food and drinks, get a 'fire table'. These innovative fire pit-table combinations save money and space, and are a stunning focal point for any outdoor space. The Sequoia Gel Firetable pictured right runs on cans of 'Real Flame' gel fuel; you won't have flying embers or ashes to worry about, and it's a safe option for wooden decks, gazebos, patios and terraces. For a more traditional fire pit option, check out the elegant Good Directions Copper Fire Pit, which comes in three sizes and is available with an optional spark screen.

Intimacy - Nothing frames a conversation area better than a nice rug. Outdoor rugs really pull an outdoor living room together; they provide a soft, comfortable surface and define the space. They're also made to withstand the elements, so you can feel safe leaving them outside year-round. The Anji Mountain Key West Bamboo Rug, pictured right, is a great example of a durable outdoor rug with style to spare. In addition to outdoor rugs, be creative in framing the area so that it feels more warm and private. Garden trellises are a great way to accomplish this; you can simply stick them in the ground (or garden pots, if your space is on a deck or patio) and plant climbing vines at the bases. Before you know it, you'll have natural walls that still allow sunlight and air in, as well as preserving the view. You can also use groups of potted plants for a similar effect; just stagger the heights and group them together in odd numbers with varying colors.

Function - Naturally, the purpose of an outdoor living space is to provide a restful retreat for everyone in the family. As such, you'll need to consider the crucial elements of outdoor lighting, a surface for dining, and a practical yet attractive storage system for items that need protection from the elements. The type of outdoor lighting you choose can alter the mood of the space. For example, strands of twinkling white lights or the soft glow of garden torches provide a romantic ambiance (Starlight Tabletop Torch pictured right). You can also give your outdoor space a true living room feel with traditionally styled tabletop and floor lamps. A large trunk can function both as a coffee table and a place to store blankets, extra candles, or even a cooler for drinks.

Style - Any space you intend to spend a lot of time in should reflect your personal style. In your home, you surround yourself with objects that please you - mementos of past travels, inherited knick-knacks, colors and textures that make you feel happy. Use these little reflections of your personality in your outdoor space. You can achieve two goals in one by minimizing the clutter in your home; change the look of both your interior and exterior space by putting some of your knick-knacks outdoors and occasionally rotating them with the ones left indoors. Hang lanterns from trees or the ceiling of your porch; incorporate your favorite colors into the planters, cushions, and outdoor rugs you choose. Add an unexpected and truly serene touch with a garden fountain such as the Woodstock Encore Water Bell Fountain pictured right.

For a wide selection of outdoor living room items such as bistro tables, garden trellises, garden benches, outdoor lighting and much more, visit SpecialtyLiving.com.