Part of enjoying your home means enjoying the natural areas that surround it, as well. A great way to do this is to bring the outside in with a relaxing alfresco area. Taking the right steps to set this area up correctly will make a big difference in the enjoyment you get out of it. So, here are a few ways you can have an alfresco area that you’ll be itching to use every chance you get.
Make It Big
There are few areas in a home that are better-suited to mingling than an alfresco area. This means that, in designing your alfresco area, you need to make sure it’s large enough to accommodate even the largest crowds that you welcome to your home. Since everyone will be inclined to linger in this welcoming space, it’s also important that you have adequate seating to ensure everyone stays comfortable during their stay.
Open the Door
There’s no better way to enjoy some fresh air in your alfresco area than by opening up the doors. To ensure you get the maximum airflow, you want to ensure you have as large of an opening as possible. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by utilizing bi-fold doors from a place like Nu-Look Glass & Aluminium Windows. These doors fold completely out of the way, leaving a large and beautiful opening to blend outside and inside. With this opening, though, comes the potential for lots of bugs to enter your home, so make sure you have a way to screen off the area once the doors are open.
Light It Up
Though you likely won’t need much artificial lighting during the day, it’s good to have some source of lighting in your alfresco area for those get-togethers that stretch into the evening. To make the area more of an escape, you can utilize strings of clear light bulbs to create an outdoor cafe-type feel. Ultimately, don’t light the area too brightly, as you’ll lose the tranquility and the mystery of the beautiful nighttime sky.
All-Weather
If you truly want to have an alfresco area that blends outside and inside, you’ll want to ensure you can have it open even when the weather’s not the best. Utilize weather-resistant furniture and finishes to ensure there’s no disasters when a summer storm strikes. Additionally, you may want to have a way to easily drain the area just in case that summer storm gives you a little more than you bargained for.
Perfection
An alfresco area certainly provides a beautiful way to enjoy the outdoors without having to worry about sunburn, bugs, or other outdoor inconveniences. Of course, it’s best enjoyed with other people, so when your new space is complete, make sure to celebrate by having plenty of friends and family over to enjoy the new space with you.