Outdoor Living Spaces in Austin

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Outdoor living spaces in Austin can vary vastly! Austin is a beautiful city to have a backyard in. Rolling hills and sunny skies can blanket the backdrop of your outdoor space. Pools are a must in Texas for a reprieve from the hot summers. If planned right, any outdoor space can become an outdoor oasis.

The natural climate of Austin with its hot summers and warm falls and spring, makes it critical to plan your outdoor space. You want to ensure you have plenty of shade and cooling mechanisms. Luckily, recent innovations make it easy to do this. It's important to maximize your outdoor living space through thoughtful design. No matter what size you're working with, anyone can have an outdoor oasis.

The Importance of Outdoor Living Spaces in Austin

Outdoor living areas have become a key feature of custom homes in Austin. Not only do they add an aesthetic and appreciation value to the home, but they also make for more enjoyable living. Many custom homes we build are in the hills of Austin, and the houses demand an outdoor living space that complements the views. Our clients not only want to enjoy the interior of their dream home, but interact and live in the outdoor spaces. Outdoor areas can increase your entertaining capability by expanding the living space within your home and accommodating more people. So, there is a practical purpose to building expansive outdoor areas. However, consider the value of your home. Since there is a demand for outdoor living spaces, designing it right in your home can pay off in the long run.

Designing Your Outdoor Living Area

Design and plan outdoor living areas thoughtfully early on in the process. Your architect can help you determine the size of your outdoor living depending on your lot and home size. Then you can work with the interior designer to select materials that blend in with your home and natural landscape. Landscaping is critical to creating an outdoor oasis, and your landscape architect can help you select native plants. Landscaping can elevate almost any home and make your outdoor space more enjoyable.

Establish How Much Space You Want With Your Architect

The first step of designing your outdoor living area is establishing how much space you want. Your architect will do this early on in the design process. The architect can then properly plan out the size of your home while considering the outdoor space. This is a good time to decide if you want a pool and what size. You should also consider what you'll be using the outdoor space for. Will you be entertaining and cooking outdoors or mostly hanging out with the family and swimming? Your architect will send you a plan of your home with the initial outdoor space plan. Then more fun begins!

Working with Your Landscape Architect

Your landscape architect will then refine the architect's plan. This is an exciting part as they will plan all of the landscaping for your outdoor oasis. You should work with the architect to decide what type of landscape you want and how dense you would like it. You should work to find landscaping that will complement your home and the natural landscape. Many clients in Austin like to keep their landscaping minimal to highlight the main features of the outdoor spaces like the pool. Your landscape architect can also help you refine the size of the pool you want and offer recommendations. Another aspect to think about is water features. Many clients want water features in front of the home or in the backyard. You can also consider a courtyard or hidden oasis.

Material Selection and Refinement with an Interior Designer

When you're almost 50% through the design process of your outdoor space, your interior designer will come in to refine it. Your interior designer can help you hammer in any details and pick out materials. This is an exciting part of the process! You can determine if you want an outdoor kitchen and how you would like it set up. They will work with you to select pool materials and flooring, all while making it cohesive with the home and landscape.

Innovative Features for Outdoor Living

It's fun to stay on top of outdoor living trends and technology. Every day, new products are being released that will enhance your outdoor oasis. As a custom home builder, we work with the best in the business to ensure our client's outdoor areas are up-to-date and as efficient as possible. When you're building your dream home, you need to familiarize yourself with the latest innovations.

Smart Outdoor Lighting

As we've mentioned in previous blog posts smart lighting and smart technology is almost a necessity now in the luxury home space. Smart lighting can and does extend to your outdoor living spaces. Several systems out there will connect all of your lighting, inside and out, all on your smartphone. Your landscape architect will work with you to design the ideal lighting setup based on your needs and wants. Control brightness, color, and timing all within the app. A good lighting system in your outdoor areas will not only enhance ambiance but provide extra security.

Outdoor Kitchen and Bars

Outdoor kitchens are another must in the luxury home space. Most of our clients install outdoor kitchens and bars. We are sure to install them in all of our spec homes. Today's outdoor kitchens and bars are fully equipped with high-end appliances, built-in grills, pizza ovens, refrigerators, and wine coolers. A stylish outdoor kitchen and bar is essential for entertaining. Your interior designer can work to select durable and weather-resistant materials that blend with your home.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Transition

A trend in modern homes and many new homes in Austin is large sliding glass doors that create a flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Opening the doors expands the interior of your home into the outdoors, which is great for entertaining. This design also increases the natural light in your home, even if the doors are closed.

Luxury Pools and Spas

A pool is a major focal point for most luxury homes in Austin. If you're going to go all out on your outdoor space, a pool is essential for the hot Austin summers. The pools in the homes we build are custom-designed and can feature built-in seating, infinity edges, underwater lighting, and integrated hot tubs. Many pools today are built with smart technology. You can control the temperature, cleaning, and lighting all in one place for convenience and energy efficiency.

Outdoor Entertainment Systems

Luxury homes will have high-quality weatherproof audio and visual systems outdoors. This includes hidden outdoor speakers and TVs that allow for immersive entertainment without compromising the aesthetic value of the space.

Fire Features

A fire feature can bring intimacy to your outdoor space. Fire pits, fireplaces, or fire tables serve as focal points for gathering and entertaining. Today, several convenient fuel options include natural gas, propane, and bioethanol.

There are so many options to choose from when designing outdoor living spaces in Austin. As a custom home builder, we're here to help you budget and plan your home and outdoor space every step of the way. If you're interested in learning more about our custom homes for sale or building your own home, contact us today.