Expand your outdoor living

New Zealand summers are meant to be enjoyed outdoors so expanding your indoor/outdoor flow makes total sense.

By Lynda Papesch

Adding a verandah, a deck, a covered porch, or pergola are all ways to gain more outdoor space, and to increase the value of your home. They will also provide shelter from the sun and rain. With a bit of planning and clever design, you’ll also be able to use your new outdoor “room” during the colder months too.

Options range from extending an existing roofline to create a new room, to adding a covered outdoor kitchen (with bar if wanted), or just having a huge deck created to lounge around on.

Building a deck that sits flush with your living area is one way to extend your space and create an outdoor-room feel. If you have the height, a deck that sits over multiple levels is a great way to break up the space, while a clever way to create the illusion of more room is to run your decking boards horizontally.

Planning the project with an expert in the field will help ensure any add-on combines seamlessly with existing structures, and are fully functional, and to the required building codes if applicable.

Outdoor rooms don’t need to be attached to a residence. Stand-alone pergolas are one example, she sheds, and man rooms are others. The same as creating zones inside your home, having outdoor zones will help make your space feel considered and deliberate. The general rule for an outdoor room is to have a wall or fence on three sides.