Simple and Serene Living: an outdoor room

an outdoor room

Do you have a dedicated spot at your home that you consider your outdoor room. My favorite outdoor room was the screened porch in my last home. I could sit out there nine months out of the year. The ceiling fan would be cooling me off, and I could watch the birds at the feeders or gaze longingly at the pool when it wasn't quite warm enough to jump in. It was a great place to eat, work, and visit with friends and family.

There are so many different kinds of outdoor rooms. Some are very simple and some are quite elaborate. In the south a wide front porch is often used as an outdoor room, but a patio or a designated space on the lawn can work just as well.

Here are a few I found that I have put on my pinterest board to keep for future reference. I love pinterest, because it saves me having to fill up lots of scrapbooks and lug them around for the next decade.

via

So many styles to choose from.

linking today with:
White Wednesday
What's It Wednesday
Thursday Favorite Things

Rosemary@villabarnesMarch 28, 2012 at 12:25 AM
Love outdoor room number four. Thanks for all the inspiration.
Leena Milligan LanteigneMarch 28, 2012 at 12:26 AM
I love outdoor spaces! I have a screened porch which gets a lot of use in the nice weather. It's wondeful to sit out there like you said, watching the birds and all. There's no way that I could stay inside all day - I need to be out in the sun and fresh air and dirt! LOL! Hugs, Leena
Claudine from ReStory.caMarch 28, 2012 at 1:37 AM
Hi, Laura!!!
I love your taste!! Remember I told you about my sun room???It was in a comment to another post you wrote about outdoor rooms, you had a daybed in one...
Anyway, it is beside my bedroom and we never used it.
My husband suggested I turn into my "workshop" or "studio"
I have a friend that suggested the same thing and she uses a fancy term: "atelier"
So now in my sun room I have a bunch of furniture waiting to be painted! But WAIT!!!
I will make it look pretty!!! I loved rooms number one and four! Today I got a candle chandelier... ooohhh it will look beautiful!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Hugs,
Claudine
Cheryl @ TFDMarch 28, 2012 at 2:03 AM
I love all of these! Our patio serves as our outdoor room and we enjoy many evenings there in the spring and summer. I'd love to have a roof overhead, tho.
NanaDianaMarch 28, 2012 at 8:01 AM
OMGoodness! I will take any one of them! LOVE them ALL! You have saved the same ones I would save for reference. Great minds think alike, don't they? xo Diana
Lisa~A Cottage To MeMarch 28, 2012 at 8:38 AM
Gorgeous inspirations! I'm loving #2! But, wouldn't mind having any of them!
Linda @ A La CarteMarch 28, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Love your inspirations! We have a screened porch and I love it. We watch the birds and Charlie the cat can be 'outside' safely! Hugs, Linda
STARDUSTMarch 28, 2012 at 9:31 AM
The first image is dreamy!
Mary BergfeldMarch 28, 2012 at 10:24 AM
These are all lovely and are truly outdoor rooms. I'm glad you found them and shared them with us. Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary
summersoulMarch 28, 2012 at 10:42 AM
I wish I had an outdoors. someday. I live in an apt in san francisco and lovely porches are rare here. My favorite is the first one. Well, a girl can dream, right.

MC
RURAL March 28, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I love your collection, it inspires me. I guess we have a outdoor porch, here in Canada we hesitate to call them porches, don't know why.

It's in the back of the house, and the famous BBQ is taking up quite a bit of available space on it. There are two steps down to the ground, and do I have ideas for this porch. But they don't include the BBQ taking up real estate.

Hmmm pinterest boards here I come.
CynthiaMarch 28, 2012 at 12:47 PM
I love these outdoor rooms. They are very oretty and relaxing.
EvelynMarch 28, 2012 at 6:20 PM
Oh my ... none of these compare to the little front porch of mine which I imagine bigger in my mind. Still, I'm lucky ... there are beautiful trees across my road and the porch is covered so I can sit for hours on end.
Grandma Barb's This and ThatMarch 28, 2012 at 11:32 PM
I would love to have a porch like the second picture. I don't have a porch or a patio. My outdoor room consists of a table and chairs, a wicker chair and side table in my back yard. It is a nice place to sit and read or enjoy a glass of wine or ice tea in the summer.
AndreaMarch 29, 2012 at 7:52 AM
Oh, I dream of space like these. Looks so relaxing. I think I could do some serious relaxing in a space like this!
Katherines CornerMarch 29, 2012 at 9:37 AM
Oh my word gorgeous spaces. I was recently talking to my husband about the possibility of screening in our back patio. P.S. I hope you will post this on today's Thursday Favorite Things blog Hop. xo
thistlewoodfarmMarch 29, 2012 at 10:26 AM
I want to sit in that porch in the second photo and drink iced tea. I want to talk about the day and what the kids did today and sit back and savor the moment.

Thanks for the inspiration.
blessings,
karianne
EnchantedBellaMarch 29, 2012 at 6:58 PM
Those outdoor spaces are so beautiful. Thank you for stopping by to see my outdoor space. It's still a work in progress but I have been enjoying it anyways.
Your newest follower Rebecca.
Ivy and ElephantsApril 1, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Hi Laura,
Ahhh, thanks so much for a calming place to relax. These outdoor rooms are simply gorgeous! I love them all. Thanks so much for sharing them with us, we all needed the break!
Hugs,
Patti
Katherines CornerApril 1, 2012 at 6:52 PM
thank you for sharing at the hop xo