When it comes to creating an outdoor living space, you’ll want to integrate contemporary style with your own personal touches, and just like interior design, you want to make sure your outdoor spaces will be enjoyable for years to come.
Lines and Flow
The structure of your outdoor space is an integral design component on its own. An innovative and forward-looking contemporary space will have neutral elements that focus on lines, shape, and form. Softened and rounded lines are prominent in contemporary outdoor spaces and profiles are smooth and free of ornamentation. Contemporary outdoor living areas flow easily to inside areas, making a seamless transition between the spaces.
The layout of a contemporary outdoor area is shaped and defined by paths and patios of mixed hardscape materials. Often, concrete, natural stone, pebbles, decomposed granite, and other materials are all used in the same space to add texture. Contemporary hardscape colors lean toward monochromatic and tone-on-tone neutrals that allow the lines and shapes of your outdoor space to be the main focus.
Landscapes
While a traditional landscape has a lush, green lawn as it’s centerpiece, contemporary outdoor areas feature reduced or eliminated lawns. This abundance of hardscape and reduced amount of lawn and plants means maintenance requirements are low to moderate. Contemporary landscape features trees that control the scale of a garden, create ceilings, control light, and/or are focal points. Shrubs are structured and easy to maintain. Native, hardy, drought tolerant, wildlife-friendly plants are displayed in bunched mass plantings.
Water
Contemporary outdoor areas feature landscapes that utilize modern irrigation systems with high efficiency pumps and timers to ensure no water is wasted. They may also incorporate rain gardens or inventive ways to capture, hold, and redistribute rainwater to the lawn and surrounding greenery. With the move toward smaller or non-existent lawns, many specially designed water features are being incorporated into outdoor spaces because they use less water than an area of lawn the same size.
From decks and shade structures to porches and patios and sunrooms, Atlanta Porch & Patio can help you transform your outdoor space into a contemporary oasis. Take a look at our gallery and then call us to discuss your dream and vision. Even if you’re not sure where to start, we can show you a wide variety of possibilities for your outdoor space. Call us today and let’s get started!