With summer just around the corner, Darling Homes designs in Houston and Dallas are built for homeowners to enjoy both indoor and outdoor living. While Darling Homes offers a variety of home designs, options are plentiful for shoppers looking to get the most out of the inside and outside of their homes.
Courtyards, front porches and backyards can be found in communities throughout both cities, and Darling Homes’ Design Gallery and Model Home Branding Manager, Lee Crowder, is sharing helpful tips to make the most out of your outdoor spaces for years to come.
“Courtyards are an extension of the home,” Crowder said. “They can function as an extension of the living room, with plenty of outdoor seating.”
According to Crowder, options that can transform your Darling Homes courtyard into a functional living space are placing furniture near to the kitchen or indoor living room and potentially including a TV. On front porches, Crowder recommends keeping a well-maintained area with simple furniture pieces and decorative items.
“The front porch is the first glimpse of your personality, your design style and it’s a reflection of what the inside of your home is going to look like,” she said.
Personality and décor should translate to the backyard area as well. Crowder recommends making sure the backyard space feels like an extension of the indoor living areas. Arranging furniture, such as a large table built to fit 6 to 8 people, near to the indoor kitchen can help create a natural-feeling outdoor dining space.
“For covered areas, I’d recommend upholstered furniture. If it’s uncovered, go without cushions for ease,” Crowder said. “Other good furniture options can include items like storage benches where you can store the cushions inside of it when not in use.”
A key element to making outdoor living areas feel functional, friendly and ready to use is the decor. Crowder recommends using things that can pull ‘double duty’, such as a candle with citronella in it or a live potted plant that can sit on the table as a centerpiece.
“With planters, I always recommend adding in an evergreen element so you have something that lasts all year and doesn’t have to be changed every year,” she said. Flowers, herbs and other plants make great seasonal additions to outdoor planters.
Adding in extra personalization can go a long way as well. Whether you choose a rustic-style picnic table, speakers for music or string lighting, there are plenty of ways to add a personal or fun touch to your outdoor living area.
“Backyard games like bocce ball, ladder golf or croquet can be a great thing to have,” Crowder said. Getting creative with ideas for outdoor entertainment can be fun as well. Setting up a sheet and a projector for an outdoor movie night, a chalkboard on a back fence or s’mores kits by the fire pit for dessert can all add an extra piece of home to the backyard.
No matter how you envision your ideal outdoor living area, Darling Homes has a home design ready to help you turn your dream into a reality.
