NRV Blueprint March 2025

outdoor living

living beyond your walls Extending Your Space Into the Outdoors The landscapes in your neighborhood may be well kept and graced with a deck or patio, but how much of the outdoor space is actually utilized? Our yards are a significant part of the investment we make when purchasing a home and the usable space doesn’t need to stop at the outside walls of our homes. We can develop our yards to be an integral part of our daily living space with careful consideration of how we like to spend our time, then plan suitable spaces that flow from our home’s floorplan, while taking into account the particularities of our landscape. The first step is to consider how you currently spend your time and any changes you would like to implement in your habits. The way we shape our spaces in turn shapes our lives, and this process is an opportunity to change your lifestyle. Before considering patios and decks, take time to write out your current activities and those you and your family would like to engage in. Here are some questions to get you started:

- Do you enjoy reading and conversation with small groups? - Would you like to watch the game outside with friends? - Do you enjoy creating beautiful meals to serve to family and friends? - Would a meditation space outside make the experience more meaningful? - There’s an abundance of fun and unique play equipment for children, but don’t leave adults out - volleyball, basketball or even smaller areas for yard games or physical challenges like balance lines might be fun additions. - Would you like to have an outdoor studio for pottery, painting or woodworking projects?

Don’t limit your ideas at this stage. This planning process can be a chance to reimagine how your life can take shape, both lit erally and figuratively!

Developing an Outdoor Floor Plan

To accommodate these activities outside, your outdoor spaces can be developed like a set of rooms, similar to the floorplan of a house. In fact, starting from the floor plan of your house, then creating “rooms” as you move outside continues the flow of your home and keeps those spaces connected. Locate outdoor rooms so they are easily accessible by those who use them. If you want an outdoor party space, think of the path your guests will take from entering your home into that space, and make sure it’s a clear, simple path. If you want a quiet retreat space, locate it away from more public rooms, maybe off of a master bedroom. Don’t let a

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