15 Must-Have Items for Your Summer Indoor-Outdoor Living Space

Whether you’re new to the trend of indoor and outdoor living or want to embrace it for the first time this summer, carefully created areas can boost enjoyment for your household and visitors while expanding how you use your home. What products should you incorporate into the space, and what benefits do they bring?

1. Indoor-Outdoor Rugs

Indoor-outdoor rugs feature beautiful colors and patterns while adding tactile transitions between sections used for different purposes, such as cooking, dining and lounging. They are made from materials that are easy to spot-clean or vacuum, making them easy to maintain over the years. These rugs also increase traction on slick surfaces, such as walkways near pools, fountains or hot tubs. 

2. Functional and Stylish Lights

Lights make indoor-outdoor spaces more usable by allowing you to keep enjoying them as levels of natural light change throughout the day. Choose lights that look beautiful and encourage people to linger over an engrossing book or enjoy gazing at the stars. Options you can control with an app are convenient for changing the lighting from anywhere. 

3. A Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker

You can easily find a broad assortment of Bluetooth speakers for an indoor-outdoor living room or similar space. Whether you want a small one you can clip somewhere or something with a boombox-inspired design, there are many options available. Pay attention to specifications, particularly waterproof ratings and battery life. Those are some of the most important characteristics affecting usability in spaces that blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors.

4. Planters and Pots

Strategically placed planters and pots help you create beautiful transitions while welcoming people into an indoor-outdoor living space. Consider the height and material of your vessels and plants while creating your desired look, and try putting native plants in them. They’re low maintenance and support native pollinators, like bees and butterflies.   

5. Storage Solutions

Having easily accessible but secure places to store things is a game-changer in indoor-outdoor house design. That may mean buying or building a shed or purchasing waterproof storage boxes that double as benches once you put cushions on top. You may also want to purchase products with drawers, allowing you to arrange the contents by category or how often you use them.

6. Shades and Awnings

Indoor-outdoor spaces can quickly become sun-filled. Shades and awnings help you maintain pleasant temperatures and provide cooler areas for relief during the hottest parts of the day. As you decide where to put them, remember that the sun moves from east to west throughout the day. Additionally, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is higher in the summer than in winter, increasing direct light.

7. Heaters

Whether you choose a patio heater, a fire pit or another source of warmth, your indoor-outdoor living space may need something to use once the sun goes down and it starts to get chilly. Some options are mounted to walls, making them ideal for keeping the floor clear. Alternatively, consider tabletop models to create a cozy setting while playing games or sipping beverages. 

8. An Outdoor Projector

An outdoor projector lets you host open-air movie nights or invite people over to catch every second of the televised football game they can’t miss. Include this item in your covered outdoor living space ideas and look for ways to protect it from the weather. Although some people project content onto a white wall or sheet, buying a foldable screen for improved flexibility is even better.

9. Durable Tableware

One of the best things about having an indoor-outdoor space is that you can dine in open areas that get you closer to nature. Make the experience even more laid-back by purchasing tableware made for the purpose. Look for vibrant colors, fun patterns or other characteristics that match your style. Choose dishwasher-safe options made from durable materials to quickly clean up after entertaining. 

10. Room Dividers

Room dividers are handy for indoor and outdoor living because they let you visually and functionally segment the overall space. Consider modular designs or screens that let you expand the coverage if necessary. Alternatively, use furniture such as bookshelves to create division. Sliding doors are also ideal options if your budget allows. 

11. Furniture

Furniture can become a focal point for indoor-outdoor spaces. Pick options for specific purposes, such as relaxing, eating or working. Materials such as synthetic wicker, teak and aluminum are weather-resistant and easy to maintain, making them excellent choices. Add pillows, cushions and throws to increase comfort and pads to the furniture legs and feet to product surfaces underneath. 

12. Fans

Whether they’re boxes, ceiling-mounted or even the type people hold in their hands, fans are essential for an indoor-outdoor living room or similar spaces used frequently during summer. Choose one that can handle exposure to the elements and consider whether a battery-powered or electric model best suits your needs and space. 

13. Serving and Storage Carts

Carts are fantastic for efficiently moving things around your indoor-outdoor living space while keeping items within easy reach. Whether you buy a cart and stock it with refreshment supplies or use one for miscellaneous products such as sunscreen, ice cube trays and hand sanitizer, these additions are handy ways to stay organized. 

14. A Wireless Grill Thermometer

Whether the menu includes veggie burgers or hot dogs, a grill thermometer is a handy accessory that ensures the fare tastes fantastic and is safe to consume. Wireless models let you monitor cooking progress while away from the grill. Many options offer Bluetooth connectivity and apps for better visibility.

15. Screens or Curtains

The best indoor-outdoor house design ideas add versatility. Installing screens or curtains is one of the easiest ways to do that. Both allow you to enjoy outdoor elements while having full or partial barriers when desired. Screens protect dining and cooking areas from flies, while curtains reduce pollen and ultraviolet rays.

Create a Beautiful Indoor-Outdoor Living Space

There are plenty of ways to connect the exterior and interior parts of your home, creating places where you love to spend time and invite friends. Let these 15 items inspire you to envision and build attractive, highly functional areas to enjoy this summer and beyond. 

Ready to bring your indoor-outdoor living space to life? The DecorMatters app makes it easy to plan, design, and visualize your perfect setup with furniture, decor, and layout tools at your fingertips. Download the app now and start designing your dream space today.

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