![Rising DJ/film maker QRTR on Brooklyn dance parties, her Portuguese-Puerto Rican roots [Interview]](https://wallpapers-free.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Rising-DJfilm-maker-QRTR-on-Brooklyn-dance-parties-her-Portuguese-Puerto-150x150.jpg)
Video: Outdoor Living Rooms
Time: 01:56
Options for what to include in the ultimate outdoor entertaining area.
Today, almost any activity you enjoy inside your home you can bring to the outside. Depending on your budget, your outdoor room can be simple, with a stamped concrete patio, a grill and a table for dining, or more elaborate with a fully functional outdoor kitchen complete with concrete countertops for preparing and serving food, a sink and a refrigerator. You can take the concept even further by adding such amenities as a concrete pizza oven, a fireplace or firepit, a concrete bartop for serving cocktails, an architectural concrete fountain, landscape lighting and concrete statuary.
Here are ways to use concrete to build the basic elements of your outdoor space:
The Green Scene in Northridge, CA
Decorative Concrete Surfaces
Start by installing stamped, stenciled or stained concrete patios and walkways to establish the basic floor plan and design scheme for your outdoor room. You can even pattern your outdoor floor with a permanent, weatherproof rug that adds visual interest and helps define dining and conversation areas.
See:
Concrete Patios | Outdoor Concrete Carpet | Pool Decks | Concrete Walkways and Sidewalks
Advanced Concrete Enhancement in Sun Valley, CA
Cooking
Something to cook with, such as a barbecue grill or wood-fired pizza oven, and countertops for food preparation and serving are key elements in a well-designed outdoor kitchen. Concrete countertops offer the advantages of weather resistance and versatility, since they can be formed into any shape you desire to suit the space. A coat of sealer will simplify cleanup by protecting your countertop from stains. Other amenities, such as concrete bartops and outdoor sinks with plumbing, can expand your entertainment options.
See:
Concrete Countertops | Concrete Sinks and Vessels
Craftsmanship Workshop in Aguanga, CA
Hearth
Something to cook with, such as a barbecue grill or wood-fired pizza oven, and countertops for food preparation and serving are key elements in a well-designed outdoor kitchen. Concrete countertops offer the advantages of weather resistance and versatility, since they can be formed into any shape you desire to suit the space. A coat of sealer will simplify cleanup by protecting your countertop from stains. Other amenities, such as concrete bartops and outdoor sinks with plumbing, can expand your entertainment options.
See:
Outdoor Fireplaces | Firepits: Stone & Concrete
New England Hardscapes, Inc. in Tyngsboro, MA
Furniture
No outdoor room is complete without ample furniture for dining and lounging. Attractive high-quality outdoor furniture also provides a smooth transition from the indoors to the outdoors and helps define the space as an extension of your home. Concrete seat walls and cast concrete couches or chaises, softened with pillows or cushions, can be used as permanent, weatherproof outdoor seating.
See:
Concrete Seat Walls | Outdoor Living: Creating Rooms for Outdoor Activities
Progressive Hardscapes in Phoenix, AZ
Water features
If space and budget allow, installing a concrete swimming pool, spa, waterfall or pond can provide beauty, relaxation and tranquil sounds.
See:
Concrete Water Features
Absolute ConcreteWorks in Poulsbo-Seattle, WA
The Green Scene in Northridge, CA
More Stories
Home design ideas: Adding a modern edge to a nautical lake house
26 Best Gifts for Cousins in 2022
Interior Designer Shares 10 Things Not to Have in Your Living Room