Imagine having a light and airy living space with stunning views of your garden, making it feel like a natural extension of your home. Here’s how you can make the most of your garden views and seamlessly merge your indoor and outdoor spaces.
The place to start is with your existing view. Can you see out into the garden from everywhere in your living space? For example, if you’re sitting down can you still see into the garden, or are the windows placed too high?
If the view is restricted, could you enlarge the windows? Or install glazed doors allowing you to see out, even when seated?
Picture windows
Think of your windows and doors as frames for your garden. What would you like to see in the picture? Treat your garden like a canvas. Whether you have stunning countryside views or a more enclosed garden, plan your view as you would compose a photograph or painting.
For picturesque countryside settings, large picture windows or generous aluminium bi-fold doors can beautifully frame the landscape. If your garden is more enclosed, create a focal point near the house, like a fountain or a cluster of potted plants, and use taller plants or trees around the edges to draw the eye outward.
Wall of glass
Think about the changing seasons when selecting plants and garden decorations to ensure your view is spectacular all year round. This fully glazed wall constructed from large sliding doors topped by big single panes of triangular glass all the way up to the ceiling provides views over a garden that looks just as beautiful in winter as in spring.
Angling for a good view
Instead of one large, glazed door or window, you might prefer to enjoy your garden from different angles through different openings. The clever renovation of this period terraced house combines glazing and structure to offer varied garden views. The wrap-around glazed link gives a different outlook to the bi-fold doors, while the structural box window with a window seat provides a similarly unique perspective.
Merging the inside and outside
Of course, you won’t always be inside looking out. When the weather is nice, you’ll want to make your garden part of your living space and move freely between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
If you are installing bi-fold or sliding doors, you could consider a flush threshold for a seamless transition between inside and outside. Using the same or similar flooring can also have the effect of further merging these spaces, like in this clever extension.
