Austin is and indoor/outdoor living city – we are fortunate to have plenty of sunny days and we love to enjoy them every possible way we can. This includes opening up our patio doors and blending our inside spaces with the great outdoors. Choosing the right flooring is crucial for creating a seamless transition between the inside and outside of your home.
Smooth Transitions Between Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
Creating two separate spaces that can be blended together at will is all about the transition. Here are a few of the ways you can make each space individually functional and stylish while considering how they will work together when they’re joined.
- Your indoor and outdoor flooring doesn’t need to match perfectly to look good together. Coordinate colors and textures to create a cohesive and visually appealing transition.
- Maintain a consistent level between indoor and outdoor flooring to eliminate tripping hazards and ensure a smooth transition. This typically means paying more attention to your subfloor before installation than most flooring companies do (if one flooring is thicker than another, you need to ensure the subflooring is thinner in order to keep it even).
- Rugs and floor cushions can add warmth and comfort to your living spaces. Choose items that are easy to put away when you open your space up to the outdoors if you want to.
- Extending design elements from indoor to outdoor spaces will enhance the feeling of continuity. Echo similar styles of furniture and/or color schemes in both spaces to make it feel like one large living space when opened up.
- We know it’s not flooring, but the choice of doors is an important part of indoor/outdoor living. Bi-fold or sliding glass doors create a fluid connection, allowing you to open up your living space to the outdoors seamlessly.
Let Your Space Inform Your Flooring
Where your indoor/outdoor space is located in your home and what type of space it is should play a large part in deciding what type of flooring you’ll use. In some homes patio doors go directly from a main indoor living area to an outdoor patio. In others your transitional room might be a sunroom or enclosed patio and the flooring should be thought about differently.
This being said: it’s hard to go wrong with porcelain tile in any part of your home. It comes in a wide variety of colors and styles that can easily coordinate with any décor or style. It’s ability to withstand temperature change along with it’s durability and moisture resistance make it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Similarly, terra cotta tiles look great both indoors and out. They offer a more classic Texas rustic aesthetic with their warm color palette.
If you want a more modern look stamped concrete can be used to flow seamlessly from indoors to out. It is very versatile, and you can customize patterns and textures. Natural granite or slate can also be used equally well indoors and out. Different products have different needs, but not to worry the pros at Flohr can help you make sure you know what the best practice is for sealing each type of floor in Austin.
Engineered hardwood, which is designed to withstand moisture and temperature variations, is an excellent choice for indoor spaces that open up to covered outdoor areas. In this case you can use composite decking for your outdoor space as it mimics the look of wood but is durable and moisture resistant allowing it to be used outdoors. Coordinating the two products allows you to extend your indoor space without needing to use a tile or stone floor.
We’re here to help you choose flooring that effortlessly connects your interior and exterior spaces. Schedule your free estimate with us today to start planning your flooring renovation.
