A Guide To Indoor / Outdoor Tiles

With space at a premium inside our houses these days, more and more of us are expanding our homes outwards to create much-needed extra space. This trend doesn't necessarily involve planning permission however, it's simply focused on transforming your outside space to have a more ‘interior' feel and therefore be more functional for you and your family to use during the warmer months. Using indoor and outdoor tiles are a great way to transform your space.

Utilising a part of your garden as an extension of your living area is a fantastic way to create a seamless look between the outdoors and in. If done right, it can blur the lines between your garden and kitchen, living room or conservatory, creating the look and feel of a single room. If you have a small garden, this strategy can also help make it look bigger. Read our guide for more tips on how to make a small garden look bigger.

One of the most important features in an outdoor living area is the doorway that leads to it. The most effective way to extend a living area outwards is to use large, foldable sliding doors that quite literally leave the whole wall facing your garden open. This will fill your room with light and means you can easily move from one area to the next, creating the feeling of ‘one' room. Pair these doors with decking that matches any wooden features you have inside your home, and you'll have yourself a ready-made outdoor living area! Simply add some seating and accessories that complement the interior of your home and you're good to go.

Natural Stone flooring is a great alternative to decking, and is often suitable for both indoors and outdoors, so you can use the same tile throughout. It's not only durable, but is available in many materials and variations so you're bound to find something that suits both your home and budget.

Have you seen our Everscape range? With Everscape you can use your garden as an extension of your living space and create a functional and enjoyable area for you and your family to use during the warmer months. There is also a variety of stone effects available to emulate the traditional garden slab but, drum roll please, we’ve also introduced wood effect tiles that can emulate the look of decking without the hassle of maintaining real wood plus many other benefits!

You don't need to spend a fortune to turn your garden into a more living-friendly area. Think about adding fairy lights around a doorframe or trellis, and bring some potted plants into your kitchen to create a seamless look between the areas. Alongside inside and outdoor tiles, the overall feel will be cohesive. You'll find some fantastic inspiration here.

Seating is another important aspect of an outdoor living area. Whilst fabric might not be suitable for use outside all year round, you can get a couple of cheap cushions or throws for your outdoor seating for the warmer months or dry, cooler evenings. These will give your garden a welcoming feel and will draw your eye to the detail. Try adding an outdoor fire pit or grill to a suitable area of your garden which will bring a functional yet aesthetically pleasing aspect to the space. During the summer, you'll be able to both cook and eat outdoors which can be a bit of a novelty in the UK! We promise it won't wear off though.

Need some more inspiration? Take a look at Design & Trend's round-up of inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces or pop over to our Indoor/Outdoor Living Pinterest Board.

Image credits: Decking with table - House to Home Folding doors - Build Direct