How much does it cost to create indoor outdoor flow in the United Kingdom

ARTICLE Erin Reilly

“Older houses were not designed in a way that allowed easy movement between indoor and outdoor areas,” says Refresh Renovation consultant Paul Cree. “This means that an indirect route has to be taken between these key spaces, which is not only frustrating, but also results in communication barriers between people in each of the spaces.

“Good indoor/outdoor flow creates a more cohesive space that makes the outdoor area feel like a natural extension of the indoors, facilitating easy movement of and easy communication between people in each space.”

More than just the building

“In the 50s, 60s and 70s when much of our housing stock was built, broadly-speaking the husband would come home from work and sit in front of the TV while the wife cooked dinner,” says Refresh Renovations consultant Jim Gleeson. “These days, cooking is more interactional, where everyone pitches in. Guests might even sit at the kitchen island and chop up ingredients or chat over glasses of wine. Older homes weren’t designed to support that kind of interaction. These days it’s common for homeowners to take the four walls that make up their kitchen and dining spaces, and open them up into more of a shared space.”

“Homeowners generally want to improve their indoor/outdoor flow so they can bring in light from outside, make a room seem bigger, and interact better with their outdoor spaces,” he continues. “The ability to open doors onto a deck gives people a reason to entertain and eat outside in the sun and fresh air, enjoy that family time, and invite the light in.”

“Consideration needs to be given to the layout of both the indoor and outdoor areas to facilitate easy movement between each space,” adds Cree. “Lighting is often an area that is not considered adequately, but can make a large difference to the ambience of the outdoor area.”

How do you create indoor/outdoor flow?

Before embarking on the renovating journey, Gleeson recommends first getting up close and personal with your home.

“Take a chair, sit on your lawn, and watch your house,” he says. “Look at where the sun is. Feel which way the wind predominantly blows. Don’t base your decisions on aesthetics alone; think more about the liveability of your home.”

How can you achieve flow on a basic budget?

How can you achieve flow on a mid-range budget?

What can you achieve on a high-end budget?

How can you save money?

As soon as you do anything above the basic, your renovations need consent, and that’s where a big chunk of the cost comes from. Try not to change your roofline. Gleeson suggests that if your main goal is to bring in air and light as opposed to being able to access the outdoors, think about installing two or three roof windows instead of doors. If you’re just after light, solar tubes are also good options. Cree says that bi-fold doors are a common request but they quickly add up when they’re being used for a large opening, so consider more affordable alternatives like ranch sliders.

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