A solution to extend your living space: flooring options to create continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Extending your home’s living spaces and enjoying the greenery of the garden is possible even during the colder seasons. A winter garden is an elegant solution to fully enjoy the extension of your living area into the outdoors. Achieving this requires the installation of suitable structures, careful planning during the design phase, and the right choice of surface materials.
Assessing feasibility
There are various architectural and design solutions for creating a winter garden, ideal for enjoying moments of daily relaxation while benefiting from natural lighting. To ensure durability, analyze the available space and equip the external area adjacent to the living space with suitable flooring materials resistant to weather conditions. Options include natural stone, slate, bricks, ceramic tiles, or, even better, porcelain stoneware. Porcelain stoneware offers excellent wear resistance, is easy to clean, and performs well even under extreme temperatures.
Incorporating a bioclimatic pergola
Adding a bioclimatic pergola is an ideal solution to regulate the environment in your winter garden, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors regardless of the weather. This feature enables you to adjust the slats for controlling sunlight and ventilation, creating a comfortable space in every season.
Making spaces visually larger
To achieve a sense of depth, play with materials to create the illusion of expanded spaces. Opt for a material that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, preferably in large formats, and use it continuously across the two areas. When sliding doors are opened, the spaces will appear as one unified area.
Flooring materials
- Slate and natural stone: These materials are ideal due to their intrinsic beauty and thermal properties. Their rough surfaces provide excellent grip, even when wet or snow-covered, ensuring safety in winter. Additionally, slate’s ability to retain heat from sunlight helps maintain comfortable temperatures during colder days. Large slabs enhance the continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Porcelain stoneware: This versatile material is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, offering endless options in terms of colors, effects, and formats. For a winter garden, stone, cement, or resin effects are ideal.
- Wood flooring: While suitable for interiors, wood is not recommended for outdoor areas exposed to weather conditions.
The benefits of anti-slip materials
Ensure the use of materials with good grip, such as porcelain stoneware tiles with a slip resistance rating (R value) of at least 10. These surfaces minimize the risk of accidents caused by slips on wet or icy surfaces.
Preventing water stagnation around the winter garden
To avoid water stagnation around the bioclimatic pergola and outdoor flooring, consider permeable surfaces. Gravel, crushed stone, or even simple grass with drainage channels allow proper water runoff, preventing puddles or ice formation. These materials also facilitate plant root breathing and improve soil drainage.
Using heated flooring
For extra comfort during winter, consider installing heated floors. These systems use pipes or electric cables to generate heat, keeping garden surfaces free of snow and ice.
To ensure year-round comfort, opt for insulating materials during the design phase to limit thermal dispersion and create a livable space in both hot and cold seasons.
Furnishings
The latest collections from brands like Paola Lenti, Pedrali, and Roda offer high-quality materials that ensure durability and elegance, perfectly complementing a winter garden project.
Transform your garden into a winter oasis
Creating a winter garden is the perfect way to extend your living space and enjoy the outdoors in every season. By combining durable materials, innovative solutions like bioclimatic pergolas, and thoughtful design choices, you can achieve a seamless connection between your indoor and outdoor spaces. Start planning your winter garden today and turn your outdoor area into a cozy, elegant retreat.
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