The Rules that Make Indoor–Outdoor Spaces Work

There’s a certain type of space that makes people slow down without really meaning to, right, like they walk outside and something just shifts, shoulders drop, conversations stretch out, phones get put down, and basically no one’s in a hurry anymore. Well, any luxury living space technically has that effect. But one of those houses that blurs the lines, well, where the indoors and outdoors transition, those really have a way of letting people loose. No, really, just think about it, a retractable roof patio, something where the house doesn’t feel like it ends at the back wall, it just kind of keeps going. 

But just one button, the roof opens or closes, the light changes, the air moves a little, and yeah, everyone naturally drifts out there without anyone announcing that’s what’s happening. And okay, now obviously, when those spaces work, they really work. But there are also plenty of them that look right on paper, look great in photos, and somehow never get used properly once people actually live with them (well, usually).

They’re technically beautiful, technically impressive, and yet everyone still ends up back inside(even though it can still technically become inside too). Anyways, that’s usually the clue that something important got missed. Well, it’s usually the design itself.

Decide what the Space is Actually Meant to Replace

Now, when you look at magazines, be it Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, well, any of them really, it's obvious what the purpose is, but it’s not really obvious what the space is meant to replace, right? So, in real life, this is where most of these spaces quietly go wrong. They get treated like an add-on, like a bonus area, something nice to have but not essential. And yeah, sure, that sounds harmless, but spaces like that almost always end up being the first ones ignored.

The spaces that work replace something real. They take over the job of the living room, or the dining room, or the place where mornings start slow and evenings stretch longer than planned. If that decision isn’t clear from the start, the space never quite settles. Sure, it might sound like you need an eye for design to figure this out, but no, you don’t. 

No, really, a great example; furniture floats around with no real reason. People stand instead of sitting, and now, with that part said, hovering is usually a sign that the space doesn’t know what it’s for.

Stop Expecting the Outdoors to “Behave”

Well, obviously, you can’t control the weather here, but that’s not the point here. So,there’s this quiet assumption that retractable roofs somehow tame the outdoors, like press a button and suddenly everything’s controlled, but well, yeah, obviously, that’s not how it works. For example, the light shifts constantly (the sun moving, the clouds getting in the way, you get the idea), the wind does whatever it wants, and usually, the temperatures dip faster than expected.

So, the spaces that feel good don’t fight this. Like, you have to “roll with the punches” that Mother Nature gives you. You basically have to expect not to always be comfortable outside. Which is exactly why you need to design this transitional space with the intent of knowing that not every day is perfect, not every moment is comfortable, and that flexibility matters more than control. And yeah, once that expectation changes, a lot of design decisions suddenly make more sense.

The In-Between Zone is Where Things Get Awkward

Again, it’s a transitional area, it’s not a living room inside the house, and it’s not an outdoor sitting area on the deck or patio, it’s basically both, because it’s both indoors and outdoors (depending on if the roof is redacted or not. But again, this middle space, not fully inside, not fully outside, is where most designs struggle. Some spaces lean too indoor and feel uncomfortable the second the roof opens, while others lean too outdoor and feel unfinished the moment it closes.

But you really need to keep in mind that a retractable roof patio has to be comfortable living in that middle ground. As in, the materials can’t be precious. Meaning, instead of using a regular couch as you could have in your living room, you instead would need something sturdier, like Kettler outdoor furniture; instead of a regular rug, you would need an outdoor rug. Well, that, and the layouts can’t be rigid. Basically, nothing should rely on perfect conditions to feel usable, and yeah, sure, when that balance is off, people feel it immediately, even if they can’t explain what’s wrong.

Don’t Design for the Best Day

This goes back to the weather bit that was mentioned already. But designing for that one perfect sunny afternoon is tempting, of course it is, but it’s also how these spaces end up being underused. Basically, don’t expect beauty, don’t expect something beautifully curated like in those magazines. Like, the mornings can feel harsher than expected, evenings cool off quickly, and overcast days feel flat if the space relies too much on openness.

But the spaces that actually get used are designed around the average day. Meaning, they were designed with wind, some cold, and cloudiness in mind, not just that perfect warm sunny summer feeling. 

Flow Matters More 

Yeah, sure, retractable roofs are impressive at first, you better believe that, but the novelty fades pretty quickly. Sure, sounds hard to believe since that concept alone is the epitome of luxury, but give it time! Now, with that said, what doesn’t fade is how easy the space is to move through. Are people squeezing past furniture? Do doors interrupt seating areas? Does the space feel like somewhere people naturally drift into or somewhere they have to decide to go? 

Basically, you need to think about the flow here. So, when flow works, no one thinks about it. When it doesn’t, the space always feels slightly separate, even if it’s technically connected to the house.