Outdoor Amenities Are Driving Home Design More Than Ever Before

Sure, a spacious green lawn is nice—but doesn’t a livable, year-round outdoor space sound even nicer? Open-air rooms, inviting patios, outdoor kitchens, and other "functional outdoor spaces" are on a meteoric rise in comparison to the sprawling lawns of yesteryear, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Homebuilders. In fact, having that outdoor connection is predicted to be the biggest influence in home design for the next three years.

Who can blame them? In the wake of pandemic living, making the most of every inch of your property has become downright vital for homeowners’ physical as well as mental health.

And the good news is that this trend isn’t just for the sunshine states: With some smart design choices like comfortable seating, seamless outdoor heating, and ample lighting, anyone can create an outdoor living area that feels more like an extension of the indoors versus an afterthought.

Warm Things Up

Savvy outdoor-living enthusiasts know to plan for the extremes en plein air.

"The trend now is to exploit the outdoor areas as ‘living spaces’—spaces to be used not only during the day but also late into the evening," explains architect Yvonne Haber. "By installing an outdoor radiant heater, like Bromic’s Tungsten Electric heater, we’re able to extend the usability of outdoor areas for longer periods in the year."

While firepits can be a wonderful addition to your outdoor space, they tend to bring more ambience than heat. A radiant heater, conversely, keeps an outdoor area warm and is less affected by the wind. Instead of heating the air around you, a radiant heater works like the sun, heating the people and objects from above.

Bromic’s new Eclipse Smart-Heat Electric series (available as wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, or portable) offers both heat and light, adding atmosphere in addition to cozy comfort. Whether drying off post-swim or sharing a glass of wine under the stars on a crisp autumn evening, the Eclipse is there to provide warmth and ambience all in a sleek matte-black package.