Springtime is a great time to make home improvements or to renovate and transform a bland garage, shed or patio into an exciting room or sitting area.

Sam Golson, local interior designer, has decorated many homes throughout Selma.

“I’ve taken patios and turned them into outside rooms using such materials as rugs and lamps,” Golson said.

Interior designers agree that an outdoor room adds flair and style to the home and property.

“Multiple rooms don’t have to require acres of land,” said Mary Donovan, Atlanta interior designer. “Outdoor spaces can be turned into an entertainment room, used for family dining or for playing games and reading. You want to erase the fact you’re outside.”

Designers suggest using plants to frame a doorway, using water in a tabletop fountain or a two-sided fireplace or portable fire pits and hardwood flooring to make your home more inviting.

“An outdoor room can include anything from an attached screened-in or gazebo,” said another Atlanta-based interior designer, Patricia Thernell.  “You could even create a passageway with foliage. Use the same flooring material inside as well as outside.”

“Water is one of the most important elements in an outdoor room and creates a serene setting,” Thernell said. “Even if you use your room for entertainment rather than meditation, it’s still nice to hear water splashing when you’re sitting around the table.”

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