A new room in the old backyard

Are you interested in adding a new room that doesn’t cost a fortune?

Look no further than your own backyard.

Dining room, living room, kitchen or study -- it’s all there under

the stars. The backyard can be more than a garden. It’s relatively

simple make outdoor space multifunctional. The biggest effort is

rethinking the way the yard works.

The yard isn’t just for the kids and the dog. And with some

planning you can add plenty of live-able square footage right outside

the back door.

If your idea of outdoor cooking is dragging the Weber from the

side yard, it’s time to make a commitment. Designate a space for

cooking. It helps to have solid footing: concrete, brick or stone. Be

sure you have adequate lighting.

If you don’t have counter space, add a small table that can hold

plates, spices and utensils. If you use fresh herbs, plant your

favorites close to the cooking area or add pots planted with a dwarf

lemon tree and parsley, basil and sage around the base.

Your dining area needs to have some shelter from the elements,

either in the form of an umbrella, a patio cover or a vine-covered

pergola.

If it’s possible to have a hanging lantern or chandelier, by all

means do so. Even if you don’t turn them on every time you eat

outside, it’s a nice feature to have. If electricity is not

available, load up on candles and votives.

Store them outside so you can have instant ambience. Use your

outdoor furniture for your “living room”: chairs, benches, and side

tables. Use a rug made out of a natural fiber that can stand the

weather. It helps define the space. Adding cushions makes the seating

comfortable.

If you have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, you have all the

elements for easy entertaining.

My favorite space in the garden is a little nook that has two

gliding chairs with a small table between them and an overhead

chandelier. I never light the candles -- but that’s beside the point,

they look good. It is a great spot to read the mail, read a book or

help with homework.

It’s always quiet, it’s a little hidden from the main yard and

it’s a great place to escape.

If you really want to take living al fresco seriously, incorporate

the landscape into the plan. Plant some night-blooming jasmine near

the outdoor living room. Use white flowers in the garden, they stand

out in the moonlight.

Add a fountain so you have the sound of trickling water in the

background. You can have an extra room within days. This will be the

easiest remodel you’ve ever done.

And you don’t have to worry about crown molding, the ceiling is

too high.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Sundays.