5 Interior Ideas for Outdoor-Types

by Jon Nunan
1. Add a Sunroom
According to ServiceMagic.com, an online resource linking homeowners and contractors, requests for sunroom additions has increased by 81% in the past year. The desirability of natural sunlight in the dead of winter is something that's easy to understand, and getting that sunlight without having to brave the cold weather is apparently appealing to a growing number of homeowners.
The Cheaper Version: If you don't think that the addition of an entire room devoted to natural light is your kind of investment, you can get a similar feeling in your living area by upgrading to a picture window, bay window, or skylight!
2. Plan an Indoor Garden
Houseplants are great and can really bring a taste of the outdoors inside, but for those who need more than just a nibble of nature, an indoor garden can really be a pick-me-up during the long winter months. As many gardeners already know, starting plants inside is a common technique to have a successful crop in the spring and summer. However, there's no reason why, with the proper equipment, you can't have a booming garden all year round!
Successful indoor gardens are, in some ways, even easier to produce than outdoor gardens because you have far better control over the amount of light and water your plants get. Indoor gardens are also less likely to be affected by disease and insect life!
3. Upgrade a Porch or Covered Deck
What better way is there to enjoy the outside than actually leaving the house? Porches and covered decks can be excellent areas to relax by yourself or entertain all year round if they are outfitted properly. The biggest reason why people don't spend time on their porches and decks during the winter is, of course, the cold weather. However, by enhancing an outdoor area with a wood stove or outdoor fireplace, you can make your outdoor space warm and comfortable.
If this seems like something you would be interested in, it is worth the time to compare traditional wood burners with newer pellet stoves, which produce no creosote (a major cause of chimney fires) and, according to the EPA, "?are some of the cleanest-burning heating appliances available today."

4. Indoor Water Features
For some outdoor types, the sight and sound of running water is hard to go months at a time without. By installing any one of the many varieties of indoor water features in your home, the sight and sound of a babbling brook can be had right in your living room. Ranging in price from under $500 to over $5,000, there is literally an indoor fountain or fall for every budget!
5. Reinvent Old Equipment
For die-hard outdoor enthusiasts, a little cold weather is hardly a deterrent. Skiers, hikers, and campers who are bold enough to brave the cold weather, however, often end up amassing plenty of gear as the years go by. Instead of parting with well-used equipment, why not make it into something that can still be of use? With a little effort, skis, poles, chair lifts, and many other outdoor items can be made into durable, attractive furniture. You can purchase these pieces already made, hire someone to build them for you, or get the plans to construct them yourself. Not only does your old equipment get a new purpose, it avoids a trip to the landfill!