Contributed by Tim Brugger, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

A great way to maximize and use space is developing indoors outdoors living and dining areas.

During the warm months, few things are more relaxing than dining outside.

Even with the onset of winter, basking in the environs without being exposed to the elements is a great use of space. Here are a few of the best indoors outdoors living ideas to help you get the most from your home.

Speaker with lights

Illumination and sound

Quite likely the coolest indoors outdoors living idea to come along since the BBQ; check out this little item from Whatever Works. It pulls double duty as an outdoor speaker, ready to hook up to a stereo, iPod or MP3 player of your choice, and has lights for your evening outdoor festivities. It adjusts to any size umbrella with ease using the adjustable grip making it a piece of cake to set-up and use. Now that’s living.

Shall we dance?

Fire Pit

S’mores and more

It’s a well-known fact that you can’t set up the back patio or yard as a pseudo-living space without the proper S’more-making equipment. A fire pit is the obvious solution, but don’t settle for just any incendiary device. With the design of any of the beautiful and immensely useable fire pits from Bellacor, you and your guests will enjoy the flickering fire even more; with or without a S’more.

Gazebo

Extend your living space

Certainly nothing wrong building a gazebo; they’re perfect for indoors outdoors living. Or, you can get straight to the heart of the matter with an assortment of gazebos. With or without lights, matching furnishings and accessories, these will quickly transform the entire area. Plus, you have the added benefit of saying to anyone within earshot “I believe we’ll dine in the gazebo this evening.”

Outdoor rug

Durability and comfort

They need to be durable, easy to clean and look good, and if you’re able to find an outdoor rug that meets these criteria you’re on your way to an indoors outdoors living area second to none. We have just the thing from our favorite rug stores, actually several things. You won’t believe the selection of colors, patterns and styles, all surprisingly durable even on patios and decks, and still pretty enough to use indoors as well.

Hammocks

Stretch out and relax

Why should a comfortable “stretch out and relax” session be limited to the living room sofa? While the weather is fine, take your naps outdoors on a relaxing hammock. Tie one to a couple of convenient trees, or select a free standing one like this to take advantage of sun or shade as the mood strikes you.