When counting up the number of rooms in your home, many people forget to add the garden, which is surprising when you consider how much time you spend in it.

According to The National, gardens are much more than just a place to grow some flowers. These days, people are realising that the garden is the perfect place to add an entire new room.

The key to create a room-like feel is to introduce a sense of enclosure. This can be achieved with flooring that separates your lounge area from the rest of the garden. Depending on your budget, you can choose from gravel, decking, paving stones or bricks.

While a roof is not always required, a roof will help to shield your room from the elements, meaning you can use your outdoor space all year round. If you don’t want to go for a solid roof, another option would be to create a pergola with vines, which not only lends a beautiful Mediterranean feel to the space, but filters the strong sun to keep you cool.

Your outdoor room will have one built in wall (the exterior of your home), but if you would like to define the space even more, try adding a wall of raised plant beds. Try to steer clear of building another solid wall, as this will take away from the openess of the room.