Modern British homes are increasingly designed to open generously onto the garden. Bifold doors fold back, garden rooms glow at the end of a path, and contemporary extensions invite light to pour in. Yet without careful thought, the space just beyond the threshold can feel exposed or disconnected.
Thoughtful indoor outdoor garden design is about more than placing a patio outside your doors. It is about creating transitional garden spaces that feel intentional, comfortable, and beautifully integrated with your home. With the right use of trellis panels, decorative screens, slatted panels and pergolas, the move from inside to out becomes seamless.
Let us explore how to shape these threshold spaces with confidence and style.
Why indoor outdoor garden design matters
The best indoor outdoor garden design blurs the boundaries between house and garden. It allows you to step outside and feel as though the architecture continues, rather than abruptly ends.
This is particularly important for:
- Homes with bifold or sliding doors
- Modern rear extensions
- Garden rooms or home offices
- Courtyard gardens
- Urban plots where privacy is a priority
Without structure, these spaces can feel like an afterthought. With considered garden joinery, they become an outdoor room in their own right.
Designing the threshold: patios, courtyards and garden rooms
The first few metres beyond your doors set the tone for the entire garden.
1. Framing a patio as an outdoor room
A patio directly outside bifold doors should feel like an extension of the kitchen or living space. One of the simplest ways to achieve this is by framing it.
Here are a few ways to define the area:
- Positioning a trellis panels backdrop behind seating
- Adding a side boundary of slatted fence panels for subtle enclosure
- Incorporating a timber pergola to create overhead structure
The clean lines of slatted panels work particularly well in contemporary settings, echoing the horizontal geometry often found in modern architecture. As discussed in our feature on contemporary slatted panels , these designs balance privacy with light, making them ideal for spaces that need screening without heaviness.
2. Courtyard gardens with architectural structure
In compact courtyard gardens, strong vertical elements are essential. Rather than relying on solid fencing alone, consider layering with decorative screens or mirrored bespoke trellis.
Decorative screens introduce pattern and shadow, softening brickwork and rendered walls while maintaining a modern aesthetic. Positioned thoughtfully, they can:
- Screen neighbouring windows
- Conceal bins or utility areas
- Create intimate seating corners
This aligns with the principle that fencing and screening are not merely boundaries, but integral design elements .
3. Linking to a garden room
Garden rooms and studios are increasingly popular, but the journey to them is often overlooked.
A pathway flanked by slatted panels or square trellis creates a sense of procession. Alternatively, an airy pergola from our pergolas collection can visually connect house and outbuilding, forming a cohesive axis through the garden.
Using trellis and screens to soften transitions
A successful indoor outdoor garden design does not feel stark. It balances structure with softness.
Trellis as a gentle divider
Trellis panels are ideal for transitional spaces because they filter views rather than block them. They create subtle boundaries that allow light and air to move freely.
As we explore in our guide to choosing the right trellis style , the design you select should reflect your home’s character:
- Square or diagonal trellis for more traditional homes
- Clean-lined contemporary trellis for modern extensions
Climbing plants such as jasmine, clematis or climbing roses can be trained over trellis to further blur the line between built and planted elements.
Decorative screens for contemporary privacy
In homes with floor-to-ceiling glazing, privacy can become a concern. Decorative screens provide a refined solution.
Our decorative screens offer pattern and depth without closing the space. They are particularly effective positioned slightly away from the house, creating a layered effect that feels architectural rather than defensive.
Visual continuity: matching materials and finishes
One of the most powerful principles in indoor outdoor garden design is visual continuity.
If your interior features:
- Oak flooring
- Black aluminium frames
- Pale rendered walls
- Warm stone tiles
Then your external joinery should echo these tones and textures.
Coordinating timber finishes
Using consistent timber across trellis, screens and pergolas creates cohesion. As explored in our article on matching gates, fencing and trellis , repeating material and finish helps the garden feel intentional and calm.
For contemporary homes, painted slatted panels in soft black or charcoal can mirror window frames. For more traditional properties, natural timber that weathers gracefully provides warmth and authenticity.
Repeating lines and forms
If your extension features strong horizontal lines, echo this with:
- Horizontal slatted fence panels
- Linear pergola beams
- Rectangular screen panels
For properties with arches or curved features, consider arch-top trellis panels to soften hard geometry.
Pergolas as transitional architecture
Pergolas deserve particular attention in indoor outdoor garden design.
Positioned just beyond bifold doors, a pergola acts as a threshold marker. It signals the shift from interior ceiling to open sky while still offering structure overhead.
A pergola can:
- Frame a dining terrace
- Support climbers for dappled shade
- Create a visual link to a further garden feature
Our range of pergolas includes both open and more architectural designs, suitable for contemporary and traditional gardens alike. For custom designs, you might like to explore our bespoke service.
Designing for lifestyle, not just layout
Ultimately, transitional garden spaces are about how you live.
Consider:
- Morning coffee just outside the kitchen
- Evenings entertaining friends with doors thrown open
- A quiet reading corner screened from view
- Children moving freely between house and garden
When indoor outdoor garden design is approached holistically, trellis panels, decorative screens, slatted panels and pergolas are not add-ons. They are structural elements that support daily life.
They shape light, frame views, provide privacy and introduce rhythm.
Bringing it all together
Creating successful transitional garden spaces requires careful thought, but the results are transformative. With considered indoor outdoor garden design, the boundary between home and garden dissolves, replaced by a seamless, welcoming flow.
Whether you are working with a compact courtyard, a contemporary extension or a spacious terrace, the right combination of trellis panels, decorative screens, slatted panels and pergolas can elevate the space from practical to truly beautiful.
Explore our collections of decorative screens, slatted fence panels and pergolas to begin shaping your own indoor outdoor garden design.
Our team is always happy to help you select the perfect pieces to create a cohesive, elegant transition from inside to out.
