How the modern New Zealand home is expanding beyond its four walls.
It usually starts the same way.
The barbecue is hot. Friends are arriving. Drinks are poured, music is playing, and everyone naturally gathers outside. It's where the conversation flows, where children play, and where the best parts of the day seem to unfold.
Then someone glances at the sky.
"Looks like rain."
Within minutes, chairs are dragged inside, platters are hurried into the kitchen, and what was shaping up to be a relaxed afternoon suddenly feels interrupted.
For most New Zealanders, it's such a familiar scene that we rarely stop to question it.
Perhaps we should.
The Outdoor Room We Forgot to Finish
Over the past two decades, the Kiwi home has changed dramatically.
Formal dining rooms have given way to open-plan living. Kitchens have become the social heart of the home. Large sliding doors blur the line between inside and out, opening onto generous decks, landscaped gardens and outdoor entertaining areas.
Architects have embraced the idea that life shouldn't stop at the back door.
Yet many homes still treat outdoor spaces as seasonal extras rather than essential living areas.
We invest heavily in beautiful timber decks, comfortable outdoor furniture, feature lighting, outdoor kitchens and carefully planned landscaping—only to accept that much of it sits unused whenever the weather decides otherwise.
It's an odd contradiction.
We've designed homes that encourage us outdoors, but we haven't always designed those spaces to work with New Zealand's climate.
A New Way to Think About Home
When people talk about adding value to a house, they often think about another bedroom, a renovated kitchen or an extra bathroom.
But what if one of the most valuable rooms isn't technically a room at all?
A well-designed outdoor living space doesn't simply add square metres. It changes how a home feels and functions.
It becomes the place where birthdays are celebrated, Sunday breakfasts stretch into the afternoon, neighbours stop by unexpectedly, and children move effortlessly between inside and outside.
These aren't occasional moments.
They're the moments that define everyday life.
The question is no longer whether outdoor living is important.
The question is whether we've designed our homes to make the most of it.
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Living With the Climate, Not Against It
New Zealand's climate is one of our greatest assets.
Fresh air, long summer evenings and lush landscapes are part of what makes living here so special.
At the same time, our weather has a personality of its own.
A calm morning can become a windy afternoon. Sunshine can give way to a passing shower without much warning. Harsh UV and seasonal rain are simply part of life here.
The answer isn't to retreat indoors every time the forecast changes.
It's to design outdoor spaces that work comfortably alongside the climate.
The best outdoor areas don't shut nature out.
They let you enjoy more of it.
The Most Expensive Room You Rarely Use
Think about the investment many homeowners make in their outdoor spaces.
A quality deck.
Landscaping.
Outdoor furniture.
Barbecue.
Lighting.
Perhaps even an outdoor kitchen or fireplace.
Collectively, these often represent tens of thousands of dollars.
Yet for many families, those spaces remain dependent on having the "right" weather before they're used.
Imagine spending that much creating a beautiful room inside your home, only to lock the door for half the year.
When viewed that way, it becomes clear that the challenge isn't the outdoor space itself.
It's its usability.
The Future of Home Design
Around the world, homes are increasingly being designed around connection—to family, to nature and to the spaces where everyday life happens.
Outdoor living is no longer a luxury reserved for large homes or high-end architecture.
It's becoming an expectation.
The most successful outdoor spaces aren't necessarily the biggest or the most elaborate.
They're the ones that invite people to use them, day after day, season after season.
Because ultimately, great design isn't measured by how something looks.
It's measured by how often it's lived in.
A Thought From Flexiroof
At Flexiroof, we believe weather should influence your view—not your lifestyle.
Our passion has always been helping New Zealanders create outdoor spaces that are beautiful, practical and genuinely enjoyable throughout the year.
Whether you're planning a new home, renovating an existing deck or simply thinking differently about how your family uses its outdoor space, one idea sits at the heart of it all:
The best outdoor room is the one you never have to think twice about using.
Looking Ahead
If outdoor living has become such an important part of modern homes, why do so many outdoor spaces still sit empty for much of the year?
Next week, we'll explore the hidden cost of underused decks—and why the real value of an outdoor space isn't measured in square metres, but in the moments it makes possible.
Author: Mike Gray – Flexiroof GM
