From outdoor kitchens and televisions to plush, weather-resistant sectionals, Americans are taking the indoors to the backyard.

“The whole outdoor room phenomenon has snowballed over the last five years,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, spokeswoman for the American Home Furnishings Alliance. “It’s only been recently that the comfort of indoor furniture has come outside.”

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Jessica McGowan / AJC

Cindy and Rob Ruinen, shown with their 4-month-old daughter Olivia, created the living space they envisioned for their backyard.

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Jessica McGowan / AJC

The Ruinens’ backyard is an outdoor extension to the traditional comforts of home, and features a saltwater pool and outdoor cooking area.

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Jessica McGowan / AJC

The furniture in the covered living area of the Ruinens’ Buckhead home is by Authenteak. The retailer worked with the Ruinens in selecting teak and wicker arrangements suitable for the ‘clean and classy’ look the couple wanted.

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A survey by the organization revealed that 91 percent of homeowners have outdoor living spaces, while nearly 80 percent wished they had more time to enjoy them.

Hirschhaut believes the popularity of outdoor rooms is rising for two reasons: a slow housing market is driving up home renovation projects, and many Americans are simply too busy for regular vacations.

The result? People are looking for a taste of resort living at home, and are overhauling their backyards from kitchen to cushion to make it happen.

Clean, classy in Buckhead

Rob and Cindy Ruinen’s Buckhead backyard is such a vacation-inspired retreat. After buying the house in 2005, the couple teamed with landscape architect Graham Pittman and retailer Eric Brenner of Authenteak to create a “clean and classy” outdoor area that features a saltwater pool, outdoor kitchen and cozy living space.

Cindy Ruinen said she most enjoys the loggia — a three-sided room nestled within the home itself. Located between the master bedroom and kitchen, the space houses a Domus Designs teak dining table and Gloster seating area with deep black cushions. Next to the pool, the Ruinens selected Barlow Tyrie all-weather wicker chaise lounges and a teak and stainless steel dining set.

Pittman designed a folly at the head of the negative-edge saltwater pool. In this roof-topped space, Rob grills in the outdoor kitchen, complete with a built-in Viking grill and burner, ice maker, sink and refrigerator. Friends can relax and watch the flat-screen television (though not a weather-resistant TV), and enjoy the fireplace while resting on the Ruinens’ Whitecraft all-weather wicker sectional with thick cushions and velvet throw pillows.

Rob Ruinen said they wanted an outdoor kitchen and living area for the convenience, especially as the folly is located about 100 feet from the home.

“We like the convenience of being able to cook and grill and do everything out there in a living room fashion,” said Rob Ruinen, a regional vice president in the employee benefits industry.

High design

Brenner has seen the popularity of outdoor rooms drive a new design aesthetic in furniture. Gone are the thin seat pads that lined wicker or wrought iron settees. Today’s outdoor cushions are thick, durable, weather and stain resistant, and soft enough for indoors.

“Deep seating is driving the industry,” said Brenner, who opened Authenteak with business partner Damon Fogel in 2003. “Definitely people are looking for comfort, and synonymous with comfort is cushion.”

But the indoor-styled furniture took some getting used to, he added.

“There’s been a lot of ‘No way, that can’t go outside,’ ” he said. “Now people are comfortable with the fact that an outdoor sofa exists.”

Because Brenner and Fogel expect a growing number of families to build outdoor rooms, they recently began carrying weather-resistant televisions and high-end grills with their traditional teak, cast aluminum and woven all-weather wicker furniture.

Pittman said the bulk of his business is centered around outdoor living spaces, not just landscaping. A landscape architect for nearly 15 years, Pittman said the rise of outdoor rooms began about five years ago and usually centers around a pool.

In 2005 alone, nearly a third of the $150 billion spent on home remodeling went to outdoor living areas, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Pittman works with clients to determine how they want to use their space, whether to entertain, tan, garden or simply relax.

“With the rat race of life, the more we can do to draw people outside and away from computers, the better,” Pittman explained.

Rob and Cindy said their new backyard has changed the way they live, perfect timing as the couple recently had their first child.

“We definitely hang out more at home now,” Rob said. “Overall, we’re really happy with it.”