Make Your Outdoor Space Feel Like a Living Room
We’ll bring the tips, you bring the cocktails.
The best way to soak up every second of summer? Spend as much time as you can enjoying life al fresco. Extend the function of your outdoor living space by turning an everyday patio, porch, or deck into an open-air room that’s equally fit for reading a book in the sun or hosting friends by the fire pit. Here’s how to turn your backyard into a true extension of your home.
1. Lay a foundation.
Start your space with an outdoor rug, which will help define the boundaries of your room, set the decor scheme, and give feet a soft spot to land on.
2. Create privacy.
If your backyard shares a not-so-distant boundary with the neighbor’s house, hang all-weather drapery around the perimeter of your space to ensure that the only thing standing between you and privacy is the tug of a curtain. Choose drapery in colors that complement your area rug.
3. Light it right.
Lighting is a foundational element of interior design, and it’s equally important in the design of exterior areas, too. The right outdoor light fixture will allow your space to serve as a gathering spot well into the nighttime hours and help set the mood for evening events
4. Add a multipurpose piece.
A garden stool will add both form and function to the space. Use it as extra seating, a cocktail table or an ottoman in a pinch, or simply admire it as a decorative element.
5. Set a pretty scene.
Al fresco gatherings can exude as much flair as formal dinner parties thanks to the ever-growing availability of stylish, patio-friendly melamine dinnerware. Mix-and-match sets in varying prints and patterns to make the look your own.
6. Finish with plush details.
Like any space, it’s the finishing touches that tie everything together. Use throw pillows to add color, pattern, and personality (not to mention comfort) to your patio furniture.
