How to Bring Style and Comfort to Your Outdoor Living Area

Your outdoor area isn’t just extra space but a place you can design to make it an extension of your home. Whether it’s a garden, patio, balcony, or rooftop terrace, you can make it a personal space where you can relax, read a book, or socialise with friends.

However, you need to do so in a way that makes it feel intentional, striking the right balance between aesthetics, comfort, and practicality. If you want to make it feel as stylish and comfortable as the rest of your home, here’s a guide for you.

Start with Comfortable Seating, with Durability in Mind

The comfort of your outdoor space starts with good seating. If it’s not comfortable, you won’t want to spend much time there. However, since it’s outdoors, you’ll also need to balance this with durability, as the furniture will be exposed to different weather elements.

Look for materials that can resist water and UV to avoid damage. A good option for outdoor setups is garden tables and chairs as they are designed for outdoors and can withstand all types of weather elements. These may scream practicality and durability more than comfort, but brands like Lazy Susan offer comfy cushions that go with outdoor seats.

Add Layers of Lighting

Lighting plays a huge role in creating an atmosphere, so you need to use it to make your outdoor space feel warm, inviting, and usable after dark. The best way to do that is to have different types of lighting.

Start with areas that need clear visibility, such as the pathways or steps. You should also have the main lights, which can provide clear lighting when you need it. These can be wall-mounted sconces, sunken deck lights.

From there, add some lights that can create ambience, such as string lights and LED candles. These will give you a softer glow and allow you to relax after dark.

Incorporate Greenery for a Natural Touch

Of course, your outdoor space should feel different from the house. Plants are the perfect way to achieve this, and they actually have a way of making any outdoor space feel more inviting. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a garden or a balcony, there are plants that can fit your space and lifestyle.

Potted plants are a great starting point if you are not much of a gardener or don’t have a lot of space. You can mix large statement pots with small ones to give your space some depth and variety. If you want to make it feel more like a garden, you can add some tall grasses or climbing plants. And if you are a plant guy and want to take it further, you can create a vertical garden or a living wall to create a unique feature for your outdoor space.

Add Soft Touches for Comfort and Aesthetics

While it’s different from your living area, a few touches will turn it from being just functional to a space you and your guests actually want to spend time in. For this, draw from your home décor skills to add some accessories or a few decorative elements that help bring out your personality while also making the space more livable.

You can start with weather-resistant cushions and throws for your chairs when choosing the furniture. But beyond that, you can add outdoor rugs to define different zones and soften hard spaces. If you don’t want to do much with decorative elements, you can add a statement piece like a sculptural fire pit.

Make It Functional Year-Round

Your outdoor area shouldn’t only be usable in perfect weather or during the summer. With a few smart additions, you can create an area that allows you to relax outdoors at any time of the year.

The starting point is a shelter. Here, you can create a pergola, a retractable awning, or even a simple shade sail to give you relief from the sun's heat and offer some protection in the event of unexpected rain. A fire pit creates a focal point for social gatherings while keeping you warm in the eveningsEnsure all other items are made from all-weather materials, and this will let you enjoy the space in any season.

Photo by Sonnie Hiles on Unsplash