Decorating & Design
From The Archives: The Best Outdoor Living Rooms
Updated on June 12, 2024
Designing an outdoor living room is key to maximum summer enjoyment. Whether you have a petite balcony or spacious patio, a thoughtfully designed outdoor living space will motivate you to get outside in the warmer months — and even into the shoulder seasons. “We’re outside from June to September. Our outdoor sanctuary brings us a lot of joy. It’s where we host friends and family, and it’s such a calming space to have in our everyday life,” says designer Michelle Hurley of her recently reimagined backyard. Take a look back at some of our favorite outdoor living rooms from the H&H archives below.
On the lower level of this Muskoka boathouse, designer Anne Hepfer added a cozy covered seating nook, then installed pocket windows into the bar around the corner so it’s easy to serve a crowd right on the dock. “It’s like an outdoor living room,” says Anne. “You’re protected from the sun and, even if it’s raining, you can still be near the water.” A built-in sectional (with a porthole-esque mirror just above) maximizes seating and provides 180-degree views of the water. “You can lie on the banquette and take a nap, or pack people onto it for cocktails.”
It’s the 1,300-square-foot terrace that’s truly unique to this condo belonging to designers Curtis Elmy and Trevor Ciona. “Outdoor condo space like this just doesn’t exist in Saskatoon,” says Curtis. “We have so much privacy up here. At night, we sit around the fire with music and nobody can hear us. It’s like an oasis in the middle of the city.”
In this outdoor living room designed by Michelle Hurley, a classic conversation set gets an upgrade with custom cushions, a zebra-print rug and a striking concrete fireplace that doubles as a pizza oven.
This outdoor living space has zones for cooking, dining and lounging. “I wanted the interior of the house and the backyard to have a seamless connection, so there are massive lift-and-slide doors that open up as well,” says landscape designer George Coito.
This outdoor space offers everything a traditional living room would, including a sectional sofa, two accent chairs, side tables and suspension lighting.
This cabana has ipê wood slats that gives this garden a tropical holiday feel. “The wood connects the cabana to the deck near the house for an indoor-outdoor feel. At night, the cabana lighting is very subtle, and with all the lush greenery around it, it feels like you’re on vacation,” says landscape designer Leigh Gravenor.
Landscape architect Sophie Robitaille designed this terrace like a loft, defining each zone so it has a natural, organized flow. The lounge area is as inviting as an outfitted living room.
In place of an ottoman, a gas Corten steel fire feature is set on natural black slate stones. “I’ve sat at the fire table on November mornings with a latte and a throw, but it also brings an ambience on a summer evening and really adds to the yard,” says homeowner Teresa Mihalik.
Outdoor living rooms are a fun excuse to play with color, as seen in this vibrant space that features pink and blue accent tables, a fire table and pink cushions.
A mix of hanging lanterns and striped cushions bring instant summer style to this lounge space. The gas fire feature provides warmth and ambience, and doubles as a coffee table when not in use.
For a relaxed and lived-in feel, consider bringing in cushions from your indoor living spaces for the summer. A metal tray-table is a convenient outdoor coffee table solution that will make clean up and entertaining a breeze.
“When summer comes, we never use the living room; we read, cook, entertain and listen to music in the backyard. We’re outdoor people,” says film and TV executive Jennifer Stewart.
If you’re looking for decorating ideas for your outdoor terrace, takes cues from this rooftop that features a cabana-style lounge space with sleek white furniture and a pergola to match.
Instead of a coffee table in her outdoor lounge, landscape designer Meredyth Hilton opted for the ultimate conversation piece: a vintage stone trough planted with herbs and ivy.
Make your outdoor living space feel like a Miami resort with tropical plants, low-profile seating and white cushions.
If your outdoor living space is open to the elements, consider waterproof furniture. “Waterproof fabrics and stainless steel framing are really low-maintenance,” says designer Wendy Berger. A contemporary oversized umbrella adds dimension to the space.
On the other hand, if your outdoor living room has coverage, consider making it an entertainment zone with a television and fireplace. You can hire the team at tvmounting.us as they are highly trained and experienced in all aspects of TV mounting service, from demounting and remounting to final TV installation.
This boho-style lounge set feels like a natural extension of the backyard shed. Shibori-style pillows give it a laidback Cali-inspired look.
In lieu of traditional outdoor lounge furniture, designer Michelle Lloyd Bermann used a mix of indoor-outdoor furniture and a futon-style sofa with cushions for a backrest.