Decorating & Design
From The Archives: The Best Outdoor Living Rooms
Updated on May 7, 2025
Designing a stylish and functional open air living room is key to maximum enjoyment of your home’s outdoor space. 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. Take a look back at some of our favourite 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 in this Montreal backyard. “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 colour, 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.
The metal tray-table is smartly placed in this Toronto backyard, offering a convenient outdoor coffee table solution that will make clean up and entertaining a breeze.
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.