Decorating & Design 10 Min Read

Outdoor Design Ideas From House & Home

By Wendy Jacob + Talia Hart On April 21st, 2022

If your green spaces aren’t looking their best and need an update, there are so many ways to elevate gardens, terraces and backyards.

From small tweaks to big-impact changes, take your yard from drab to dreamy with outdoor design ideas plucked from the most stunning outdoor spaces in the House & Home archives. Whether your outdoor spaces are compact or you’re lucky enough to have loads of space, these ideas will help with entertaining, relaxing, and gardening. Keep scrolling to get inspired.

Fire Up A Pizza Oven

In this Vancouver backyard, a pizza oven is a central part of this outdoor ktichen. Homeowner Ali Hakimzadeh insisted the luxe pizza oven serve as centerpiece for the outdoor kitchen. “That’s my husband’s beauty; he’s in love with that oven,” says Sherry Hakimzadeh (pictured).

Warm Up With A Double-Sided Fireplace

Julia Francisco’s backyard is perched on Toronto’s Scarborough Bluffs, a picturesque lake setting that she makes the most of. The guesthouse/workspace overlooks a pool and is outfitted with an indoor/outdoor fireplace to warm both the interior and patio at night, while delivering a seamless look.

Consider A Convertible Cold Plunge Tub

In the West Coast home of former NHL goalie Carey Price, a stainless steel cold-plunge pool that converts into a hot tub is located near the gym.

Try A Chicken Coop

Designer Lisa Moody created the most picturesque chicken coop for her flock. It backs on to her greenhouse so this structure is doing a lot of heavy lifting. She plumbed an sink on the back of the coop to make it easier to water the chickens and keep the coop clean.

Carve Out A Cocktail Area

On this deck, homeowner Michelle Hurley carves out a petite area on her deck located just off the kitchen to enjoy a sunset cocktail, or morning coffee. Located away from the outdoor lounge and dining area, this space feels private and intimate.

Use Fabric To Switch Things Up

Give outdoor furniture a fresh look with a new tablecloth, or casually drape a fabric over a sofa for an impromptu slipcover.

Add Raised Beds

In her Vancouver ranch-style home, designer Rosie Daykin tends to her lush walled-in garden with raised beds bursting with veggies. Painting the walls in one consistent hue, including the 10-foot chicken coop and hardscaping, unifies the space.

Add A Greenhouse

“A greenhouse allows me to start sowing earlier and grow plants like lettuce and herbs all the way through the winter,” says the owner of this greenhouse, Lisa Moody. “It’s ideal for Canada because it expands the growing season and delivers better results. As long as you invest in a good foundation for your greenhouse, it’s not outrageously expensive and, in a Canadian climate, it’s a great addition.”

Revisit The Old-School Picnic Table

There’s something so comforting about gathering around a picnic table flanked by benches, which can accommodate a crowd (especially a gaggle of small kids). This easy, democratic design is ideal for casual dining with the family and suits the relaxed vibe of Angela Wheeler’s Kawartha’s cottage.

Grow Your Own Herbs & Veggies

Herb and vegetable gardens aren’t just sustainable; they’re beautiful too. Seasonal vegetables, like this Blushed Butter Oak lettuce, can easily sub in for fancy flower arrangements. Plus, you’ll love the convenience of picking fresh herbs or veggies for dressings, garnishes or salads.

Invest In Walkways and Pathways

In Sarah Keenleyside’s Toronto backyard, she laid herringbone bricks in a keyhole shape to accommodate a fire feature and built-in seating area. The result is personal and functional.

Switch Up Pillows and Accessories

If you already have a great conversation set, switching up your pillows and accessories every couple of seasons will breathe new life into your outdoor hangouts. For pillows and throws, mix and match patterns, colours and fabrics for a layered look. Add lanterns and potted plants to the mix and pour yourself a glass of rosé for a job well done!

Seek Out Pretty Umbrellas

Shade is necessary to keep things comfortable, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fold in some whimsey. In this outdoor oasis, blue and white stripes add a party feel.

Hang A Cool Chair

This cottage boathouse is enlivened by a cocoon-like hanging chair, the ideal spot to enjoy the lake breezes.

Pretty Your Potting Station

The custom-designed potting bench has a sunken galvanized trough (below trowel) filled with potting soil. Keep things orderly by using a pegboard with dedicated spots for hanging tools.

Boost Curb Appeal With A Black & White Exterior

There’s something so enduring about a black and white scheme: it recalls old Hollywood glamour as well as a gracious, European look. This terrace is reminiscent of a European-style courtyard, with it’s striped awning, black window frames, and crisp white brick and patio furniture.

Create A Mini Kitchebn Garden

When garden beds are at a premium, you can still plant a kitchen garden full of herbs with a variety of pots. A grouping of plants in Les Ensembliers’ garden is arrayed on a metal potting stand where they can be conveniently brought inside over winter.

Hang A Boho Hammock

Lull yourself into vacation mode with a hammock nestled between two trees. Or buy a standalone version, it’s the perfect spot to read a book or grab a summer nap while swaying in the breeze.

Use Dark Paint

Black recedes, so painting hardscaped elements like fences, or using black stone, puts the focus on pretty elements like white impatiens or hydrangeas, or a sparkling pool.

Create A BBQ Hut

Owner Tanya Linton turned a cottage pergola into a dedicated southern-style BBQ restaurant for her family, complete with a custom neon sign. The hut houses a smoker from North Carolina.

…And Don’t Forget The Bar!

At one end, a simple counter gives the family a place to set up a poolside bar or eat a quick lunch fresh off the grill. Strung with lights and accented by lanterns, the bar creates a true “vacay at a beach hotel” vibe.

Espalier Trees

This city garden is screened from its neighbors by a row of trees that have been ‘espaliered,’ which means training and pruning the branches to grow horizontally in an orderly fashion. The branches lend privacy but allow dappled sunlight to shine through the leaves.

Roll Out an All-weather Rug

Add graphic pattern and texture to your patio in a flash with durable — and often affordable — polypropylene rugs. In Michelle Hurley’s backyard, a funky zebra-shaped rug is colourful and grounds neutral furniture.

Add A Fire Bowl

Dancing flames liven up any backyard gathering and create a focal point. Since there are no sharp edges in this democratic design, everyone seated around it gets a great view.

Define Outdoor Rooms

Memories of Italy inspired this Montreal homeowner to rethink his terrace. To recreate the effect of enjoying an al fresco lunch among the cypresses and citrus trees in Tuscany, a pergola sheds dappled sunlight on the dining area, set on finely crushed stones, while the lounge area is as impeccably outfitted as any indoor space.

Rethink Artificial Turf

Commercial lawn replacements allow for a ton of creativity — without the maintenance. In this 2019 Princess Margaret Showhome by Brian Gluckstein, he creates an eye-catching artificial turf inlay in the walkway leading to the garden’s pergola-covered lounge area — no mowing or watering required.

Invest In Hotel-Worthy Loungers

The pair of luxe loungers in this cottage have a sharp, graphic look and the pale upholstery is accented by lumbar toss pillows in shades that reflect the chaise longues’ palette. They flank a small table to set drinks, sunscreen, or the latest bestseller.

Add A Statement Tree

A hydrangea standard adds height to the garden beds in this relaxed outdoor lounge, so the flowers are eye level. White blooms look especially fresh when contrasted by dark Muskoka chairs.

Make Comfort A Priority

Outdoor furniture needs to stand up to harsh elements, but don’t let the sun set early on a party because of rigid backs or scratchy surfaces. Designer Connie Braemer created a comfortable haven in client’s Toronto backyard with a cushy sofa and sink-into, supportive armchairs that envelop guests.

Add Mirrors

In compact spaces, like this condo balcony, mirrors perform a neat magic trick and seem to double the depth. Mirorred doors in the wood pergola are easy to wipe. “The mirrors create a reflected view of plantings, enhancing the green feeling that is so important on a terrace,” says landscape designer Meredyth Hilton.

Lay Graphic Tile

In this pool cabana, designer and homeowner Erin Feasby, hex tiles in three different shades stand up to wet feet and give a cool, graphic effect underfoot.

Make Room for Play

Whether your game is bocce, volleyball or horseshoes, you won’t regret designing a designated games area — especially if you’re a frequent entertainer. Games draw all ages together and create some lively rivalries by stringing up a net, ping pong table, or bust out the croquet set. There’s is no better way to enjoy your garden than engaging with friends in the fresh air.

Add An Outdoor Kitchen

In this oceanfront home in West Vancouver, this well-equipped outdoor kitchen includes an impressive pizza oven, sink, wine fridge and convertible barbecue. The covered space also includes a dining area that’s conveniently located near the appliances, plus a fire feature.

Repurpose The Garage

Garages are a resale asset, so we don’t suggest doing away with one entirely, but if you’re one of the urbanites weaned off your wheels by Zipcar, Uber, ride-sharing apps or a bike, why not convert a garage into a lounge you will use every day? In this Toronto backyard, the driveway and garage, which can be closed off thanks to a 20-foot sliding glass accordion door, become usable, picturesque spaces for entertaining and relaxing.

Add An Outdoor Shower

A refreshing addition to a tropical home or lakeside cottage, an outdoor shower is also practical, keeping sand out of living spaces. Add wooden seating and potted plants for a super luxe effect.

Use Bamboo

A bamboo roof was added to this custom cedar pergola. “A custom cedar pergola with a bamboo roof is the perfect place to sip afternoon tea. “Bamboo is very inexpensive and provides about 90 per cent shade, letting in just enough light so you still feel like you’re outside,” says landscape designer Meredyth Hilton.

Cultivate A Wall of Ivy

Ivy never fails to lend a rich look to outdoor spaces, as demonstrated by the lush wall in René and Priscilla Wikkerink’s garden. Our advice to keep this robust plant under control? Opt for self-clinging ivy (such as Virginia Creeper or the Boston Ivy shown here), encourage it to grow up a fence or trellis (as opposed to a brick wall), and prune it regularly.