Want to turn your backyard into the ultimate outdoor living room? Whether you have a small or large backyard, designing the perfect outdoor entertainment area doesn’t have to be complicated. Check out these 20 ideas for creating the perfect outdoor living space!
Plan Your Outdoor Living Room Layout
Before purchasing furniture or decorating your outdoor living space, start by planning the layout. Treat your patio or deck as an extension of your home, considering how people will move through and gather in the space. Define areas for lounging, dining, and entertaining with rugs, planters, or pallet walls. Arrange seating around focal points such as a fire pit or dining table, and ensure there’s ample room for foot traffic. For smaller spaces, consider modular or multifunctional furniture with hidden storage. And don’t forget to account for sun exposure, shade, and wind when determining the placement of furniture and other outdoor features.
Upgrade Your Patio Flooring
The flooring beneath your outdoor furniture plays a key role in the overall look, feel, and functionality of your space. If your current patio or yard feels unfinished, updating the ground surface can instantly elevate the design while creating a more practical foundation for furniture. Popular outdoor flooring options include stone pavers, brick, polished concrete, gravel, wood or composite decking, artificial grass, and patterned tile. For added visual interest and balance, consider combining hardscape materials with greenery.
Opt for a Covered Outdoor Living Space
A covered outdoor living room is the perfect spot to host a backyard BBQ or relax and unwind after a long day. Putting your outdoor living area under a gazebo or pergola is a great way to protect your guests from rain and sun, so you can keep the party going no matter the weather. Love the summer air, but hate the buzz of mosquitoes? Keep bugs out of your covered porch or deck with easy-to-install screens.
Get Some Shade
There are other ways to catch a break from the sun besides adding a pergola or gazebo to your outdoor space. By installing a retractable awning on your uncovered deck, you always have the option of either letting in the sun or staying in the shade. Or, for an affordable or renter-friendly option, simply place outdoor umbrellas over your tables and chairs. Lightweight umbrellas are also perfect as movable sunshades for hosting parties or for those with backyard pools. Plus, while outdoor curtains can help you get out of the sun, they offer a bit of privacy, too.
Invest in Durable Outdoor Furniture
For the ultimate outdoor living space, invest in durable outdoor furniture or take the time to properly store patio furniture. While you don’t necessarily need to have weatherproof furniture, water and sun-protected cushions can help your pieces last longer. Opt for tables and chairs made from powder-coated aluminum, wrought iron, rattan, cedar, or recycled plastic—among the best materials for outdoor furniture since they resist sun, rain, and changing temperatures. Have indoor seating that you want to put outside? Simply weatherproof the furniture before moving it to your outdoor living room.
Provide Ample Seating with Outdoor Benches
Looking to add more seating options to your outdoor living room? DIY an outdoor bench! Not only do outdoor benches give your guests more space to lounge, but they can also double as extra storage for cushions, throws, and outdoor essentials. To achieve a modern feel in your outdoor space, place long, wooden benches on your patio or a matte black iron bench on your deck. Or use rattan furniture to finish off a boho-themed outdoor living space.
Maximize Space with Hanging Furniture
If you’re in an apartment with a small outdoor living area, hanging furniture can provide plenty of outdoor seating without sacrificing space. Egg chairs and porch swings with stands are great temporary options for renters, while hanging daybeds are more permanent because they need to be anchored. You can make your own hanging chair out of a drop cloth and rope, or choose a traditional hammock. To complete this relaxation spot, include accent pillows and blankets so you stay comfortable while reading a book or taking a nap outside.
Kick Back in a Chaise Lounge or Outdoor Bed
For summer naps outdoors, chaise lounges or outdoor beds are essential to any outdoor living room. Reclining chaise loungers are perfect for poolside relaxation and tanning. Make your chaise extra comfortable by adding waterproof cushions that match the rest of your outdoor decor. For more privacy or shade, you might try a bamboo bed with a canopy or a pop-up tent bed. Or, if curling up next to your partner beneath the stars sounds better, invest in a Bali-style canopy bed!
Roll Out a Weatherproof Rug
Trying to transform your backyard on a budget? Pull your outdoor area together with a weatherproof rug. An outdoor rug is a great way to incorporate color or make an impact with eye-catching designs without breaking the bank. Along with making your outdoor living room feel cozier, an area rug can help you avoid burning your feet on hot decks or dark surfaces. Plus, outdoor rugs are designed to be durable and resistant to dirt, dust, and mud to keep your outdoor floors looking new.
Add Accent Tables
Accent tables provide a place to set beverages, snacks, and other items in your outdoor living room. Consider small, lightweight tables that are easy to move around while entertaining. To save space on a balcony, opt for nesting tables that can be stacked when not in use. For an inexpensive DIY option, build an outdoor coffee table from cedar boards and use your favorite stain. Or, if you have a small outdoor living area, consider building a crate for storing drinks during a backyard BBQ. Complete the look with fun outdoor decorations on your end tables, like candles, succulents, or freshly planted flowers!
Install Open Shelving
Just like an indoor living room, you can use decor to bring character to an outdoor living space. Use open shelving to display outdoor decorations, elevate plants, or keep essentials organized. When deciding on the type of shelving to use, choose metal for easy cleaning and a sleek, modern finish, or go with wood for a more rustic look. Whether you choose an A-frame shelf, ladder, or floating shelves of varying lengths, open shelving can elevate any outdoor living room.
Warm Up with an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
A wood-burning or gas fireplace is ideal for cool summer nights and fall bonfires with friends. If you still want to roast s’mores but don’t care for fireplaces, install or DIY a fire pit instead! There are plenty of affordable fire pits on the market that can add value to your home. Don’t have enough room for a real fireplace, but want to create the look of one for a cozy feel? DIY a faux fireplace instead.
Or Fire Up Outdoor Space Heaters
If you don’t want to commit to an outdoor fireplace or a backyard fire pit, outdoor space heaters are a great addition to your space that will allow you to use your outdoor living room year-round. You can either place a standing heater around your entertaining space, gazebo, or pergola, or you can hang heaters on your covered deck or porch. Whichever you decide, you’ll be able to provide a comfortable environment for your guests any time—just be sure to carefully read and follow all instructions for your safety.
Stay Cool with Outdoor Fans
During the summer months, keep your outdoor living area cool by adding an outdoor fan. Installing ceiling fans in a covered outdoor living space is great for controlling the breeze and eliminating unattractive extension cords. Alternatively, you can set up a portable fan if you don’t have room to mount a ceiling fan, or if your outdoor living room is open.
Create an Outdoor Entertainment Center
Whether you’re looking to host the next tailgate or put on a movie night, make your outdoor living room an epic entertainment destination! Create a focal point for your outdoor entertainment center by hanging a flatscreen TV on the wall or setting up a projector to watch a film or the big game. Install a sound system and wireless speakers to complete the perfect entertaining space.
Add an Outdoor Game Space
Challenge your friends to a game tournament! To go along with your outdoor entertainment center, add outdoor games like a pool table, shuffleboard, foosball, table tennis, and more. Or set up a chessboard, giant Jenga, and cornhole. You can even install a putting green to work on your short game. A gaming center makes your outdoor living room the go-to hangout spot, whether you’re hosting a BBQ in your outdoor kitchen or watching a sports game on TV.
Define Your Space with a Privacy Wall
Whether you have a large or small outdoor space, consider installing a pallet wall to add privacy to your outdoor living room. Pallet walls can also be used to hang planters or decorative lanterns to brighten up your space. To create a more intimate setting for an outdoor party, put up temporary outdoor privacy walls like a sun shade or room divider. Or opt for a sustainable backyard solution and try bamboo or a green wall.
Incorporate Plants & Greenery
Vibrant plants and greenery are a must for your outdoor living area, especially for grassless backyards! Privacy hedges or plant walls with hardy succulents and vines can define outdoor zones while adding color, texture, and privacy. Incorporate potted flowers along walkways or on tables for an extra touch of charm. Or maximize space in a small yard by creating your own urban garden using vertical or hanging planters. Whichever way you go, just be sure to choose plants that are well-suited to your climate.
Make a Statement with a Water Feature
Enhance your outdoor oasis with a backyard water feature. A pond or traditional fountain can add beauty and tranquility to the space. If you get nice weather year-round, your backyard pond could feature koi fish, lily pads, or frogs. Trying to attract birds? Place a birdbath nearby. You can even add privacy with a water wall. Or go big by wrapping a small stream around your yard.
Set the Mood with Outdoor Lighting
Want to brighten up your space with outdoor lighting? Hang string lights from trees, along a pallet wall, or under a pergola for gorgeous nighttime lighting. Another great way to light your outdoor living space is to hang colorful lanterns and candles to give your space a cozy feel. As an energy-efficient backyard idea, consider installing solar lights. Lining your deck steps with outdoor lights can give your backyard a more finished look while making it safer to navigate after dark. And don’t be afraid to mix different types of lighting throughout your outdoor space—layered lighting can add warmth and enhance the overall ambiance.
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