I truly believe that any garden is enhanced by an outdoor space. A simple seating group or even a dining area will allow you to enjoy your garden as much as you work in it. After all, having a place to spend more time on the fruits of your labor will only add to your overall enjoyment. Sure, the sweet smell and exciting sights of your flowers and plants as you walk down your garden path are certainly enchanting. But imagine sitting on it while reading a book, sharing a coffee with friends, while simply thinking about how much you love your garden!
However, as many people start creating an outdoor living room, they feel overwhelmed. Flipping through home and gardening magazines, it would seem that everyone should be an interior designer with years of experience and unlimited funds to create comfortable seating or dining areas. Is it possible to achieve a relaxed balance?
Actually, it is much simpler than you think. There are some simple planning tricks to keep your spaces even, without looking sterile. I’m here to convince you that anyone can!
start with the basics: Before considering which historic architect intends to exude your living space, try stepping back and thinking about the essentials. What do you want to get out of this space? A relaxed retreat just for you and maybe one other person? An outdoor dining area to share meals with large groups throughout the summer? Or are you looking for a more intimate setting to linger over tea and conversation? Identifying these types of expectations will allow you to add the details in a much more seamless manner. Remember to keep your purpose in mind throughout the process. As you choose each piece, ask yourself if it lends itself to your original intent. That way, your entire outdoor area will maintain a consistent feel.
Rustic or Refined: Once you’ve decided whether you’re creating a large family living room or a quiet, secluded oasis, you can consider the luxurious direction you’d like to take. Many people thrive in rustic, untreated wood environments. By using cedar outdoor furniture, you can enjoy the sweet scent of western red cedar while looking at the beauties of nature. The natural shine of the wood can reflect the perfect simplicity of a day in the garden. Of course, there’s also something to be said for the plush outdoor spaces outfitted with large sunshades, outdoor furniture cushions, pillows, and blankets; as well as exterior ceiling fans and even electric exterior lighting. Again, many of these decisions will relate to the first one. There’s no wow factor like a luxurious open-air room, but that also means you’re likely to spend a bit more money and add to the ongoing work required to maintain it. If you want to add a few amenities, but aren’t looking for over-the-top luxury, just add one or two things that are most useful to you. Hate still air? An outdoor ceiling fan will keep the breeze out. Worried about the sun? A brightly colored umbrella surrounded by more rustic furniture will create a wonderful space. Also try simple, no-frills outdoor furniture cushions to keep your rear end comfortable without adding unnecessary luxury (unless, of course, you want to!)
vary parts: While this probably applies more to outdoor living areas than outdoor dining spaces, it’s important not to get too bogged down in any one type of furniture. Create a dynamic area by grouping porch sliders with Adirondack chairs, garden benches with outdoor rocking chairs, and unexpected accent tables. Having lots of different pieces will not only create interest and start a conversation; it will also make it more comfortable for more people. Some people love relaxing in a chaise lounge, while for others, a porch swing is the height of relaxation. Cater to yourself, cater to your guests, and add as much variety in seating options as you can. Often you can get all different types of outdoor furniture with a common thread, such as a heart-shaped cutout in the back or a similar line in the legs.
add color: In addition to adding variety, the best way to make your living room or dining room reflect you and look fantastic is to add color. The ways to do this are almost endless. Some people choose to use their fabrics to create comfortable combinations of natural wood and coordinated colors. I would suggest having two or three colors in mind, before starting on the fabrics. Also remember not to go overboard with the patterns. Stripes on your outdoor furniture cushions, plaid pillows, a flowered throw, and a block-print patio umbrella are likely to be a bit overwhelming. A surefire strategy is to choose one area to highlight a pattern and keep everything else solid. Another great way to add color is to use paint. This will allow you to make a space wonderfully bright and unexpected, or you can simply use a well placed lime green accent table, to draw attention all around the space. Imagine a porch with white wicker outdoor furniture, with muted blue outdoor furniture cushions paired with a matching blue porch swing to the side. Color coordination will allow the entire porch to hold together as a living space. However, deciding on colors and pattern placements before starting the project will make some of those overwhelming choices easier. So think about which garden shades make you most excited to be in nature.
make it functional: Even the most luxurious outdoor living room can still be extremely functional. As I’m sure you’ve considered, designing a room completely exposed to the elements can create some decorative pitfalls. Two big pieces of advice I would give come directly to the tables. First, consider your tables! Whether you use multiple accent and end tables, or one large coffee table, think about how you’ll use it. I personally love outdoor tables that have a small bottom shelf. It gives me a place to hide magazines or even dirty dishes until I’m ready to go inside. Having a place to store your “stuff” and keeping the tables clear makes me feel a bit more at ease. But, if you’re someone who likes everything right where you can see it, you should look for nice big tables with room for all your outdoor helpers. You may also want to consider storage or deck boxes. Lots of really nice storage boxes and covers are available that can be used as a coffee or side table, or even just pushed out of the way to remain available for emergency extra seating. These can hold your pillows, blankets, even your furniture cushions. Of course, it can also contain board games, outdoor dishes, or anything else you’d like to keep outside, but do worry about its reaction to the harsh elements. Also, if you are looking for a dining area, remember that many outdoor dining sets are foldable. This will allow you to simply fold them up and store behind your back porch when not in use.
Good! I hope it has helped. Please don’t let another season go by without creating an outdoor seating area in or near your garden, simply because the task of decorating another space seems daunting. True, outdoor room design is a bit more complicated than indoor room because options and space constraints are unrestricted. Target, relax! Have fun, try different things, and develop a space that you are eager to use and enjoy while maintaining unity and adding variety.