Designing an Outdoor Space: What Matters Most

Outdoor spaces should feel like a natural extension of the home; designed for gathering, relaxing, and slowing down. Thoughtful layouts, comfortable seating, layered lighting, and durable materials all come together to create spaces that feel effortless for everyday living and easy for entertaining. Read along for everything we consider when designing an outdoor space for gathering, lounging, and entertaining.

DESIGN IT LIKE AN EXTENSION OF YOUR HOME

The best outdoor spaces feel connected to the interiors - through color palette, materials, scale, and mood. Think of it as another “room,” not a separate zone. Outdoor furniture and finishes should feel intentional, not leftover. Avoid overly matchy patio sets or pieces that don’t reflect the home’s overall style.

PRIORITIZE COMFORT

Layer in upholstered seating, outdoor rugs, lighting, and shade to make the space feel inviting and lived in. Beautiful spaces still need to work. Make sure you consider sun exposure, wind, storage, traffic flow, and how the space will actually be used day to day.

MIX MATERIALS THOUGHTFULLY

Natural teak, stone, iron, linen textures, and greenery bring depth and warmth to an outdoor space, much like layered materials do indoors. Keeping the material palette cohesive and thoughtfully edited helps create a space that feels elevated rather than visually overwhelming. When designing outdoors, it’s important to balance beauty with longevity. Selecting durable materials and flexible layouts that can transition seamlessly through the seasons. While some finishes weather gracefully over time, others require more consistent upkeep, so choosing materials that align with the level of maintenance you realistically want to manage as a homeowner is key.

The following chart provides a side-by-side comparison of the strengths and disadvantages of common outdoor furniture materials.

INVEST IN LIGHTING

Layered lighting completely transforms an outdoor space at night; sconces, lanterns, landscape lighting, and candles all help create atmosphere. One harsh fixture can flatten the space. Outdoor lighting should feel soft, layered, and ambient.

This blog post features imagery from our Brady Project.

Everything You Need Thoughtfully Curated

Discover our curated collection of outdoor essentials in our ShopMy.