17 Outdoor Living Spaces to Inspire Patio, Deck, or Yard Updates
Whether you have a tight budget or are ready to splurge on a significant upgrade, we have outdoor living spaces with ideas that can transform your deck, patio, porch, or yard. Make your favorite warm-weather spot more inviting and comfortable with one or more of our design tips.
Related: 7 Ways to Upgrade Your Outdoor Living Space to Accommodate All Seasons
Create Levels
A multilevel outdoor living space will provide more options for creating separate areas to entertain, dine, and relax. Here, rustic metal steps connect each level to give the naturally elegant space an industrial touch.
Related: Meditative Spaces and the Art of Outdoor Living
Hang Unique Lighting
Add interest overhead and extend your outdoor space's usable hours by hanging pendants over the dining table. Here, woven pendants designed by Dave and Jenny Marrs for Better Homes and Gardens (from $47, Walmart) in different sizes and hung at varying levels provide a fun focal point in this neutral outdoor living space. Powered by solar energy, each pendant will add warm light for up to eight hours—perfect for late-night summer dinners.
Related: Dave and Jenny Marrs Reveal the Inspiration Behind Their Better Homes & Gardens Collection
Put Up a Pergola
Define outdoor living spaces with a pergola. Here, it makes the dining area cozier for guests, and the overhead covering provides welcome shade on hot, sunny days. Hang a few lights from the pergola for a finished look that lets you continue using the space after the sun sets.
Make the Fireplace a Focal Point
This massive fireplace offers a stunning focal point in this outdoor living space, serving as one of two support walls for three large beams that mimic a ceiling. An assortment of seating options—a dining table, bar stools, and chairs for cozying up next to the fireplace—make this the perfect entertainment spot. Add decorative planters filled with flowering plants for pops of bright summer colors.
Add a Stylish Privacy Wall
One key to any successful outdoor space is privacy. Here, a wooden wall serves double duty—offering seclusion and acting as an attractive backsplash for the outdoor kitchen. Lush plantings pick up the privacy where the wall leaves off.
Add a Fresh Twist on a Pergola
This outdoor living space adds a stand-out style with a bright white pergola. Rather than running all the beams in one direction, arranging them in a crisscross pattern adds interest overhead. Dark wicker furniture with colorful fabrics provides plenty of contrast.
Include a Spot to Swing
Outdoor living spaces benefit from lots of cozy seating. This oversized swing from our Better Homes and Gardens collection ($397, Walmart) is the perfect spot to curl up with a good book or relax and enjoy the beautiful flower garden. Add cozy outdoor throw pillows in various coordinating designs to create the ultimate warm-weather reading nook.
Related: How to Install a Hanging Chair for Retro-Style Seating
Go Bold with Color
Add a unique flair with like in this outdoor living space—choose a bold color for your furniture. On a budget? It's amazing what a can of spray paint will do for old, rusty furniture. The cheery orange used on this outdoor furniture is also found inside, helping connect indoor and outdoor spaces.
Enhance a Rustic Retreat
Install a flagstone patio or walk for an outdoor space with rustic, natural beauty. This home features a stone facade similar to the irregular stones used on the patio—connecting the house to its surroundings. Abundant plants dotted with bright, colorful flowers line both sides of the patio.
Related: 13 Rustic Arbor Ideas to Add Romantic Charm to Your Garden
Install a Fountain
A successful outdoor space takes into consideration all the senses, including sound. And no sound is more relaxing than moving water. An elegant fountain is an outdoor living space idea that uses one simple stream of water to create the perfect focal point for this small, sunken area.
Related: 19 Gorgeous Garden Fountain Ideas to Add to Your Yard
Hang a Hammock
There's nothing quite like taking a Sunday afternoon nap in your backyard hammock. Don't worry if you don't have two perfectly spaced trees to hang one from. Instead, attach the hammock to a pergola like these homeowners did and still benefit from the shade the pergola provides. A hammock stand is another option.
Heat Things Up
A heating element hung from the pergola is a great outdoor living space idea that extends the seasonality of this space. Soft furniture and colorful throw pillows make it an even cozier relaxing spot. A few steps away, full-length glass doors and windows connect indoor and outdoor spaces.
Use Indoor Inspiration
When considering outdoor living space ideas, look at what you love about your indoor spaces and apply the same concepts. Here, a bright painting on the wall, matching throw pillows, cushioned furniture, and a beverage cart add comfort and convenience while giving a nod to indoor living.
Related: 16 Cheers-Worthy Outdoor Bar Ideas
Install a Gated Entry
If you want to separate your outdoor space from your driveway or a street but maintain accessibility, consider a gated arbor. These homeowners opted for a shorter, curved-top gate to create separation without blocking views. A mix of bright whites and cool grays gives the space an elegant and sophisticated look.
Related: 15 Gated Arbor Ideas for a Beautiful Garden Entrance
Cover Up Overhead
A solid roof is a functional outdoor living space idea for protecting visitors from rain and other elements. It allows the homeowners to have comfy fabric-covered sofas outside. Like a painting on the wall, the structure supporting the roof frames the beautiful view of the pool and trees.
Related: These Gorgeous Outdoor Spaces Are Both Serene and Functional
Add Style Underfoot
A patterned area rug, like this one featuring braided white stripes from our Better Homes and Gardens collection ($78-$149, Walmart), is a quick and easy way to give an outdoor living space an updated look. Stylish and practical indoor-outdoor rugs made of fade- and mildew-resistant materials are high impact with low maintenance.
Related: 22 Creative Porch Updates for a One-of-a-Kind Outdoor Room
Include Pillows for Pattern and Color
Brightening an outdoor living space can be as easy as swapping out throw pillows. Here, bamboo chairs and a sofa featuring bright white cushions are accented with mismatched pillows featuring playful, seasonal patterns.
Related: How to Properly Store and Winterize Outdoor Furniture
Get More Outdoor Living Space Inspiration
To make the most out of limited room, check out these small patio ideas, including furniture suggestions and how to use color to make the space feel larger. Add lighting to your backyard to take advantage of warm evenings. For budget-friendly upgrades, use our list to keep from spending too much while still adding style and usability to your outdoor living space.
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