6 Outdoor Decorating Mistakes You Might Be Guilty Of, According to Designers

Decorating your outdoor space can be just as rewarding as sprucing up the inside of your home, if not better. With plenty of outdoor furniture trends circling around the design world, including indoor-outdoor furniture and warm color palettes, there’s an endless amount of inspiration to pull from.

However, with all of the outdoor design “do’s,” there are certainly some design “don’ts.” We spoke with design experts to find out the most common outdoor decorating mistakes people make.

Overlooking Lighting

Thoughtful lighting shouldn’t only be reserved for indoors—outdoor spaces can benefit from proper lighting, too.

Even though it’s commonly overlooked, outdoor lighting can easily elevate your backyard or patio. Lighting can give your outdoor space an ambient feel, make your space safer with well-lit pathways and stairs, and extend its use.

“With the right lighting setup, you can extend the usability of your outdoor space well into the evening, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor area long after the sun has set,” Ilaria Barion, owner and CEO of Barion Design, says.

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Only Thinking About Furniture

Outdoor seating can be one of the best parts of an outdoor space, but a common mistake is only considering furniture when decorating.

According to Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla, it’s important to think beyond just furniture and consider personality, decor, different textures, and color.

“When clients come to me and tell me how they envision their outdoor space, furniture is all they mention, and as soon as I picture that in my head it just seems dull and boring,” Shaffer says. “Hence the importance of adding other layers that give life and vitality to the area.”

Decorating the Indoors and Outdoors Separately

Even though the outdoors and indoors are separated, it doesn’t mean you have to take a different approach to decorating them.

According to Andrei Newman, founder of Designer Home Spas, not seeing your outdoor space as an extension of your home can disrupt the overall flow and design between the indoors and outdoors.

While the design doesn’t have to be exactly the same, using common themes like color palettes and similar styles can make the entirety of your home feel more cohesive.

Prioritizing Design Over Comfort and Functionality

One of the most common outdoor decorating mistakes is choosing design and style over comfort and functionality, according to Newman and Shaffer.

Even though it can be tempting to recreate an outdoor space you saw online, it’s important to be mindful of how much space you have and if it’s something you’ll get to enjoy. 

Design Tip

Don’t forget to prioritize cozy seating if you plan to lounge or host outdoors, shade for sunny days, and enough lighting if you’ll be using your outdoor space at night, Newman says.

Not Using Plants

Overlooking greenery is another common outdoor decorating mistake. While lawns can look amazing, Shaffer says that many people don’t take advantage of greenery as nature’s decor. Whether you add plants or flowers, they’re the perfect way to dress up any outdoor space.

Overcrowding Spaces

Overcrowding outdoor spaces is another mistake that Newman sees a lot when people decorate their outdoor spaces. It can happen with small and large areas, whether a small patio that can only fit a bistro set or a larger area packed with outdoor furniture, decor, and plants.

Read Next: 7 Landscaping Mistakes You Should Avoid Making, According to Experts

Read the original article on The Spruce.