Create Your Perfect Outdoor Space
No matter the size of your outdoor space, you can turn it into an inviting area that you’ll enjoy year-round. You’ll find that it doesn’t take much to declutter your patio and maximize your outdoor space.
Pick a Theme
Your outdoor space should be a reflection of your taste. Picking a theme helps streamline your design options. Whether you're inspired by a Japanese garden with bamboo fences and evergreens or a cottage garden with wildflowers and cobblestone fire pits, it's all about making your outdoor space feel like a personal escape. Even a tiny balcony can embrace these themes by adjusting the greenery and furniture to fit the scale.
Divide Your Outdoor Space into Sections
Think of your outdoor space as multiple sections rather than a single unit. Dividing the area into sections makes it more functional. Carving out separate seating and dining areas can enhance usability. Benches are versatile for seating, accent tables, or even ottomans and are great for displaying planters and candles.
Incorporate Greenery into Your Outdoor Space
Using weather-friendly materials, fabrics, and furnishings designed to last is important, but a touch of greenery can instantly transform your outdoor space—no matter its size. Banana leaf trees and orchids can add a touch of nature, and high-design planters are a creative way to showcase your style.
Invite More Colors with Accessories
You can introduce color through accessories, even if you don’t have many walls for colorful elements. Patterned throw pillows that match your indoor color scheme can make your outdoor areas appear larger and more cohesive. Adding a water feature like a koi pond or waterfall can create a serene atmosphere with calming sounds.
Use the Seasons as Inspiration
Add pops of color in outdoor chairs, floral arrangements, and decor. For spring, bright colors inspired by nature can add interest to both small and spacious outdoor spaces.
Connect Your Outdoors with Your Indoors
Let your outdoor space be an extension of your indoor space. Pulling colors and textures from your interior into your outdoor furnishings and keeping the view between spaces open helps make both areas feel larger. This connection is especially beneficial for smaller spaces, keeping indoor conveniences close at hand while bringing natural light and views of nature indoors.
Take the Same Care with Your Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting is just as crucial as indoor lighting if you want to enjoy your outdoor space after the sun goes down. Aim for a cozy, warm glow with pretty pendants, hanging lanterns, or string globe lights. Additionally, consider laying your outdoor flooring in an interesting pattern, whether it’s cement tile, concrete paver, or decking.
Plan the Outdoors as You Would the Indoors
Plan your outdoor space with the same care as your indoor space. Consider how you want to use the space, the size of the area, and the style you want to achieve. Draw a scaled plan and divide it into practical areas. For small patios or balconies, use plants and furniture to create separate areas for relaxing, dining, or cooking. For larger yards, create different zones for activities like relaxing, playing, or entertaining.
Activate Unused Spaces in Your Outdoor Area
Unused side yards, patios, or backyards can be transformed into functional outdoor spaces with a little creativity. Turn neglected or catchall spaces into useful outdoor living areas.
Remove All Clutter
Start by removing unnecessary items from your outdoor space to create the largest possible area. For example, if you have a large shed used for storage, consider removing it to open up the space for more functional uses.
Consider Your Interior Views
Design your outdoor spaces to support their use while also enhancing your interior views. Staggered plants in various textures can add visual interest and privacy while creating a calming view from indoors. Seasonal plantings and pollinator-friendly plants can offer dynamic, ever-changing views ideal for bird watching from inside.
Incorporate Different Seating Areas in Your Outdoor Space
Always include some variation of a seating area in your outdoor space. Even a small bistro table with two chairs can provide a comfortable outdoor space for entertaining or relaxing. Incorporating lighting and greenery, such as low-maintenance succulents, can further enhance the ambiance.
Add a Rug Area to Your Outdoor Space
Adding a rug can help define and cozy up your outdoor areas. It distinguishes different zones and provides a soft surface underfoot, contributing to the cozy atmosphere you expect inside the home.
Decorate the Walls
Just as you hang wall art indoors, you can decorate the walls of your outdoor space. A fresh coat of paint or stain on a fence and modern wall hangings can add dimension and interest to your patio.
Bring Different Elements Together in Your Outdoor Space
Take advantage of various elements to add interest to your outdoor space. A fire pit, for example, is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Outdoor fountains come in a wide range of sizes and can enhance any outdoor setting, regardless of its size.
By incorporating these tips, you can make the most of your outdoor space, no matter its size. Ready to transform your outdoor area? Let’s get started!
Ready to Enhance Your Outdoor Spaces?
If your outdoor areas could use a makeover – or if you want to create a backyard oasis from scratch, please let me know and I can consult with you on how to create the outdoor space perfect for your vision and needs. The ideas shown here are a good start, but still just the beginning. Message me here, right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link, or you can email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com You can call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.
