20 Outstanding Outdoor Living Rooms
When I was growing up, “outdoor living” consisted of some aluminum
folding chairs and a Weber grill. But with the advent of synthetic
wicker, all-weather fabrics, outdoor lighting and indoor-outdoor
carpets, you can now live as stylishly and comfortably outdoors as you
do indoors.
To make the most of al fresco living, look at your patio or porch the same way you might approach a room. Consider flooring, lighting, color, pattern, scale and texture. You might even give some thought to the walls, whether they’re physical (as on a porch) or virtual (curtains or a planter filled with bamboo). Add an overhead heater or fan, and you might never want to leave.
To make the most of al fresco living, look at your patio or porch the same way you might approach a room. Consider flooring, lighting, color, pattern, scale and texture. You might even give some thought to the walls, whether they’re physical (as on a porch) or virtual (curtains or a planter filled with bamboo). Add an overhead heater or fan, and you might never want to leave.
What makes a porch feel more like
a room? The accessories. Potted plants can create a sense of enclosure
in the great outdoors and also add a welcome touch of height. Lanterns
and bowls of fruit embellish the space here too. An overhead fan is a
great way to get more use out of a porch in steamy climes.
Walls — even if they’re made of
canvas — can help frame views and shelter you from breezes. Plus, they
give you a cozy and protected feeling when you’re out in nature.
Lanterns, potted plants and antiques (such as the enamel stove in the
corner) add to the cozy quotient here.
Beverly Hills? Think again. This
cushy casbah calls Salt Lake City, Utah, home. Lime-green fabric is an
unexpected departure from the usual white canvas and helps give this
backyard Bohemia a piquant presence, while the wood framework echoes the
color of the furniture.
You don’t expect to see a daybed outside, but in this case it does a great job of preserving sight lines from the sofa — and offers a great spot in which to stretch out for a nap. To get this look, think in multiples (three pendant lights, two dog sculptures) and don’t stint on the pillows (or the cocktails).
You don’t expect to see a daybed outside, but in this case it does a great job of preserving sight lines from the sofa — and offers a great spot in which to stretch out for a nap. To get this look, think in multiples (three pendant lights, two dog sculptures) and don’t stint on the pillows (or the cocktails).
OK, so this one really is
in Beverly Hills. What makes it especially noteworthy is the exotic
theme. After all, why can’t a patio look Moroccan? Or French? Or
Southwestern? We get so accustomed to seeing the same thing, we
sometimes overlook the possibilities.
With today’s all-weather
upholstery, there’s no limit to how comfortable your outdoor furnishings
can be. This grouping of four chairs inspires intimacy, while a
timeworn table and vintage-style clock really add to the character.
(Just as with interiors, it’s always more interesting when you throw
something old — or old-looking — into the mix.)
Outdoor living rooms need not be
opulent. Sturdy upholstered seating, an ottoman that doubles as a coffee
table, side tables and a rug might be all you need to create a cozy,
cohesive space.
A built-in bench hugs the inside
of a wall, conserving space on this terrace and maximizing seating when
there’s a crowd. Notice how the houndstooth on the pad is echoed in the
throw pillows, and how the simple presence of an oval table (how often
do you see those on a patio?) makes the space feel distinctive.
This marvelous semienclosed patio
in South Africa is sumptuously appointed with a vaulted brick ceiling
illuminated by cove lighting, and a sinkably soft seating group arranged
in front of a sculptural fireplace. Clusters of diaphanous lanterns
enhance the atmosphere after dark, as does the moody wall color.
(Outdoor spaces needn’t always be pale.) The emphasis on natural
materials in the seating, carpet and lighting helps link the room to its
bucolic setting.
This semienclosed space offers all the comforts of home, including NanaWall doors that fold out of the way when the weather cooperates.
Find the Right Glass Door for Your Patio
Find the Right Glass Door for Your Patio
An arched fireplace echoes the
arches surrounding this Georgia porch. The herringbone tile floor is
topped with a kilim carpet, while pillows on the sectional repeat the
motif, lending the room an exotic air.
Here’s a Missouri take on Tuscan
taste, with Shabby Chic–style furnishings congregating under a rustic
beamed ceiling. A chandelier, wall sconces and candles assure plenty of
lighting options to set the atmosphere, which is enhanced by baskets,
plants and a telltale grapevine that meanders across the ceiling.
Who says patio furniture has to
match? For a more residential feeling, don’t be afraid to mix things up
and introduce an antique or two for added visual interest. Here a large
space is broken up into two seating areas, offering greater intimacy in
each (and an escape for those who don’t want to watch TV).
In settings such as this, it’s best to use a television specifically designed for outdoor use.
In settings such as this, it’s best to use a television specifically designed for outdoor use.
Rustic wood tables add a sense
of age and texture to this porch that wouldn’t be there if the tables
looked like the chairs. The blanket is another nice touch.
Changes in flooring help demarcate
the seating area on this porch, while potted privets forge a connection
between the foreground and background.
What makes this porch rise above the ordinary? Curtains made from Perennials
fabric help domesticate the space, as does the carpet from Ballard
Designs. The daybed is suspended from the ceiling, like a swing, adding
an irresistibly playful touch.
How to make a swinging daybed with thrift store finds
How to make a swinging daybed with thrift store finds
If it weren’t for the arches on
the right, you might not suspect you were outdoors. The furniture looks
like anything but patio furniture, thanks to the audacious use of trim
and an area rug that refuses to take a backseat to anything.
Add some punch to your pergola
with a sheltering arch, then string it with lights for a veil of dappled
illumination. (Outdoor string lights like these can be found for as
little as $10 a strand.) Notice the floor lamp and the piece of art
perched on the fireplace “mantel” — domesticating touches that make this
a space you’d hate to leave.
A trellis “wall” frames an
oval-shaped “window,” giving this covered patio the coziness of an
enclosed space but the views and cooling breezes of plein air living.
The decorative mirror over the fireplace lets the owners enjoy the blaze
and the view at the same time.
Here’s another case of creating a
wall where there wasn’t one, instilling a sense of enclosure without
impeding views or breezes. Notice, too, how the table has been
accessorized as if it were indoors.
