Tips for Designing an Outdoor Living Room

by Century 21 Rauh & Johns 07/16/2020

Image by Jesse Bridgewater from Pixabay

An outdoor living room gives you a place to enjoy fresh air while spending time with family and friends, gathering around a fire or watching a movie. When you have this type of outdoor living space, you can make it as comfortable as possible with the right design. Use the following tips to help you come up with the ideal outdoor living room for your home.

Consider the Layout

One of the first decisions to make about your outdoor living room is the kind of layout it should have. This depends in part on the size of this space and the layout of your yard. For example, you might want to consider a rectangular outdoor living room, which offers a more spacious feel overall if you plan on having guests over often or if you have a large family. However, a square layout or even a rounded one might work better if you’re aiming for a cozier atmosphere. 

Select a Style

The style you choose for your outdoor living room should go with the rest of your home’s overall style. A vintage-style outdoor living room might look out of place next to your modern or contemporary home, for example. A rustic outdoor living room might work just fine if your home has a more naturalistic or eco-friendly design. 

Choose the Right Furniture

The furniture for your outdoor living room should provide comfortable seating while adding visual appeal. Look for upscale couches, loveseats, armchairs and side tables that match the style you’ve decided on for this area. Keep in mind that you’ll need to get furniture made specifically for outdoor use to protect it from rain and other outdoor elements, especially if your outdoor living space is uncovered.

Decide on a Fireplace

Adding a fireplace or a fire pit to your outdoor living room means you can enjoy it more often, even on cooler evenings and nights. You can have an outdoor stone or brick fireplace installed at one end of your outdoor living room, or have one built in the middle of it. A central fireplace or fire pit can have built-in seating around it on all sides where you and your family and friends can gather.

Weigh Your Entertainment Options

You can add entertainment to your outdoor living room with a state-of-the-art sound system for music and movies. Whether you simply add a big-screen TV to one wall or invest in an outdoor theater setup, your outdoor living room can provide you and your family or friends with hours of enjoyment.