Making Your Outdoor Space into an Entertaining Space

Recent home design and architectural trends have moved toward creating a living room feel in the open air, by embracing the great outdoors. Today, new homeowners are increasingly interested in the comfort and accessibility of outdoor living features, but this emerging trend has only caught up with home design and construction practices in the last decade or so.

Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular, but if your home wasn’t built in the last 10 years, it might not be as livable as you’d prefer. The good news is that with a little creativity, no matter how old your house is, there are easy, inexpensive steps you can take to make your back porch, patio or deck more suitable for entertaining.

Behold the Power of Paint

Even if you’re just painting a door or a few accents, adding a splash of color here or there, or perhaps replacing some earth tones on a porch or patio, a little paint can go a long way toward brightening up an otherwise bland outdoor space.

Prioritize Plants and Consider a Canopy

Carefully selecting the right plants—those that grow well in your region with a maintenance requirement you can accept—can instantly enhance your outdoor space. Perennials are always a welcome and low-maintenance addition, and flowers can immediately brighten up a space. A canopy can make a wide open outdoor setting seem more intimate and cozy, while offering a little more protection from the elements.

Wow Them With Water

Fountains, ponds and other outdoor water features are much less expensive than they once were. They also require less maintenance. These finishing touches can add a charming look and pleasant sounds to the background of your event—for instant ambiance.

Bring the Indoors Outdoors

Once you’ve adjusted to this mindset, you’ll find that the personal decorative touches you use for indoor décor can also work well outside. Even indoor furniture can be used outdoors, after minimal effort to treat it for protection from the elements, first.

Before you know it, you’ll have a new outdoor living space that retains all the indoor comfort you’re used to enjoying. Begin with furniture, accessorize, and finally, personalize, with unique touches like your favorite conversation starters, artwork and photography.

Need a little help with inspiration? Click here to see which Stressless seating and accessories would look great in your outdoor space. Find the style and comfort levels that resonate with you most, and arrange them in your newly imagined outdoor space.