Easy Tips for Creating and Decorating an Outdoor Living Room

An outdoor living room is a space that you design outside that can be used for relaxation, family gatherings, or outdoor parties. They are typical in areas where the weather is mild throughout most of the year and use furnishings that can take a beating from the occasional rainstorm and the bright summer sun. Outdoor living rooms can be elaborate with fireplaces, bars, and expensive furnishings or simple with some wicker chairs and metal tables. The key focus should be conversation, comfort, and fun.

You can create your outdoor living room on an existing porch, deck, or incorporated into your backyard. Think about your seating options first when creating your outdoor living room. Look for furniture pieces that are made of weatherproof wood, wicker, or metal with removable cushions. If you’re not sure if your outdoor living room furniture is weatherproof, you can spray paint them with a sturdy, exterior paint.

The best kind of outdoor furniture can be used with or without the cushions. You can also buy or make your own removable slipcovers for your outdoor furniture. Removable slipcovers are essential for your outdoor furniture because you can more easily take them off and wash them in the washer rather than having to clean the entire cushions.

Arrange your outdoor furniture in an inviting and cozy manner that encourages conversation. Group your outdoor chairs and sofas in a way that everyone can see each other. Add some cocktail tables to the side of each chair and place a large coffee table in the middle for easy access to snacks and drinks. You can purchase some really beautiful full-sized outdoor rugs now that can withstand mild weather, sun, and temperature changes.

Accessorizing your outdoor living room should include plenty of tall pillar candles throughout the entire space and grouped together on platters surrounded by stones, shells, or flowers. Add some beautiful potted flowers all around the perimeter of the space, creating a sort of invisible wall around the area. If you have a deck railing you can hang window boxes all around with blooming flowers bursting out of them. Create a sense of height with potted trees, tall wooden tables, or trellises. Add some interesting garden accessories, such as metal birdcages, colorful pots, or even a metal baker’s rack.

Finally, add some sights and sounds that will get all of your senses working in your outdoor living room. Most outdoor living spaces are used at night when the heat of the day has cooled down, so make sure to have plenty of ambient lighting. Wrap rope lights around the decking, string lights in the trees, use decorative tiki torches, or use plenty of lighted candles. You can even add a floor lamp for reading. Bring a portable radio outside or invest in an outdoor stereo system using hidden rock speakers. Add some wind chimes for those quiet breezy nights and just enjoy your outdoor surroundings as a great way to wind down after a hectic day.