No matter the size of your backyard living space, it deserves your love and attention, so we’re here to offer you our 6 tips for the perfect backyard living room. When properly designed and decorated, your outdoor living space area can go from boring and cold to beautiful, cozy, and welcoming. Who doesn’t want to take advantage of more time enjoying the fresh air, spending time socializing with friends or curled up with a good book?
Outdoor Space for All Four Seasons
If you count yourself lucky enough to live in a place where you have the joy of experiencing all four seasons (ok, perhaps winter is a joy for a few weeks of the year…then we simply deal!), when you’re planning the perfect backyard living room you have to keep the changing of the seasons in mind while you choose your design and set up.
Choose colours that can transfer across the year and not feel out of place. Earthier tones such as browns and creams mixed in with shades will add both warmth and style to your outdoor space for all four seasons. If these neutral tones feel a little drab, don’t be afraid to spice them up with simple pops of colour, while maintaining that sense of warmth.
Outdoor Plants
Outdoor plants can add a huge amount of life to your backyard living space and even more, having plants in your home can benefit your mental wellbeing. Both ferns and palms are a wonderful addition to your perfect backyard living room and do well as outdoor plants; find a size that suits and choose a pot that adds an added level of style and colour. You’ll be amazed by how much more alive and warm your space feels by simply adding a couple of plants.
If you’re looking for a little more colour or if you find you don’t have a great deal of space for larger potted outdoor plants, a great option is a wall or fence planter. You can hang a variety of colourful flowers and smaller garden variety plants in your planter, and you still get the health and style benefits of plants in your outdoor space while not using up valuable floor real estate.
Get Undercover with a Canopy, Outdoor Roof or Retractable Awning
Let’s face it, it’s unrealistic to think that having a backyard living room to enjoy all year – or at least most of the year – round without a canopy, outdoor roof or retractable awning is a possibility. Wind, rain, sun and snow can all wreak havoc on your outdoor space, staining, fading or ruining your beautiful backyard haven.
Depending on your budget and the size of your space, you have a few options available to you! If your space is smaller, a retractable awning that attaches to the wall of your home is an excellent option and will give you protection from the hot sun, and during light rain or snowfall can also offer protection. During larger storms, however, it’s best to retract it so it doesn’t tear or fall in. The prices range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand for custom build and professionally installed awnings.
If you have more space to play with and your budget is on the larger side, having an outdoor roof built is an excellent option. You can purchase materials based on your needs and have them built and installed or, if you’re a fan of the DIY, can make it a pet project! Depending on what you’re looking for, your outdoor roof can protect you from inclement weather, but can also be insulated to keep your outdoor space a more comfortable temperature all year round.
If you’re on more of a budget, a canopy can offer you an easy way to keep you and your furniture shaded from the sun and dry on a rainy day. However, when winter season hits, it’s best the backyard living space be moved to a safe storage space until the weather gets a little bit friendlier!
Share the Love with Backyard Seating Options
Seating options for your perfect backyard patio are vast! But remember, comfort is key! Offering a few backyard seating options such as love seats, couches and single-seaters like Muskoka chairs or rocking chairs will give both you and your guests options – not to mention adding a more stylish and functional design.
Adding cushions for pops of colour or a throw blanket for cooler days and nights is another way to bring your own flair to your backyard living space.
Warm and Cozy Backyard Fire Pits
Backyard fire pits can provide a gorgeous central focus piece to your backyard while being wonderfully practical as the days and nights begin to cool. You also have a huge variety of styles and sizes to choose from, and they can create a whole different look and feel to your outdoor living space depending on what you choose!
From old-school campfire pits, barrels and rustic stone bowls to clean, minimalist fire ‘pit’ tables or highly designed, artistic pieces, there truly are options for backyard fire pits to suit every aesthetic and backyard size. Find one that speaks to you and enjoy the warmth!
Colours to Suit Your Mood
Last but certainly not least on our list of 6 tips for the perfect backyard living room is choosing colours to suit your mood. Different colours offer different feelings for different people! So choose patio furniture or statement pieces (cushions, rugs, throw blankets, planters and so on) that speak to you. If light blues and mustard yellows give a feeling of both joy and serenity, find a way to weave them into your neutral palette of furniture.
If you find your mood changing with the seasons, it’s easy to keep a neutral base for your furniture and plants while being able to change cushions, blankets and even rugs depending on what you feel with each season. Whatever you decide, do your best to weave them into your design and make sure every time you step outside into your backyard living space, you get that sense of ahhhhh…
Happy designing!