We all want to spend more time outdoors when the weather turns warm. Make it easy to get some fresh air by designing your backyard, patio, deck, or porch with indoor comforts that will make it as inviting as your living room.
Set up lounge seating, a bar cart, or a table and chairs to encourage socializing under the summer sun or stars. Give your al fresco living area the allure of an indoor space with an outdoor sofa, stylish decor accents, atmospheric lighting, and breezy curtains or a privacy screen to create a relaxing atmosphere for entertaining or unwinding.
Get ready for summer with these simple budget-friendly outdoor room ideas.
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01
of 15Create Walls With Curtains
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Hanging outdoor curtains will give your al fresco living space the allure of an indoor room. Drape them around the edges of your patio, porch, or backyard pergola to soften the look while providing protection from the elements.
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02
of 15Style an Outdoor Bar Cart
Credit: Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Keep your outdoor dining or living room ready for entertaining with a well-styled bar cart. Stock it with drinks and a tall vase of branches to make it double as decor.
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03
of 15Hang Woven Pendants
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Define zones in a multipurpose outdoor room with lightweight woven pendants. Group three together at staggered heights to visually separate dining and lounge spaces while maintaining a cohesive design.
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04
of 15DIY a Fire Pit
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Surround a DIY fire pit with a mix of outdoor chairs and tree stumps to create a rustic seating area. Painting your concrete patio is an easy and affordable weekend makeover that will allow you to create a more elevated look.
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05
of 15Lay Down an Outdoor Rug
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Anchor your backyard seating area with an outdoor area rug. Choose an understated neutral for a sophisticated look, or go bold with color and pattern.
How to Lay Out Furniture
An area rug will help to define the parameters of an open-air room. Lay out two outdoor sofas or a pair of armchairs opposite one another with a coffee table in the middle to create a cozy feel.
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06
of 15Accent With Color
Credit: Ursula Carmona for Home Made By Carmona
Energize your outdoor seating area with colorful throw pillows. Purchase outdoor throw pillows in weather-resistant fabric, or DIY your own.
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07
of 15Install a Privacy Screen
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Enhance privacy with a sustainable and budget-friendly bamboo privacy screen. Make your outdoor seating area feel cozier with trailing vines and outdoor string lights.
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08
of 15Layer Ambient Lighting
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Make your outdoor room feel relaxing after dark with layered lighting. You don’t need an electrician to drape outdoor string lights on the walls, scatter floor lanterns throughout the space, or light some candles on the coffee table.
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09
of 15Decorate With Plants
Credit: HausChic / Jason Donnelly
Define the edges of your outdoor room with potted plants. Hang a trailing plant from pergola beams or arrange a variety of plant pots solo or in groups on the floor of your patio or deck.
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10
of 15Set Up a Shaded Dining Area
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Shelter a backyard dining area from above with a large standing umbrella. Or swap the umbrella for a shade sail overhead.
Add a Simple Water Feature
If your backyard doesn’t include a pool, add a simple water feature like a birdbath or a budget-friendly plug-in fountain. The soothing sounds of water will enhance the atmosphere of your outdoor living space.
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11
of 15Accessorize With Metallics
Credit: Ursula Carmona for Home Made By Carmona
Lend your outdoor living area the allure of an indoor room with stylish decor and accessories. A pair of shiny gold metallic stools can be used as coffee tables or extra seating in a pinch.
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12
of 15Utilize Vertical Space
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If you are setting up an outdoor room on a back patio that is partially anchored by the walls of your house, utilize vertical space by hanging plants or decor. Stick to black-and-white decor for a sophisticated modern look.
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13
of 15Build Wood Pallet Seating
Credit: afrobeohemianliving / Instagram
Set up an outdoor room on a budget with DIY wood pallet furniture. Place it under a rustic pergola covered with an affordable reed mat to provide shade on hot days.
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14
of 15Use Garden-Themed Decor
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Decorate your outdoor living room with flowers from the garden and floral throw pillows on the sofa for a nature-inspired feel. Or channel a tropical resort vibe with palm-print pillows and a palm leaves in a vase.
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15
of 15Screen It In
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Spruce up a freestanding gazebo or detached screened-in porch with furniture and decor to create a second living room. This will provide the perfect spot for bug-free entertaining all summer long.