I’ve always loved summer, but since we moved to the mountains where it’s snowy for much of the year, I’m savoring the warm months even more! Thus far, the exterior spaces have been neglected while we focused on refurbishing the inside of our home. But this year I’m determined to take advantage of every ray of sunshine. So just in time for summer, we transformed this unused corner of our yard into an outdoor living room that’s ideal for lounging and entertaining all season long!
What to Consider When Designing an Outdoor Living Room
Before choosing the pieces for our outdoor lounge, I thought first about the setting I was working with. Our yard is quite woodsy with lots of foliage. I therefore focused on furnishings in a mix of natural materials like wood and wicker, with a neutral palette that would complement the greenery of our plant life as well as the paint of the house.
As well, I’ve always loved the aesthetic of boutique hotels in places like Mexico and Greece—they beautifully straddle the line between earthy and modern—so I looked for silhouettes that would echo the same organic minimalist vibe. Thankfully the backdrop of our house is relatively simple, so I was able to layer in modern contemporary furniture without clashing with the architecture.
1. Choose Modular Seating for a Versatile Outdoor Living Room Layout
The biggest and most important part of any outdoor living room is the seating, so that’s what I honed in on first! Rather than one large sofa, we opted for three outdoor lounge chairs that we could push together to create a modular sofa. I love modular seating for its versatility. If we ever move or want to relocate this setup to another part of the yard, these chairs can be used individually or even as a loveseat and a single chair! The weather-resistant cushions are easy to care for, and the acacia wood frames have a timeless finish. I can already tell we’ll get years of enjoyment from these!
2. Select Accent Pieces with Design-Forward Flair
Once I’d selected the primary piece of seating for our outdoor living room, it was time to layer in accent pieces to increase the personality of the space. A striped outdoor rug injects a touch of pattern and also serves to define the area.
Then, a pair of outdoor armless lounge chairs and a stone outdoor coffee table provide additional functionality. This lounge can seat up to 6, with plenty of space for cocktails and charcuterie on that table! Plus, the s-shape of the chairs feels borrowed from the poolside of an exclusive resort in Tulum, and the mottled stone of the table gives serious jungle-chic vibes.
3: Add Indoor-Inspired Finishing Touches to Level Up an Outdoor Living Room
We often talk about “bringing the outdoors in”, but for a truly memorable outdoor living room, think about bringing the indoors out! Incorporating accent decor that you’d typically see inside can give your exterior space an extra design edge for a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
In our case, these outdoor throw pillows are a fun touch on each chair. A textured ceramic planter in a muted shade of brown is an eye-catching way to add some greenery to the tabletop. And a Japandi-style pitcher with a set of iconic French tumblers is on hand to make every summer gathering an aesthetically pleasing one!
Once I’d chosen all our pieces, everything arrived in plenty of time to set it up and make the most of the warm weather thanks to AllModern’s fast and free shipping. Now, with our outdoor living room setup complete, we’re ready for all the fun and relaxation that summertime brings!
Disclosure: I partnered with AllModern to concept, style, photograph, write, and share this post. All opinions are and always will be my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that allow me to bring you fresh inspiration!