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Creating outdoor spaces is about so much more than decorating a deck or patio.
Outdoor living can be enjoyable whether you have a balcony, a small patio, or a full backyard. They’re where morning coffee happens, summer dinners stretch late into the evening, and some of the best family memories are created.
Outdoor spaces are not just another area to decorate. They’re an extension of our home and the life we live in it. Whether I’m enjoying my favorite drink, watering flowers, or watching our family gather around the pool, these are the spaces where some of our best moments happen.
And if you’re craving simpler spaces and calmer days, this is one of the easiest places to start.
Outdoor Space Checklist (Start Here Before You Buy Anything)
Before you buy anything, walk through this list:
- Decide how you’ll actually use the space
- Break the space into zones
- Measure and map walking paths
- Invest in the foundations and comfort pieces
- Pick a simple mood and color plan
- Add greenery and lighting in layers over time
Why Create an Outdoor Space
I love the warm nights, with our string lights lighting the way. Listening to water splashing in the pool, the smell of the grill, and everyone hanging out longer than planned. Sometimes my parents are sitting nearby, seeing all the chaos from the sidelines as their adult children laugh like teenagers in the pool. Those are the special moments that make our home feel complete.
You don’t need a perfect setup or a massive renovation to create an outdoor space. And you don’t want to focus on the little details too early, like buying decor before you know how they want the space to function or feel.
Let’s look at the step-by-step process I use: the foundation, then the flow, then the feeling.
1. Decide How You’ll Use the Space
Before you buy a single thing, ask yourself how you actually want to live outside.
Not what looks good online.
Not what everyone else is doing.
What will realistically become part of your everyday life?
Do you want a place for morning coffee? Weeknight dinners? Lounging with a book? Entertaining friends? An area where everyone naturally gathers? How about a place to garden?
When the function is clear, every decision after that gets easier.
2: Creating Zones (Even in Small Outdoor Spaces)
The fastest way to make an outdoor area feel intentional is to stop treating it like one giant open space.
We have areas for eating, gathering around the pool, and relaxing under the gazebo. If you asked anyone in our family which spot gets used the most, they’d probably say the gazebo.
Our backyard gets full sun all day, so creating a comfortable place in the shade made all the difference. It’s where we enjoy our morning coffee, catch up after work, read a book on the weekend, or escape the heat for a while.
Even though our kids are grown now, we still use the pool more than I ever expected. I think that’s because every part of the backyard has a purpose around things we enjoy.
Even small spaces benefit from this thought process:
- A lounging zone (where people love to hang out together)
- A dining zone (even if it’s a small bistro table)
- A practical zone (grill, storage, gardening, towels)
Once you know how you want the space to feel, decorating becomes much easier because every piece has a purpose.
And personally, I think less is more outdoors. White space matters outside, too. A backyard feels far more relaxing when there’s room to breathe instead of every corner being filled.
3: Start With the Foundations
Before I think about pillows, lanterns, or styling details, I always look at the foundation first:
- the deck or patio surface
- the design and flow
- the condition of the space itself
- how people will move through it
It’s not the most exciting part of design and decorating, but I’ve learned it’s the part that makes everything else work.
This is also where measuring saves a lot of frustration. Before ordering furniture, rugs, umbrellas, or planters:
- Measure the area you are working with
- Choose your walking paths
- Make sure chairs can be pulled out comfortably
A well-planned layout doesn’t just look better. It makes the space easier to use.
4: Invest in Comfort That Works
I’ve seen so many beautiful outdoor spaces that nobody actually uses.
The furniture looks amazing, but it’s very uncomfortable.
The layout looks amazing, but nobody hangs out.
In my opinion, comfort is what keeps people coming back.
Comfort comes down to a few things: padded seating, plenty of shade (we use a Costco gazebo and a large IKEA umbrella), washable covers, and easy storage for cushions and blankets when we’re not using them.
Outdoor living is not always picture-perfect around our home. Living where we do means cushions and pillows are often stored away unless we’re actively using the deck. I store ours under the gazebo daily and pull them out when we’re using the space. If you stopped by on a random Wednesday afternoon, everything probably wouldn’t look fully styled.
Honestly, I wish we didn’t have to, but it is part of living where we do, and we need to be okay with that.
Pieces We Love in Our Gazebo
These are the pieces we use most often or would choose again today if we were starting from scratch.
- Gazebo
- Outdoor seating (Ours is discontinued; showing Ikea’s latest model)
- Outdoor rug
- Outdoor Pillow Covers
- Stump Side Table
5: Layer the Mood
This is where your outdoor space starts to feel like home.
Choose the Mood Before You Choose the Decor
One mistake I see all the time is shopping before deciding how you want the space to feel. That’s usually how backyards end up feeling like a collection of random “cute” things instead of one space that works together.
Before I buy anything, I ask myself one question: How do I want this space to feel?
For our backyard, the answer was easy. I wanted it to feel calm, relaxed, and welcoming. Somewhere we could spend hours together without it seeming overly styled or cluttered.
When I’m planning a space, I typically use:
- 3 main colors
- 2 textures
- 1 accent color or seasonal layer
In our backyard, the palette is neutral, and the textures show up in area rugs and furniture choices. The “accent color” comes in through flowers and pillow covers throughout the space.
The Backyard Details That Bring an Outdoor Space to Life
Flowers are one of my favorite parts of every summer.
Every year I buy a couple of mandevillas for our backyard, and somehow they never disappoint.
Our backyard gets full sun all day, so they’ve become one of my favorite plants because they thrive in those conditions. I usually choose one white plant and then have fun trying a different accent color each year.
Flowers and plants can soften the hard surfaces around the area, add just enough color, and make the whole backyard feel as if we’ve escaped to a tropical spot for the evening.
It’s become one of those simple summer traditions I look forward to every year.
And sometimes the best design decision is restraint. Not every corner needs decor. Outdoor spaces feel calmer when your eyes have room to rest.
Lighting Completely Changes the Mood
We use a mix of solar lights, string lights, lanterns, candles, and the glow from our fire pit.
I’ve found that no single light source creates the atmosphere on its own. It’s the layering that makes the biggest difference.
When the sun goes down, the lighting completely changes the backyard’s feeling.
Our Evening Lighting Favorites
These layers of light help our backyard feel warm, relaxed, and inviting long after sunset.
Small Outdoor Spaces Can Feel Just as Inviting
You don’t need a pool or a big backyard to create an outdoor space you love.
A few simple ways to make a balcony or small patio feel intentional:
- a foldable bistro set (even just two chairs)
- colorful flowers in a planter or pot
- one string of lights
- a small outdoor rug
- a storage bench that doubles as seating
- a lantern or candle
The size does not matter; it is the feeling it creates.
You don’t need more space to enjoy being outside. You need a space that makes you want to step outside a little more often.
Make the Biggest Difference First
Also, creating an outdoor space you love isn’t about spending the most money. It’s about investing in the things you’ll use and enjoy every day.
If I were starting over, here’s where I’d spend my money first.
Start with comfort
- comfortable seating
- shade where you need it most
- an outdoor rug to define the space
Mid-range refresh
- string lights or lanterns
- planters filled with seasonal flowers
- a few outdoor cushions
Save larger projects for later
- a gazebo or pergola
- new patio or deck surfaces
- high-quality furniture you’ll keep for years
Creating Outdoor Spaces Doesn’t Happen Overnight
One of my favorite things about outdoor spaces is that they evolve.
We’ve changed the deck color, replaced furniture, updated the pool (unplanned), added planters, and made other meaningful changes, little by little.
Some of the projects we are working on:
- replacing and staining worn deck boards
- refreshing Adirondack chairs with a new coat of stain
- updating railings
- building a window box (if I can convince someone)
- adding more planters and greenery
That’s one of the things I love most about creating a home. It doesn’t have to happen all at once. Small, thoughtful improvements add up over time, and before you know it, your home begins to tell your story.
FAQs
Continue Creating Your Outdoor Space
If you’re looking for more ideas to make the most of your outside spaces, these articles are a great place to start:
- How to Decorate a Small Front Porch That Feels Welcoming shares simple ideas to create an inviting entrance, even in a small space.
- How to Choose Plants for Your Garden That Will Thrive will help you choose plants and flowers that are right for your spaces.
I’d love to hear about your outdoor space. What’s one small change you’re planning to make this season? Let me know in the comments below. I always enjoy reading your ideas and hearing how you’re making your home work for the way you live.
Cheryl is a mom, wife, and the heart behind Evera Design—a space for creating beautiful, livable homes.
She shares practical ideas and real-life inspiration to help everyday spaces feel calm, comfortable, and personal.
