Cabin Fever is real and we are longing to enjoy the outdoors! I suspect we are all feeling cooped up right now - especially in the colder climates where living outside is less feasible…of course in New England, we define cold a little differently than the rest of the country…

We are only a week or so into the shelter-in-place phase of this thing. It will likely go on a fair bit longer than any of us would like, and I for one, cannot wait for the weather to turn and allow me to spend some quality time working from my happy place - outdoors on my deck. Being surrounded by flowers and herbs, birds and and chipmunks calms me and brings me joy and we all NEED a dose of calm and a bit of joy in this surreal time! To that end, I’m planning my outdoor living space which will be more important this year than ever before.

The number one rule for the success of ANY project is to HAVE A PLAN. Whether you have a pocket sized balcony or a large patio or deck, plan the space just like you plan any room. Before you buy anything:

Measure the space you have and draw it out to scale.
Ask yourself questions about how you envision using this space and for how many people.
Add the sizes of furniture and other elements you might want to include to your drawing.
Collect inspiration pictures of styles you like from Pinterest or catalogs.
Consider the colors and fixed elements around your space when making selections - you want your choices to play nicely with your house exterior, stone or wood tones, and any blooming plants that are close by!
Choose items of an appropriate scale so that things look good in relation to each other and to the surrounding areas.
Assemble a board of pictures of the pieces you plan to purchase along with finish and fabric samples where possible to see how your selections will work together - then edit until you have the perfect mix!
Choose a focal point. Every room needs a focal point (literally something to focus on!) - for an outdoor room that might be a scenic view, a garden element, or even a fire pit or fireplace hearth!

Elements of an outdoor room might include the following:

Seating Space

Just like indoors, design your seating with some pieces that are close enough to one another for comfortable conversation, and just like indoors, each seat should have easily reachable places to set things down…you NEED a landing spot for your morning coffee or glass of lemonade or sangria…and a serving spot for nibbles. Anchor your seating spot with a weather resistant area rug and some colorful pillows and throws.

deck seating with pillows, throws and a table.jpeg

Dining Space

dining and work space and a seating area on this wooded deck.jpg

Sometimes your outdoor room contains space for both lounging and dining. Plan for how many people you want to seat. Do you need just a bistro table for 2 or are you serving frequent family gatherings of 12? Do you want chairs or benches? What sort of mood to you want to convey? Casual? Classic? Formal? Coastal? Rustic? Will your dining space double as a desk like mine often does in the summer months?

Here is an example of selections for a coastal style patio. Click on the text below the image for pricing and ordering information.

Please Note: This post contains affiliate links meaning I may receive a small commission on any purchases at no additional charge to you.

Cooking Space

Outdoor kitchens are the ultimate luxury in indoor outdoor living. At a minimum you will probably want a grill and a convenient work surface or piece of furniture to hold food ready to cook or hot off the grill, but as space and budget allows, a countertop with a sink and weatherproof storage with an undercounter fridge are fabulous additions.

Gardening Space

Container gardens, tower gardens, and garden walls are all both beautiful to look at and practical for growing fresh food, herbs, and edible flowers. Beautiful flowering containers and hanging plants are always a welcome addition to outdoor spaces. Tower gardens or garden walls can also be a beautiful way to provide privacy screening from neighbors or to hide a less than attractive view. Choose plants suited to the conditions in the location you are placing them. Consider opting for self watering containers to make caring for your plants easier. And adding a water feature like a fountain creates a pleasant, soothing sound if you aren’t in shouting distance of an actual body of water! Bird feeders and bird baths are attractive if you want to draw some interactive nature into your space. It is really entertaining to watch the backyard birds at my feeder and the corpulent robins that come to splash around in the birdbath every afternoon! No matter how small your space, there is always room for these elements and they add so much to your outdoor atmosphere!

Birdbath | Arched Metal Planter Wall | Set of two Plant Stands (also available in white) | 4’ High Privacy Screen

Lighting

Weather resistant lamps and chandeliers, patio light strings, and candles are all potential light sources for extending the use of your outdoor space after the sun goes down. Did you know there are table and floor lamps and chandeliers especially rated for outdoor use? Of course, you may get the occasional uninvited guest…

He came frequently enough that we named him Max. Sometimes he brought his posse. They were like the raccoon mafia shaking down the bird feeder.

Shelter

Awnings, pergolas, and umbrellas are some of the options available to provide shade or shelter from rain to make an outdoor space versatile for maximum use. There is something hypnotic about sitting under the umbrella with a warm summer rain tapping out a rhythm overhead. Awnings and umbrellas can be taken down when you want the warmth of the sun, pergolas are a more permanent option, but can support vines and make for a beautifully romantic atmosphere and a structure for supporting lighting.

With a little planning now, you can have a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy in just a short time! And these tips all work equally well for screened rooms, porches, loggias, and sunrooms!