With summer and warmer days finally in view, it’s about time we take a look at some outdoor living ideas for this year. I for one am really happy to see the sunshine making a more regular appearance for us. Especially with the recent lockdown, I know the sun has really helped a lot of people to feel better about the situations we have recently found ourselves in. For those who are lucky enough to have an outside space with their home, I’m sure you’ll be able to relate!
During my career as an Interior Designer, many people have found it odd (and strange, even) that we also look at the external design for our clients. Having worked with an architect’s practice for part of my career, the landscape surrounding a project can quite often be just as important as the architecture and interior.
Through the years, I have grown to appreciate outdoor spaces a lot more. Whether that’s strolling through the countryside of a weekend or thinking about how best to improve a small garden – outdoor space is crucial to our overall well-being. And it is for this reason that the design of your outdoor living space is just as important as the interior design of your overall home.
Particularly, the idea of “inside – outside”, which is more prominent abroad (undoubtedly due to the more consistent amazing weather…) has become more popular here in the UK too. More homeowners and DIY’ers are looking to bring the outside in, and the inside out. This means that the architecture, interior design AND landscape design, has to work seamlessly together.
In this blog post, I have gathered my top 5 outdoor living ideas for this summer… Which I hope you’ll agree, will also stand the test of time. I’m all for timeless design after all!
Let’s dive straight in…
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Scandinavian Summerhouse
Spending time outdoors on your terrace or in the garden should feel like you’ve just stepped into another room of your house. This means the furniture choice outdoors should feel light and airy, yet sturdy and extremely practical.
If your favourite design is inspired by Scandinavia or you love dreamy beach houses, this style is definitely for you. Create a gentle mood that feels serene and helps you to feel at ease whilst entertaining outdoors.
Country Dining
In true born-and-bred Cotswold style, no summer outdoor living post would be the same without a mention or nod towards the Country living style. Especially when it comes to the outdoors.
Extend your indoor dining to the garden with a natural timber dining set of table and chairs. If this seems relatively “plain and simple” then you can swap and change the seat cushions as often as you like! That’s a key opportunity to add some colour, pattern and further texture to your outdoor living area.
Keep it Simple
Someone once said that, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. And not only is this relevant for great interior design, but also pertinent for outdoor living ideas too.
Think simple metal frames with modern and comfortable cushions to lay back and relax on. Spruce up the main seat cushions with smaller colourful or patterned outdoor cushions to create the ultimate outdoor summer retreat!
Brighten Up the Patio
I am a HUGE lover of these bright and wonderful outdoor seating sets… They are actually surprisingly comfortable! And perfect for anyone having guests over for summer barbeques.
You can accessorise these chairs with contrasting coloured cushions too. Or go one step further with a patterned outdoor rug to really define the outdoor living space.
Related Post – How to Upgrade Your Patio Space
Chic Boho
Channel your inner Bali-and-yoga-loving-Queen vibes with this next outdoor living idea! Think rattan, raw timber and monochrome accents.
This outdoor living idea suits almost any situation or garden design because the pieces can merge seamlessly with the change in greenery over years to come.
Hanging Around
Keeping on the same wavelength as Chic Boho – next up is taking that Bali-inspired lounging to the next level. Hanging around of course! I’m thinking hammocks, hanging chairs – anything that will inspire a bit more Zen into our lives (I think we could all do with some – I’ll take that!)
Many of the outdoor hanging chairs are also suitable for indoor use, so it’s always good to check this before you buy! You can store them safely away from the winter weather in a garage or spare room.
That concludes all 7 outdoor living ideas! I hope this post has provided you with some much needed inspiration for this summer… Are you looking to upgrade your garden furniture? Or maybe recently done so? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!
Happy Lounging!
Jessica xo
