How-to Create an Outdoor Living Area

Think of the backyard as an outdoor room, and you will find it easier to “decorate.” Look at it as a blank canvas that can serve many different purposes. If the yard is cluttered or totally unimaginative, remove as much as you can, and create a new look that will be pleasing to the eye as well as functional for the family. Draw plans based on the dimensions of the yard. If space allows, create different zones for different uses. When the yard is viewed from the house, it should be inviting and should draw people to it. 

One area that is quite useful is the one nearest the house. The patio should be restful and utilitarian. Color and style of the furniture are the two biggest features that will make the most impact. Let your personality shine here. If you are more of a traditionalist, you will likely have matching furniture pieces with neat arrangements of decor, plants and artwork. However, if you have more of a bohemian personality, your eclectic personality will show through. Striking clashes of color, an overabundance of plants hanging at different levels, creating possibly a jungle effect, and totally lacking all conventional rules of how things are put together. Be true to yourself and either scenario will work for you. 

Going further into the yard, a neatly manicured lawn with lots and greenery and flowers creates a magnet of interest and can be taken right up to the property line. Design the garden using plants and shrubs that are indigenous to the area and include items such as small boulders, statues, or any creative items that you may find around the house. Pave or gravel a path, which suggests a destination, leading to the garden. Within the garden, make a place to sit. It could be a bistro table and chairs, a bench, boulder, or other creative accommodations. 

The overall effect of a patio and back yard space should meld together well. Looking back at the house from any point in the yard ought to have the same pleasing feel as looking from the house into the yard. If the view from the yard does not make you smile, you have more work to do on the patio. Perhaps you need new patio furniture, or you may cover, paint or stain what you have. Change the cushions or place them inside colorful pillow cases that have been adapted for the purpose. Add a rug to define a space. 

Artwork or a mirror on the patio helps delineate it as a room, especially if the patio is covered. If it is not covered, use a purchased canopy or one you create yourself. Either way, some type of covering not only shelters you from the elements, but protects the furnishings from the weather, as well. A ceiling fan is a must during the summer months. If you have no solid ceiling on which to attach one, you can purchase one fastened to a “goose neck,” which overhangs the seating area. Choose beautiful flowers from the garden to accent the table, and when the occasion calls for it, add a colorful tablecloth. Of course, a white cloth always adds panache when you are entertaining guests. 

Lights add a mollifying ambiance to outdoor areas. Battery operated light strings and ropes take care of this perfectly. Generally, you can bend or twist them into various shapes or string them along a wall, around trees, crisscrossed above an open space, or placed in clear jars for beautiful accents and conversation starters. While these lights do not have the luminosity of regular bulbs, they do provide enough light for a cozy evening under the stars. They can also be used to highlight enchanting areas of the garden to which you want to call attention. 

Include an area to cook, whether it is a barbecue pit, an outdoor kitchen, or some other gastronomic zone in between. When you have a lovely back yard, you are going to always want to share meals with friends and family. Incorporate a water feature as the crown jewel in the yard or on the patio. The soothing sounds of water splashing on a rock as you entertain, or as you take a nap under the whirring of a ceiling fan, are relaxing and comforting. 

Let the window or door to the backyard become a frame for the picture you create outside. You will find that your home becomes the favorite location for family and friends to gather. 

Resources:
https://diyhomedesignideas.com/outside/outdoor-living-spaces.php 
https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/porch/outdoor-rooms/outdoor-room-ideas/