I'm not joking when I tell newbies to Houston that if you don't like the weather here, give it a few minutes and it WILL change. If you're a regular reader (thank you for being here by the way) you may have heard me talk about the wacky weather rollercoaster we ride here in Houston. If you're new around here, allow me to explain. It snowed here the last week of January, hard I might add. Within days it was sunny and in the 70s, with me in shorts cleaning up everything in my garden that died from said snowfall. As I type this on Valentines Day, we're expecting another dip down into the 20s/30s in the next few days.
Even with the threat of another artic blast, my internal clock and green thumb tell me spring time is here! No matter where you live and whatever the weather, I'm willing to bet you're like me, itching to ditch life stuck inside and ready to relish more time outside, enjoying the sunshine and relaxing in the great outdoors.
Now that I've gotten my yard prepped for spring, my eyes have spied our outdoor furniture and the words "tired" and "needs a refresh" keep springing to mind. If you know me, you'll know I'm always up for a refresh so weekends lately find me as a woman on a mission making plans to make that happen. If you too feel like your outdoor space is not all you dream it could be, you came to the right place! In today's post, I'm sharing suggestions to help you bring yours up to par so that when any lingering winter weather is behind you, your outdoor space will be ready for you to enjoy.
Things to Consider When Planning Your Outdoor Design Project
My first tip, before starting any project, is to remember that design is a process, good design that is. In my humble opinion and in my experience, the best approach is to create a a great plan from the get go after thoughtful consideration of goals, needs, and materials, then work the plan to make it happen. That said, before making decisions about fun things like furnishings and decor for your outdoor space, it’s important to consider several important factors but first and foremost is function.
Function First
The very first consideration toward creating the ideal outdoor space — whether you have a large backyard space with a nice patio or pool area, a seaside balcony like some of my clients with second homes at the beach, or a small in size but generous in spirit backyard garden like I do, is to determine how you want to use your space. After all, just like inside your house, function should drive all design decisions about outdoor living areas and elements as well.
To start, think through the activity list you and your family could envision pursuing in your outdoor spaces. This list could include:
Relaxing, reading, napping (count me in!)
Outdoor games and activities
Playing with kids or pets
Cocktail hour and conversation
Dining - (for how many?)
Gatherings or events for entertaining (and for how many?)
Bird watching or nature preserve
Gardening galore
Outdoor grilling and cooking
Watching TV and listening to music
The more activities you hope to do in your outdoor space, the more critical proper planning for functional outdoor spaces and outdoor furniture layout becomes.
Consider The Orientation
Something to definitely be mindful of is the orientation of your outdoor space relative to the direction and angle of the sun, especially during the months you’ll be using the space the most. Be sure and note what times of day certain areas have full sun or full shade. Note of course, that these times and intensities will change with the calendar and will be different in the spring, at the summer solstice in mid June, and again in late summer/early fall. Be mindful of where the sun is the hottest and where breezes can be the strongest. While working on a large backyard outdoor oasis, we had to reinforce the weighted base of the outdoor umbrellas to make sure a swift breeze wouldn't knock them over into the beautiful pool.
Also, pay attention to where sunrises and sunsets can be viewed or whether particular angles allow sight lines to the most appealing views of nature in your outdoor space. And don’t forget about other adjacency concerns. Can sound from a neighbors back yard or tennis court be heard in specific spots? Are mosquitoes or other flying insects more bothersome in certain areas? Is there's a view you WANT to be obstructed like an unsightly view of a power pole? Perhaps you can see your neighbor’s car-lined driveway from certain angles? Think ahead to plan correctly.
Both the desired functionality and the space orientation will impact decisions about furniture finishes and the spatial arrangement of furnishings within those spaces. Consider whether furniture choices and seating arrangements will allow for hanging out and relaxing to conversation and socializing. For those of you who like to have people over and entertain a small gathering, you’ll want furniture pieces to face one another so they’re a comfortable distance for having a conversation.
If you’re planning outdoor dining furniture, capacity can be simple to compute: a six-foot rectangular table will seat approximately six people, an eight-foot table — eight people, etc. A 48 inch round can seat four to five while a 60 inch round table can accomodate six to eight guests.
When arranging furniture outdoors, try orienting pieces to allow views to the most pleasing features of your space or of nature. Also, consider how the outdoor setup will impact the view from inside the home. For example, you may want to use a large umbrella to shade a seating area, but when viewed from inside, you realize you can see the mechanicals of the umbrella and it blocks your view of the sunset (or similar). I always say think ahead and as you work through the plan, you might have to readjust the plan accordingly but that's why you make a plan!
Consider Year Round Weather Conditions
Year round weather, including seasons when your outdoor space may not be in use, should absolutely be a consideration when choosing finishes for outdoor furniture. Wood (think teak), all-weather wicker, or metal (think aluminum) are good choices for outdoor furniture frames that will stand up well to weather conditions.
Although outdoor fabrics that can withstand the elements without fading or disintegrating are widely available, if your outdoor furniture will be exposed to intense weather conditions like heavy rain or unrelenting sun or snow in the winter, I would highly recommend using high-quality furniture covers or perhaps choosing pieces that don’t include fabric-covered cushions.
In addition to temperature considerations, it is also important to consider rainfall, wind, and off-season conditions as you consider finishes. If you’re selecting hardscape flooring, think about slipperiness when wet, and in colder climates, how it will be treated during the winter. If kids or pets will be walking on an outdoor surface throughout the year, consider how hot little feet will feel without shoes.
I say this from personal experience... make sure patio pots are sufficiently heavy and stable so they won’t tip over with strong wind gusts. The material should be able to withstand the cold and hot temperatures, otherwise you’ll be moving heavy pots in and out during the season changes (ask me how I know ;)
Select plants that match the sun condition requirements for the desired placement in your outdoor space. That said, don't be afraid to move things around if you notice a plant isn't thriving in a particular spot. I admit I'm more apt to plant by color (shocking I know) and variety so I'll sometimes push the boundaries on sun requirements BUT I love being elbow deep in dirt on weekends and don't mind the extra work personally.
Entrance Exam
Always remember to consider the connection of your outdoor living space with the adjacent entry to your home. If pets, children, or even adults will be active and playing outdoors, is there a way to ensure they won’t bring dirt or mud, among other things, in from the outdoor space when they enter? How will you handle people in wet bathing suits in the summer or athletic gear galore during the school year? How about pets or people coming in with snowy or muddy feet?
We always recommend incorporating well-designed drop zones to collect school bags, wet towels, shoes, pool gear, and other sports or outdoor gear to protect your indoor space.
In an existing home, the best solution may be dark-colored, washable, and durable rugs inside the door and door mats outside. If you are fortunate enough to plan for these considerations pre-construction in a new build, you may consider adding a porte cochere over your entry to accommodate seasonal challenges where you live in order to shelter and protect people and pets as they enter from the outdoors.
Exterior Lighting Needs
If you plan to utilize your outdoor spaces after the sun goes down (and you probably do!), you’ll need to include one or more outdoor light sources. This can include a hard-wired, permanently installed outdoor fixture, such as a ceiling light on the underside of a framed overhang or perhaps a wall sconce on the exterior wall of your home. Your home may already be equipped with an outdoor sconce by the backdoor or some spotlights under the eaves.
You’ll want to plan lighting for the area itself and for any pathways from your home to the outdoor space. Other outdoor lighting options include low-voltage sources that are plugged into an outdoor outlet, such as string lights that can be strung up to the underside of a pergola or canopy. String lights are inexpensive and available in a wide variety of styles. If you have a covered patio or overhead structure, a lighted ceiling fan may be a good option. The added cool breeze can add comfort and also deter pesky bugs. (Both of these are on my outside project wish list!)
Make sure to select lighting fixtures approved for outdoors installations. Any 120-volt lighting will need to be installed by a licensed electrician, and lines extending away from the house will need to be buried or encased in conduit (check your local building codes). Another option for outdoor lighting is solar-powered lights that require no wiring or cords. A solar-powered fixture is placed outdoors (often as a spike into the ground) and its photovoltaic cell collects power from the sun by day to emit light after dark.
Outdoor lighting not only provides ambient lighting so you can effectively use your outdoor space, but it also provides lovely accent lighting that highlights the beauty of the outdoor space when viewed from indoors. When positioning outdoor lighting, always consider the view from the indoors looking out. Exterior lighting that highlights outdoor features, such as a fountain, water feature, or an ornamental tree or bush, can enhance your home’s nighttime aesthetic.
Other Outdoor Amenities
If you want to fully enjoy all aspects of an outdoor living space, other desirable amenities to consider could include a grill or an outdoor kitchen area, an outdoor heater, fire pit, a misting system, a pool or spa (sometimes called a spool for a tiny space), or, my personal favorite, a fountain.
We hope we've inspired you with today's post "5 Key Factors to Keep in Mind When Planning Your Outdoor Design Project." As you can see, there are so many details to figure out and things to consider when developing a plan for an outdoor space design before you even begin to think about outdoor furnishings and decor.
Be sure and check out our design services page and fill out our contact form if you'd like help creating a fabulous and functional outdoor (or indoor) living space. We would love to help you love where you live! Reach out through our contact page here. We are currently booking full service projects with start dates in late 2025.
NLI partners with an affiliate platform where a small commission may be earned based on clicks or purchases at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links help fund the free content we provide on our blog.
Commenti