Thinking about building a beautiful and fascinating outside? Worrying about the budget? No matter your budget, when you’re designing spaces for outdoor living, you don’t have to skip style and comfort. With good planning and careful design, patios, balconies, rooftop terraces, or a patch of backyard can become a flexible extension of your indoor living area. In this guide, we cover advice, style ideas, and inspiration so that you can create an outdoor space on a budget.

 What is an Outdoor Living Space?

Outdoor living is a room right outside your home that can be used to stretch out, relax, entertain, dine or even work. Big backyard or small balcony, rooftop deck or patch of patio, too often you get yourself an outdoor space and take it for granted, and it’s a shame, because when the weather’s nice, we sure do love to sit in the sun and soak up the days. The best part? You can design an outdoor living space on just about any budget with a simple layout, lush landscaping, plants and cozy seating.

• Extend Functional Living Areas
• Enhance Well-being
• Boost Home Value
• Fit Any Lifestyle

 How to Design Your Outdoor Living Room

Designing your outdoor living room with unique styles. Choose the right layout and transform any outside area into a highly functional living environment.

1. Start with Purpose and Layout

Before you purchase a single chair, decide what you want from your outdoor space. Is it a cozy reading nook, a dining area, a party zone or a productive work space?

Map out your space: A small patio, a balcony, a rooftop, a yard, a large yard space. Make sketch designs using the online tools, or sketch the outlines of the shapes in your configuration right into the ground using chalk or a garden hose to get a visual sense of what this might all look like.

2. Maximize Any Outdoor Space: Small or Large

You don’t have to be on an acreage to own a retreat. What to do when you have only a capsule wardrobe. Here’s how to make the most of what you do have.

Small Outdoor Living Spaces

• Choose multi-use furniture: Folding chairs or stackable stools, for instance, or even a storage bench.
• Maximize vertical: Hanging planters, shelves and lights get things off the floor.
• Bend around corners: Design L-shaped seating, or slide cafe tables into the unused nooks.
• Add outdoor rugs: Define “rooms” and add color/pattern to a small deck or balcony.
• Keep it down with plants: Opt for skinny trees, little potted shrubs or vertical gardens.

Large Yards, Rooftops, or Decks

• Divide and conquer: Planters, a screen or different materials can be used to create distinct dining, lounging and play areas.
• Composed Seating types: Stack sofas, dining tables, hammocks and lounge chairs.
• Think big: Fire pits, pergolas, cabanas or a water feature can be the showstoppers.
• Think of the traffic: Create pathways between zones so it won’t be difficult to move from place to place, particularly as you’d have to do so more easily on a rooftop patio or in a multilevel garden.

3. Select Furniture That Fits Your Budget

Budget-Friendly Options:

• Repaint patio furniture that has been spray-painted indoors.
• Check secondhand stores, thrift stores, or sites like Craigslist.
• Make your DIY versions of pallet couches or concrete block benches.

Mid-Range Investments:

• If you want the ability to grow, buy modular or mix-and-match.
• Spring for all-weather cushions and folding tables.
• Throw up a shade sail or modest awning.

High-End Enhancements:

• Custom-built sectional seating or daybeds.
• Designer cabanas, alfresco kitchens, luxe lounge furniture.
• Integrated lighting and sound systems.

Apart from money, do not sacrifice your comfort. And outdoor pillows, throws and umbrellas can still make a big difference to even the most modest setup.

4. Add Style with Outdoor Décor and Features

• Lights: String lights are great, or go with a combination of lanterns, solar garden stakes or wall mount fixtures to provide your party area with an evening feel.
• Textiles: Rugs, outdoor cushions can inject a bit of warmth and pattern into any outdoor living room and also roll up or be collected more easily in winter.
• Gardens: Plant rose bushes and arbors in addition to hanging baskets for extravagant looks without the work.
• Features: Perfect to pair with your trays, ottomans, side tables, or hot weather resistant exterior artwork for a fully put together design.
• Privacy: Cocoon your space using a bamboo screen, climbing vines or outdoor curtains.

5. Customized Features for Distinct Spaces

Balconies & Small Patios

• Tables that slide on and off the rail or fold up against a bar counter.
• Wall planters and bistro seats

Rooftops & Roof Decks

• Modular outdoor sofas
• Low-profile fire pits or grills
• Faux turf or wooden decking

Large Yards & Gardens

• Panels to Cover Walls or Windows on a Gazebo or Pergola
• Outdoor kitchens or pizza ovens
• Water features (fountains, ponds)

6. Weatherproofing and Maintenance

To protect your investment:

• Choose materials that can withstand the weather! (powder coated metal, polywood, teak, and the like).
• Keep your puffy goods in a dry bag or inside, out of the snow.
• Regularly clean furniture and outdoor textiles to keep your outdoor space in top condition.

7. Simple Ways to Make It Special

• Make a ‘wow’ moment: One thing that reads wow at the entrance (statement rug, dramatic planter, fabulous bench) gets the beat going.
• Personalize Decorations: Decorate in colors you like that reflect your style.
• Flexible Solutions: Put resources into tables, seating, and dining sets that you can rearrange as you entertain, or just to your heart’s content.
• Lighting layers: Use string lights and hang lanterns or solar lamps for depth and safety.

Conclusion

Want to enjoy your yard without breaking the bank? No matter what your space is — whether it’s a tiny balcony, a small backyard or even just a windowsill. It all starts with knowing what you have and what you want to do with it. Whatever the case, there are plenty of ways to jazz up your spot. When treated properly, your outdoor space can be welcoming, personal, and full of possibilities.

Bring inspiration to life – contact  All Star Construction Group today, and we will create your dream backyard!

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