Designing a great outdoor space
Outdoor space is any open-air area with potential - a deck, terrace, side yard or rooftop - and the mistake is treating it as leftover land rather than square footage. The indoor playbook applies directly: a rug defines the lounge, a table defines dining, planters define edges. Once a space has a job and a boundary, people use it.
Materials make or break outdoor rooms. Teak, powder-coated aluminum, all-weather wicker and solution-dyed acrylic fabrics survive seasons; untreated steel, indoor textiles and particleboard do not. Plan the unglamorous infrastructure early - outdoor outlets, water access, cushion storage and wind breaks - because comfort is what converts a nice view into a lived-in room.
