5 Exterior Design Tips for Your Outdoor Living Spaces

Summer will be here before we know it! Enjoy the summer days by crafting an outdoor retreat that reflects the style and designs layered into the inside of your home. Bringing inside style to outdoor entertainment spaces can be a fun and creative process. Here are some exterior design tips to consider.

Repeat Interior Design Elements Outside

Repeating or echoing interior design elements in your outdoor living space helps to create the feeling of seamlessness: as if the area is one continuous comfortable and cozy place instead of two separate ones. Five ways to achieve this include:

1. Color Scheme

Use a color scheme that complements the style of your indoor decor. Experiment with using pillows, cushions, and rugs in coordinating colors to create a cohesive look.

2. Furniture

Choose outdoor furniture that reflects your indoor style. If your indoor decor is modern and minimalist, choose outdoor furniture with clean lines and a sleek design.

3. Plants

Add greenery and natural elements to your outdoor space with potted plants and garden beds. Choose plants that thrive in your climate and can withstand outdoor conditions.

4. Layout

Think about the flow of your outdoor space and create different zones for seating, dining, and socializing. Arrange furniture in a way that encourages conversation and interaction.

5. Lighting

Lighting is the fifth element to include when designing your outdoor space. Not only does exterior lighting extend the time spent outside by delivering ambient illumination, but it also provides functional task lighting for grilling, cooking and bar areas. In addition, high-quality decorative lighting offers a distinctive design element while withstanding outdoor environments.  

Outdoor Pendant Lighting and Chandeliers

Exterior pendants and chandeliers join traditional outdoor lighting styles to bring indoor style to outdoor spaces. Casual designs bring an earthy texture to streamlined silhouettes, creating a warm and inviting glow for outdoor entertaining, using materials such as rattan, wicker and seeded glass. Or if your style leans contemporary, modern design elements are reinvented for contemporary spaces into sleek outdoor lighting pieces, with strong geometric lines, airy open frames and clear glass as key design features.

Where To Use Outdoor Lighting

Place one or more exterior pendants over outdoor kitchens to serve as task lighting. For example, linear chandeliers work well over bar areas, and outdoor chandeliers make a statement over dining tables.

For ambient light, install flush mounts, ceiling fans with light kits or instinctively designed chandeliers on porches, patios, pergolas and gazebos ceilings.  Use wall lanterns or sconces to provide accent lighting in entertaining spaces.

Exterior Lighting Location Ratings

Any outdoor lighting must be rated for outdoor use; this ensures it is waterproof and that dust and rain won't interfere with the bulb or circuitry. Fixtures must be wet location rated for uncovered areas with full exposure to the elements, such as pergolas, pathways and gardens. Outdoor covered areas such as patios or decks must use damp or wet-rated lighting.  

By incorporating these five exterior design tips, you can create a stylish and inviting outdoor entertaining space that reflects your personal style and complements your indoor decor.

Explore our decorative outdoor lighting styles and ceiling fans here.