The days of shoddy lawn chairs and rickety picnic tables have long since passed — so when it comes to styling your deck, porch, or patio, you can think of that space as an extension of the rest of your home. That means pulling together thoughtfully arranged seating options that are actually comfortable and curating an environment where you’ll want to spend time, even when the weather’s not quite in your favor. 

The key is to think of any of these spaces as an outdoor living room — a fully thought-out area designed for gathering and styled to look and feel serene and relaxing. That means when you’re designing an outdoor space, you can (and should) take plenty of inspiration from your indoor spaces. Do you love the expansive feel of a sectional? Or do you prefer a more intimate-feeling arrangement with armchairs and a loveseat? No matter the size of the space you’re working with, whether you have just a balcony or a full yard to contend with, you can easily create an outdoor living room that suits your lifestyle and design preferences. 

Need some inspiration to get started? Allow Havenly lead designer Kelsey Fischer to walk you through 20 ideas to turn your outdoor space into an oasis.

Outdoor Living Room: Modern Lounge

A black sofa makes this outdoor space look decidedly modern, but its rope detail and warm wood frame give it an organic feel. Complete with tonal accent chairs, a fire pit, an outdoor umbrella, string lights, and cozy textiles, this space is designed to bring people together.

Outdoor Living Room: Family-Friendly 

A large dining table with ample seating and a cozy sitting area — complete with a sectional, swinging bench, and armchairs — provide ample space for friends and family to socialize. But critically, the space isn’t overly filled or styled; instead, there’s plenty of room for little ones (or even furry friends) to safely run around.

Outdoor Living Room: Scandi Summer

Light wicker furniture, cream upholstery, and a neutral color palette make this light-filled patio look even brighter. The organic modern style of the sofa and accent chairs gives it a Nordic appeal, while rattan dining chairs and outdoor plants bring in a breezy boho vibe. 

Outdoor Living Room: Poolside Suite

If you’re working with a large backyard — complete with a pool — then it’s best to carve out a shaded outdoor living room. A covered seating area, with two accent chairs, two loveseats, outdoor ottomans, and a coffee table makes for a relaxed central spot for reading, relaxing, or socializing after a swim.   

Outdoor Living Room: Entertainment Zone

With a TV, fireplace, dining room, and a seating area complete with accent chairs and a cozy sectional, this covered outdoor living room is pretty much designed for summer parties — whether you’re hosting for game day or watching the most recent episode of your guilty pleasure reality show. 

Outdoor Living Room: Bright Balcony

A vivid blue accent wall and breezy furnishings make a big impact in this small outdoor space. With limited real estate, a smaller accent table works double duty as both decor and surfaces for drinks and snacks. The detail that takes this design to the next level? Fresh greenery and string lights! 

Outdoor Living Room: Cozy Corner

The simple design of this deck gives it a serene appeal; a wooden privacy screen make it feel like a tucked-away oasis, while a sleek bench-style sofa and woven accent chair makes it nice and cozy. A pouf for extra seating — which ties together with the outdoor area rug — is a plus for hosting. 

Outdoor Living Room: Sweet Symmetry

With its mirrored design, this curated outdoor living room has a sense of effortless sophistication. Little details, like the sofas’ wood platform frame, centered throw pillows, and the abstract outdoor rug, make it feel intentional and elevated.

Outdoor Living Room: Rooftop Luxury

If you’re lucky to have rooftop access in your condo or apartment (not to mention a gorgeous view), it’s wise to take advantage of it with a full-on outdoor living room. A white, low-profile sectional makes a comfortable seating option for this rooftop space, as do two white armchairs and extra poufs for guests. A touch of greenery and oversized floor lanterns transform it into an urban oasis.

Outdoor Living Room: Organic Modern

Good design is a balancing act. This cozy outdoor space errs on the side of simplicity with a neutral color palette and cohesive wood-framed furniture — but a small garden of potted plants, clustered lanterns, and earth-toned throw pillows bring the organic modern sitting area to life.

Outdoor Living Room: Cool Contrast

White and cream-colored furniture are popular for a good reason: they easily brighten up a space and can align with any color palette. But if you want a more dynamic design, consider black accent seating for a touch of contrast. Paired with a white coffee table, lush greenery, and graphic black-and-white throw pillows, this eclectic patio is eye-catching and edgy. 

Outdoor Living Room: Easy Arrangement

If you love to entertain, don’t skimp on seating. Under a spacious outdoor umbrella, a dining table and chairs make for a comfortable spot to gather, even when the weather’s not quite ideal — but the two loveseats and a coffee table are ideal for taking in the natural surroundings. 

Outdoor Living Room: Dreamy Deck

A vine-covered pergola, lantern pendant lights, and sheer drapery take this patio from modern and stylish to dreamy and ever-so-slightly bohemian — think of a Grecian beach cabana or a glamping site. Contrasted with industrial-styled string lights and concrete tables, this outdoor living room is dreamy yet practical.  

Outdoor Living Room: Contemporary Ease

Contrasted the black exterior walls of the house, the white sofa on this roofed patio truly pops. The arrangement is simple — with one large sectional and a separate, smaller seating area — but dramatic details, like lush white drapes, give it a luxurious appeal.

Outdoor Living Room: Classic Sunroom

Not a lot of space to work with? No problem. To get the most out of a small sunroom or screened-in porch, ground the space with a small sofa that faces outwards, and accent it with a matching coffee table and, if there’s room, an extra armchair. Some small decorative elements, like potted plants, patterned throw pillows, and string lights, make it complete.

Outdoor Living Room: True Neutral

Consider this outdoor living room your cheat code for designing an elevated patio space. Around one central coffee table atop an outdoor rug, arrange an outdoor three-seater, a movable outdoor umbrella, an accent chair, a woven pouf, and two side tables — perfect for holding a drink or snack. In shades of cream and brown, it’s a timeless design.

Outdoor Living Room: Modern Boho

Colorful textiles, woven wall decor, and thoughtful details — like coffee table books and a record cabinet — make this bohemian patio feel unique and personal. Finished with potted plants and a woven pendant light, this outdoor living room dining room combo is stylish and practical.

Outdoor Living Room: Upgraded Tradition 

Forget everything you know about wicker furniture. The material can seem outdated, but this patio arrangement shows that the material — when used in furniture pieces with neat, modern silhouettes — adds a charming touch to a space. These large, deep-seated chairs and sofa nod to tradition while feeling perfectly current.

Outdoor Living Room: Matching Set

Wish you could just get a set of matching furniture and call it a day? Surprise: You can! This small, coordinated balcony is furnished solely with coordinated seating and tables, yet it looks curated and stylish and not cookie-cutter. The key is to opt for a set that’s detailed and interesting — the textured drum frames of this furniture makes it distinct — and to tie it together with details like throw pillows and a rug.

Want expert advice on your own space, straight from an interior designer? Get started today with our style quiz.