Essentials for Creating a Beautiful Outdoor Room

While it's important to make sure your outdoor room is protected from potentially harsh weather conditions, it should ultimately feel like an extension of your home's interior. In her Spanish-inspired outdoor living room, Carole Meyer brought all the coziness of an interior living space onto her patio by incorporating rich wood furnishings, artwork, plush fabrics and accessories. A wood-beamed ceiling and breezy white draperies keep everything protected, while still offering all the comfort and luxury of a living room. She didn't skimp on a single detail either — there's a daybed, fireplace and dining table perfect for intimate gatherings.

When it's time to entertain outdoors, nothing is more convenient than a kitchen just feet away from your dining space. Fully equipped with sinks, stovetops and plenty of countertop space for cooking, outdoor kitchens are almost as inclusive as your typical indoor kitchen. Designer Ashley Astleford even took it a step further in this Mediterranean kitchen by adding a full-sized Big Chill refrigerator (in a luscious hue of hot pink, I might add). It adds to the colorful, eclectic palette of the room, but ultimately the piece makes a bright and bold statement of its own. Design by Ashley Astleford

Depending on how close your home is to your neighbors, privacy screens may be an important investment, especially if you frequently entertain or use your outdoor space often. When updating this spacious back deck, designer John Gidding made the homeowners' privacy a top priority by installing a tall, vertical screen with shelves behind an entertaining lounge area. The screen offers shade and keeps the space open but blocks views from surrounding homes. Plus, its architectural build adds a cool and contemporary design statement to the space.

No outdoor room is complete without a bit of lush landscaping, but designer Jamie Durie took it to the next level when he incorporated a vertical garden full of edible plants onto the sides of this dining pergola. The homeowners wanted an urban garden where they could eat what they grow, along with a sustainable design with a contemporary edge. This outdoor dining area is the perfect space for entertaining guests, but still incorporates the productivity the homeowners desire. Plus, the vertical garden creates a wall of privacy that makes the dining experience even more intimate and secluded from the rest of the yard. A vertical garden also makes outdoor dining more interactive, too — if your food needs a bit more flavor, just pick off a few leaves from one of the many garden offerings.