Gorgeous Maximalist Outdoor Spaces That Will Never Go Out of Style

Dyed-in-the-wool traditionalists and more-is-more maximalists, gather round: we’re celebrating crowd-pleasing backyards that will delight everyone on your guest list. Who’s ready to head outside?

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May 18, 2021

By: Lauren Oster

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Photo By: Photo by Sarah Dorio; Design by: CLOTH & KIND; Builder: Athens Building Company

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Black, White and Pinned All Over

“It’s safe to say that this is the most famous maximalist patio on the internet — as proven by the 80,000 (and counting) Pinterest repins to date,” says Frontgate Brand Manager Kate Beebe (a woman who knows her way around more-is-more decor). “This showhouse look styled by Caleb Anderson, using Frontgate furniture and accessories, is an homage to black and white. The lush addition of plants (both hanging and potted) is the pièce de résistance.”

Come Together

“No one — and I mean NO ONE — does maximalism like John and Jason from Madcap Cottage,” Beebe explains. “They are the kings of mixing design and prints to usher in an effortless spirit of fun and whimsy. Here, they create a showhouse space that feels collected — not straight out of a showroom. Their use of layering (materials, colors and sizes) is key.”

Creature Feature

On this picture-perfect patio, the design journey begins with a single — er, double — pachyderm. “In my point of view, find a piece you love and build the room around it,” Beebe says. “(And I’d build civilizations around this elephant console.) Ashley Brooke offset the quirkiness of the Iris Apfel for Grandin Road piece (circa 2016) by laying a neutral base and keeping the coordinating furniture assortment on the smaller side. I’d very much love to sip a mimosa with her here; wouldn’t you?”

Tutti Frutti

“This shot from a patio space Frontgate sponsored in 2014 features the brilliance of designer Anne Tarasoff,” Beebe explains. ”To pump up the personality of neutral-toned upholstery, Anne had fun with big, bold prints and rich, saturated colors. This pillow ensemble combines hot pink and orange to coordinate with a geometric-patterned rug. The clean, white lines of the furniture keep the look grounded.”

One and Done

If the concept of maximalism could be epitomized in a single, modular piece, one could make a fairly strong case for this cabana-daybed-sectional-storage-table-cooler (which Beebe calls “the most extra and amazing outdoor piece that exists at Frontgate”). Infinite in opportunities for variation and unapologetically over-the-top, it’s a thesis statement we can all keep in mind this spring and summer (and in springs and summers to come).

Southern Splendor

This gracious Georgia patio demonstrates the get-out-and-stay-out approach to entertaining that southern maximalist James Farmer loves best: with functional accessories galore, the space invites guests to clear their laps, sit back and stay a while. A classic, tailored seating area combines genteel hues and crisply preppy textiles to the left; at right, a loaded dining table and graphic caned bistro chairs join the sun-dappled courtyard with a shaded relaxation space.

Outdoor Entertaining Tips: Get Out and Stay Out!

Dressed to Impress

James Farmer believes in dressing your spaces as you’d dress yourself — that is, imagine the occasions that would bring guests to a gathering spot like this one and ornament accordingly. This traditional porch feels a bit like a gentleman in a seersucker suit: coordinated prints and balanced accessories offer a bit of formality, while white wicker, exuberant ferns and weathered tables suggest that gentleman might not take himself too seriously.

Just a Jungalow

High-contrast, pattern-happy designs like this one by Justina ‘Decorate Wild’ Blakeney demonstrate both boho’s enduring appeal and a key principle of effective maximalism: the key to maintaining momentum in a bold space up is to go big and keep going. Reach for bold, classic patterns — no antique reproductions, please — to layer underfoot and develop relationships between seating areas, then add even more texture with etched metal pieces like this coffee table, carved wood like the privacy screen at right and a lush plant to delight the eye at every possible resting place.

Farmhouse Fresh

Not quite ready to go full-on bohemian? Let sparks of the style’s wild energy sizzle to life in your space in smaller doses: on this eclectic, modern porch, patterns on the swing’s throw pillows stick to a comparatively restrained palette of natural indigo and white. Warm jewel tones in a single area rug — again, reach for a vintage piece to add character here — counterbalance those cool blues, and both a well-weathered coffee table and a single wicker chair offer subtle variations on the swing’s golden wood.

From: CLOTH & KIND

Swing for the Fences

This porch tableau would be a classic for its patriotic palette alone — blossom-bright flags (and actual blossoms), a riot of preppy blue patterned cushions and crisp white wicker — but its duo of massive swings take it into actively epic territory. Sure, it isn’t always possible to double up on focal points … but if you’ve got the space, we’re here to encourage you to go for it.

From: Mom's Design Build

Palm Beach Pastels

Cotton-candy crazes and blushes-of-the-year will come and go, but the confidence of a Florida vacation home’s commitment to seashells’ tones never retires. Consider how beautifully horizontal bands of tawny woven rattan, creamy upholstery, grass fringe and pink canvas wrap around the entertaining space like the whorls of a conch. This is a lot of look, to be sure, but it’s executed with enthusiasm (those coral-painted temple jars! those actual conches! the gilded side table that echoes the sectional banquette!), and its throw-on-a-glittering-caftan-and-stay-for-a-cocktail vibe is infectious.

Made in the Shade

This rustic covered stone patio demonstrates that sun-drenched pool decks shouldn’t have all the fun, and that stretching out before a crackling fire is even more relaxing when you can do it on a swing. Thanks to the way it’s sheltered from the elements and framed with interior library shelves visible through generous windows and glass doors, this sitting area feels like a graceful half-step between the indoors and outdoors.

From: Christopher Architecture and Interiors

Painterly Patio

Have we mentioned how beautifully ultra-durable house paint can be repurposed to create abstract backdrops for outdoor vignettes like this one? Gallery walls aren’t just for interior sitting areas, friends. This ingenious sitting area also features topiary frames repurposed as sculptural pendants and a bold lattice theme that carries through its textiles.

Well-Timed Textiles

As you design an outdoor space for the long haul, “stick with timeless styles when picking out furniture and make your space pop with accessories,” advises David Dillon, head of design at Yardbird. “Incorporate colorful throw pillows, blankets and sculptural elements as accent pieces which give you more flexibility down the road; you may love the color red this year, but [you don’t have to] commit to it long term.”

Keeping It Light

Well-chosen lighting, as on this magical porch, is important — as is knowing when to stop choosing it. “Add some dramatic lanterns and candles on your coffee or side table, but don’t overdo it — too bright can ruin the mood,” Dillon notes. “String lights or a fire pit really can make the mood of a seating area.”

See More Photos: 25 Outdoor Lighting Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

Balinese Beauty

This contemporary take on a tropical nook would be as evocative on a garden patio as it is here poolside: an intricate pendant light takes the teak lounger’s canopy ceiling from day to night in style (Can you imagine how gorgeous these cushions will look with that jewel-toned mood lighting?), and a custom rear panel both doubles down on theme and offers support for a massive pile of pillows. Accent a statement piece like this one with side tables perked up in a bright island-inspired hue.

Island Inspiration

This more traditional Indonesian-influenced space, in turn, boasts floor-to-ceiling ornamental shutters in gorgeously-whorled teak. (It should go without saying that high-quality materials presented with their natural splendor in mind are perennial crowd-pleasers). Evocative neutral accents arranged symmetrically enhance the outdoor room’s serenity, and the exclamation point of a cherry-red sideboard punctures that placid geometry with a shot of color.

From: NMA Architects

Punchy Palette

This grapefruit-hued wicker chair and ottoman hit the sweet spot between practical, perennial materials (wicker, we salute you) and trend-conscious tones; styled with a watermelon-print, pom-pom-trimmed parasol and a pretty pillow and throw, the pair feels investment-worthy and fresh. If you’ve already got wicker to work with, try rehabbing it in a bright tone like this and letting that statement lead into the rest of your outdoor decor.

Instant Architecture

Creating an outdoor room is well and good, but isn’t it lovely when your furniture does it for you? This spectacular, sturdy rattan cabana and day bed fits a standard twin mattress, functions as a boho trellis and makes any space an entertaining space simply by occupying it. Get the bones right and the rest of your decor will practically arrange itself.

Era Experimentation

This clever screened-porch design is poised to stand the test of time by virtue of the way it draws from the best of several traditions: we love how the swirls of the wicker peacock chairs at the head and foot of the (modern, concrete) dining table pair with graphic woven seats that wouldn’t look out of place in a classic Parisian bistro. Color blocked privacy curtains and a contemporary-yet-Space-Age-inspired pendant, in turn, hint at the middle of the century. As the textiles are the same pale shade and the seating has a cohesive natural tone, the overall look feels curated rather than cacophonous.

See More Photos: 40 Screened Porches We Wanna Chill On

From: Tiffany Brooks

Monochromatic Marvel

An angular metal-framed love seat, armchairs and serving station echo the crisp black hardware on this patio’s windows, doors and wall-mounted light fixtures and set a clean, contemporary stage for additional pieces. Curves come in via the sleek (and all-weather) coffee table and a pair of semicircular side tables; a pretty, small-scale abstract pattern then ties all of the seating area together a second time. Brighten a versatile base like this with organic elements such as a woven serving tray, a nubbly natural throw and seasonal blooms.

See More Photos: Downstairs Patio + Pergola Pictures From HGTV Smart Home 2020

From: Tiffany Brooks

Autumnal Nook

We’ll never turn down an invitation to lounge on a bright, summery day bed, but this moodier iteration of the latest outdoor must-have has a darker, come-hither character that’s hard to ignore. Gleaming black glaze ties container plants and a pair of garden stools together, hurricanes and candles on raw block tables add symmetry, and that pile of pillows with a cable-knit throw is just begging for an occupant with a massive mystery novel to devour.

From: Urruita Design

Continental Charmer

The same elements that lay the foundation for a welcoming French country dining or breakfast room — an ample, well-weathered table, neutral bentwood chairs and a textural floral centerpiece — translate beautifully to this patio. If your home is aging with grace (like the brick columns and pavers here), accent its patinas with a bit of simple greenery (like these climbing vines and the potted herbs beside the grill) and eschew fussier accessories altogether.

Lakeside Luxury

The only thing lovelier than curling up for movie night on a wide sofa in front of the fireplace? Doing all of that beneath a canopy of trees and twinkling stars. This cozy lounging area pulls key textiles (an area rug, cushions, toss pillows and throws), architecture (a stacked stone hearth and sitting area) and tech (that massive TV above the fire) out of the house and demonstrates that interior perks are even better alfresco.

From: Mom's Design Build

Patio Perfection

A massive space like this one develops character and function when, like an open-plan interior, it’s divided into gathering places with specific purposes. A classic living-room formula (sofa + coffee table + seating + statement lighting) is a strong foundation for this stone expanse; perks like a textured tabletop planter, oversized throw pillows and a subtle, ceiling-mounted heating element sweeten the proposition.

From: Mom's Design Build

Gorgeous Maximalist Outdoor Spaces That Will Never Go Out of Style

Related To:

Shop This Look

Black, White and Pinned All Over

Come Together

Creature Feature

Tutti Frutti

One and Done

Southern Splendor

Dressed to Impress

Just a Jungalow

Farmhouse Fresh

Swing for the Fences

Palm Beach Pastels

Made in the Shade

Painterly Patio

Well-Timed Textiles

Keeping It Light

Balinese Beauty

Island Inspiration

Punchy Palette

Instant Architecture

Era Experimentation

Monochromatic Marvel

Autumnal Nook

Continental Charmer

Lakeside Luxury

Patio Perfection

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