Gorgeous Outdoor Living Room Design Ideas

From stately outdoor fireplaces to sunken sectionals, these outdoor living rooms are filled with genius design features.

By: Kamron Sanders

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Get Back to Nature

A massive, standalone fireplace presides over this open-air patio, making it the perfect nighttime gathering spot. Rather than distracting from the surrounding beauty, intricate stonework is intertwined with rustic wooden elements, making this space feel at one with nature.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Build an Outdoor Fireplace

From: Designscapes Colorado

Think Beneath the Box

This beachside beauty benefits from stunning views beyond its tropical landscaping. Rather than spoil the view with clunky outdoor furniture, designer Craig Reynolds opted for sunken seating beneath the fireplace, keeping everything streamlined.

WATCH THE VIDEO: DIY Backyard Sunken Seating

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Keep It Cozy

Don’t get us wrong, expansive outdoor entertaining areas are wonderful, but they often lack the intimacy that makes a space feel comfortable. This inviting example combats the issue with cozy furniture, a charming pendant light and integrated heaters in the wooden ceiling.

learn more: Outdoor Heaters: Options and Solutions

From: Mom's Design Build

Light It Up

Custom bench seating surrounds this modern fire pit, creating a great space for conversation anytime of year. Lighting the sleek fire pit and benches from below creates a wow factor that draws the eye to the space and increases its cozy ambiance.

learn more: Patio Lighting

From: Dawson Design Group, Inc.

Share the Warmth

Half of this patio is open to the sky, while the other half sits beneath a clever roof with aluminum louvers. The stone fireplace is double-sided, so everyone can enjoy the warmth of the fire, whether dining or enjoying the personal putting green.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Putting Green Install

From: Mom's Design Build

Find a Balance

The only thing differentiating this outdoor space from a standard living room is its lack of walls. The tapered columns frame the fireplace and offer a juxtaposition to the otherwise organic flow of the landscaping.

From: Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction

Poolside Perfection

It's becoming more and more popular to make pool areas yearlong entertaining spots. Setting aside space for a cozy firepit nestled within a soft gray sectional, like this, makes for the perfect spot to enjoy drinks and conversation under the stars - even on cooler nights.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Poolside Patios

From: Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction

Take Cover

Need a retreat from the sun? Cover your poolside escape with a pergola. Not only will you gain a shady sitting area, but the design possibilities are endless. We love the way this pergola’s muted wood finishes sit against the bold greens of the landscaping, allowing the stark white sofas to really pop.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Beautiful Pergolas

From: Robert Young Architects

Take the Inside Out

This covered sitting area looks like it's straight out of the Tuscan countryside with its enviable vine border and two ornate mirrors. The nestled nook is the perfect example of how to successfully dress-up an outdoor space in an indoor fashion.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Training Vines

From: About Space, LLC

Dress Up the Outdoors

A brick pavilion on the side of this home creates the perfect open-air living area. A small sofa and matching captain chairs surround a coffee table topped with decorative accents, bringing an indoor feel outside. For added comfort, colorful throw pillows and floral arrangements are featured throughout the space, softening the look of the stone paver patio.

Double Up

This extravagant exterior space features a swimming pool that backs up to a covered patio with a stately outdoor fireplace. The designers cleverly stacked two sitting areas atop one another to maximize functionality without expanding the footprint.

From: Andrea Swan

Take In the View

A slatted half wall adds a surprising amount of privacy to this rooftop deck. Along the edge of the deck, a see-through railing was chosen to allow for unobstructed views. This clever design makes the green area beyond the patio feel like an extension of the landscaping.

See More Photos: Design Ideas for Outdoor Privacy Walls, Screens and Curtains

From: m monroe design

Keep It Simple

With a view like this, anything else plays second fiddle. For this reason, the sitting area at this modern beach house takes the minimalistic route. The choice of low furniture pieces and a cantilevered roof results in unobstructed views from nearly any angle.

From: Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Think in Threes

Furniture placement can feel random in large, architecturally open areas. This sitting area is a masterclass on how to handle this challenge. By anchoring the space with the round fire pit, the sectional establishes a border, while the addition of the chair adds balance.

learn more: Outdoor Furniture Options and Ideas

From: Shades of Green Landscape Architecture

Make a Statement

We’re suckers for symmetry and this flanked fireplace sitting area doesn’t disappoint. The designer could have played it safe, but instead opted for a stark white fireplace. Its appearance against the wall of Mediterranean cypresses makes for a striking visual when reflected on the dark surface of the swimming pool.

From: Lloyd Fleischer Landscape Design

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Photo By: Designscapes Colorado

Photo By: Tamara Alvarez, Landscape Architects: Landwise Design & Craig Reynolds Landscape Architecture

Photo By: Mom's Design Build

Photo By: Brady Architectural Photography

Photo By: Mom's Design Build

Photo By: Morgan Howarth Photography

Photo By: Greg Hadley Photography, Morgan Howarth Photography

Photo By: Michael Moran

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Photo By: Werner Straube Photography

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Photo By: Dylan Chandler