Are you looking to extend and elevate your living space? Do you dream of spending more time with family and friends enjoying the simple pleasures of life, like snuggling around a fire, listening to music, or stargazing? Take a look outside—Mother Nature may have already given you the perfect canvas for an outdoor living room that seamlessly extends your home. We contacted a few industry experts for tips and trends to help you design the ultimate living rooms.
Where to Begin
Exterior spaces by nature include an abundance of unobstructed flow.
When designing for luxury outdoor living within these spaces, you can still create a sense of ‘rooms.’ Without the use of traditional walls, outdoor rooms can be defined in the form of spacial destinations based on the experiences or enjoyment you are seeking.
“Our luxury outdoor living projects, no matter if they encompass intimate to immense dimensions, each includes a collection of areas specific to a client’s unique lifestyle,” said Ryan Hughes, president and creative director, of Ryan Hughes Design and SOLANA Outdoor Living.
Trends in Design
Ryan notes that pushing boundaries is a trend that is evolving and motivating luxury outdoor design.
“Our teams of professionals are continually seeking to breach traditional boundaries,” he adds. “This trend is taking place as much in function as form; but ultimately, by design.”
Emerging trends in the firm’s work include multi-level planning in which outdoor spaces are being defined as well as expanded across multiple elevations to accommodate greater experiences suited to topography. While accommodations for large gatherings continue, a trend towards equal consideration of unique individual personal spaces including custom decks, private gardens, or pool-side grottos.
Professional artwork and original artistry are trending as components of today’s outdoor living designs and gaining prominence.
“The range of extraordinary art elements crafted for exterior spaces continues to exceed all expectations,” relates Sozan Hughes, vice president and creative director, of SOLANA Outdoor Living and Ryan Hughes Design.
“For 2025, this trend of incorporating original handmade art is a key element in luxury outdoor rooms,” she adds. “Wall art pieces and sculptures have long occupied places of interest in exterior designs.”
Advances in durability and functionality are making it possible for original art to not only adorn but become one with designer surfaces and structural elements.
Ryan adds that durable faux turf is a favorite landscape element for lasting functionality and a contemporary defined look, especially in conjunction with tile designs. High-end tiles and pavers come in a variety of shapes, colors, and finishes.
He notes that timeless trends include the incorporation of outdoor design staples including water, fire, gathering, and leisure features—each creatively executed into high-end outdoor living designs.
“Nothing you can add to your yard brings the kind of beauty and serenity that a water feature does. Whether it’s a pond, waterfall, or a fountain, it pulls you outside, reconnects you with nature, and turns your backyard into your own personal paradise,” says Greg Wittstock, owner and CEO of Aquascape.
Shelter and Surface
Pergolas, pavilions, and retractable roofs can define spaces within the wide-open canvas of an outdoor living design. Each can provide opportunities to manage the protection from the elements based on the location with regard to other outdoor living spaces.
“Designer pavilions may be defined by columned structural parameters to more conceptual versions with a cascading rain wall as a “dropping off point” for the creative design. Total protection from the elements while continuing to let the sun shine in is a positive for retractable roofs while cantilever roof or portico designs provide protection as well as innovation spanning dining or multiple lounging areas,” says Hughes.
The surface underfoot is just as important. Thoughtfully selected flooring materials lay the groundwork—both literally and stylistically—for a cohesive design. Durable, design-forward options from Hanover Architectural Products offer a versatile range of concrete pavers and architectural slabs that define gathering areas, connect pathways, and unify indoor-outdoor transitions. Whether you prefer natural tones, or a contemporary palette, Hanover’s textures and structural integrity elevate the overall landscape.
Illuminating the Outdoors
Looking to enhance your spectacular spaces with lighting Emily Pulis, Director of Marketing at Coastal Source notes that the outdoor lighting industry has evolved toward sustainable, energy-efficient LED technology, advanced smart-home integration, and designs that balance aesthetics with functionality.
“Enhanced fixture durability and streamlined installation methods are now essential, matching consumer expectations for low-maintenance luxury,” says Coastal Source CEO, Franco D’Ascanio
Emily notes the top trends in outdoor lighting include architectural accent lighting to enhance key features of the home and landscape, discreet, low-profile fixtures that integrate seamlessly into the environment, and color-tunable LED systems that allow homeowners to shift the mood with a touch of the button.
With professional design, lighting goes beyond visibility—it creates depth and atmosphere.
“Uplighting draws attention to trees and architectural details, while downlighting introduces softness and depth. Coastal Source’s thoughtfully designed path lights enhance safety while adding visual continuity and charm throughout the space,” says Emily.
To create dramatic effects, consider uplighting key architectural and landscape features. Moonlighting from tree canopies mimics natural light and sets a magical tone. Tiki torches with integrated downlighting provide both ambiance and visual flair. Coastal Source Bollards and Bollard path lights—where art meets engineering—deliver stunning aesthetics day and night.
Trends in Audio
Audio needs should be considered as early as possible, ideally during the design phase. This allows for optimal speaker placement, concealed wiring, and cohesive integration with landscaping and architecture. Early planning ensures both performance and aesthetics are maximized.
Emily notes a top audio trend includes speaker designs that blend into the landscape. Directional systems reduce noise spillover by focusing sound where it’s needed. Multi-zone systems allow different audio experiences across your space—perfect for entertaining or relaxing.
Outfitting Outdoor Living Spaces
David Frank of David Frank Furniture thinks it’s important that your outdoor space is inviting and makes you want to go outside. He notes that the outdoor experience is different for everyone. While some couples set up space so they can watch their kids play, other couples want to entertain friends and some partners want to sit side by side and count the stars, read the paper, or check their email.
David is a big fan of motion whether it is swaying on a hammock, rocking in a rocking chair, or gliding in a porch swing. “Something about swinging is good for the nervous system. Swinging outside does something magical to your mind and creates a bubble that can be quite rejuvenating,” says David who notes that research supports that the swing motion is soothing and leads to comfort and relaxation.
Sozan adds that many of their statement lounge pieces are custom designed and built, including sunken fire and water lounging areas with performance cushions and decorative pillowing. Free-standing lounge furnishings in demand include woven contemporary seating and multi-material combinations featuring cast aluminum and rope-like woven elements. “Sustainability continues to be an element requested in high-end outdoor décor,’” comments Sozan.
Furniture is the foundation of a functional outdoor living room, but textiles elevate an outdoor space into a seamless extension of indoor luxury.
An outdoor space isn’t complete without blankets, pillows, and rugs, which create a cozy, sensory experience while showing off your style. Whether bold colors or a muted palette, vary the textures and patterns of textiles to add visual interest and create an outdoor living room that oozes sophistication.
For example, you might mix a herringbone indoor/outdoor throw with houndstooth cushions from Sunbrella with a checkered outdoor rug for a classy, cozy ambiance,” says Ana Cvetkovic, principal of interior design and home staging firm Rowhome Design.
She notes that not having a care in the world is the ultimate luxury. High-end outdoor fabrics like those from Sunbrella are durable, cleanable, water-, mold-, mildew- and stain-resistant, and retain their color even after repeated sun exposure. That means you can enjoy red wine during book club in your outdoor living room without worrying about spills,” says Ana. These high-end fabrics also offer you get peace of mind, as well as more pattern, color, and texture options than other outdoor fabric brands.
Here’s to embracing the beauty of outdoor living—in style.
