Your home should be a place to retreat from the chaos of the day — to spend time with family and recharge. One of the best ways to do this? With an inviting, coolly curated outdoor living space. We have the outdoor living space ideas you need to combine all the comforts of the indoors with the beauty of your backyard.
Modern Outdoor Living Space Ideas: A Seamless Transition from Indoors, Out
The most modern outdoor spaces combine the best of the indoors with the beauty and atmosphere of the outdoors.
What Defines Modern Outdoor Living Space Ideas?
These optimized spaces typically:
- Blend the best of “inside” and “outside.”
- Are as functional as they are stylish, often featuring some combination of dining, lounging, and entertainment areas.
- Serve as outdoor rooms by showcasing the same level of taste and design — and uses — as many indoor spaces.
- Showcase your unique style and complement the surrounding landscape.
Now that you know what elements to keep in mind as you envision your design-forward backyard, you’re ready to dive into some majorly modern inspiration with these outdoor living space ideas.
Poolside Paradise
An in-ground pool can be a wonderful way to kick back and enjoy the summer sun — or, if you live in a more arid climate, to enjoy the year-round temperatures.
One of the best materials for a pool deck? Our capped polymer decking line, TimberTech® AZEK®.
Decking That Stays as Cool as It Looks
Created for the design-savvy and discerning, this attractive decking line also boasts advanced materials science that helps the boards stay up to 30° cooler on warm days.*
Plus, you enjoy:
- Better traction for fewer falls.
- A splinter-free surface that keeps feet (and paws) feeling great.
- Your pick of contemporary grays and breezy tans for a coastal look and feel.
* NOTE: Although TimberTech AZEK decking products are cooler to the touch than many other deck board products, all decking products will get hot in the sun. Additionally, the darker the decking color, the hotter it will feel. For hotter climates, consider choosing a lighter color. Pictured: Coastline® deck boards from the TimberTech AZEK Vintage Collection®.
In addition to the contemporary grays and cool tans of the Vintage or Harvest Collection® — you can also enjoy the cool look and feel of Whitewash Cedar® from the premium TimberTech PRO® Legacy Collection. (Remember — lighter hues typically mean lower heat retention).
Now that you have your deck color ideas, take these outdoor living space ideas to kickstart your own curation process.
How to Curate Your Own Poolside Paradise
Pictured below: Whitewash Cedar® from the TimberTech PRO Legacy Collection
Offer Seating Variety
Having different seating options invites you and your guests to enjoy different activities at different times of day. With a build like this, you can savor breakfast around the outdoor dining table in the morning, enjoy a light lunch at the bar, and later sip smoothies from the reclined seating in the pool.
Keep Covered Options
Even typically warm, sunny climates come with their share of inclement weather. Keep the conversation going during an afternoon drizzle, or retreat from the mid-afternoon sun, with an awning or finished under-deck area.
Go for Gathering Places
Your space should offer not only seating variety, but variety of use as well. Gather seating around an outdoor table or bar, introduce a separate platform for a hot tub, and balance open and occupied space so the kids can still kick the soccer ball.
Another modern outdoor living tip is to bring the option for typically-indoor activities — like cooking, wine sampling, or after-dinner drinks — outdoors.
Backyard builds that incorporate outdoor dining variety let you keep the conversation going while you perfect that summer salad…and then some.
Benefits of Outdoor Dining Variety
- Allows you more seating options when you entertain.
- Lets you designate different spaces for different uses.
- Provides the options for a chic bar area.
As you plan your project, remember to keep in mind your budget and available backyard space.
EXPLORE COOL, COMPLETED BUILDS
We’ve got inspiration on deck. Tour our 3D Image Gallery to see innovative and inviting outdoor living spaces. SEE IN 3D
A Dimensional Design Rich With Color & Texture
Another tenet of modern deck design is an emphasis on color and texture. No matter the architectural style of your home — or the desired aesthetic of your outdoor build — spaces rich in color and texture:
- Help you visually separate different areas for different activities or uses.
- Make a space look bigger by creating a sense of depth.
- Give you more opportunities for curation — mix and match colors and textures to show off your unique style.
Explore these outdoor living space ideas for tips on enhancing the dimensionality of your space.
How to Curate Your Own Dimensional Design
Pictured below: Coastline®, Dark Hickory, and Mahogany from the TimberTech AZEK Vintage Collection
Be Bold With Your Borders
Use different colored deck boards to create borders within your deck design. Deck patterns with borders help to visually divide up your deck while giving you a statement-making design.
For a crisp, refined deck perimeter, go with a picture frame border with boards that either complement or contrast your infill.
Opt for Permanent Seating
Why choose temporary outdoor furniture when you could go with built-in deck benches? Built-in benches made from our deck boards amplify your deck’s nature-inspired beauty and deliver the same incredible durability as your TimberTech deck. Plus, they look like a natural part of your deck design.
Go for a Mix of Landscaping & Hardscaping
Combine landscaping, like mulch and greenery, with hardscaping, like stone or gravel, around your deck design. These hard and soft elements create a sense of dimension with mixed textures and colors. Landscaping elements with some height (like tall hedges) can also act as a privacy screen for your deck.
A WIDTH FOR EVERY WISHLIST
Capture seriously dimensional design with Multi-Width Decking in narrow (3.5”), standard (5.5”) or wide (7.25”) boards. EXPLORE
A Bold Blend of Indoor & Outdoor
Blending indoor and outdoor elements is a popular theme when it comes to outdoor living space ideas — and for good reason.
Designs that blend indoor and outdoor elements act as a bridge between the inside and outside of a home, creating a cohesive, seamless experience from interior to exterior.
Plus, it gives you the chance to carry your impeccable interior design style into the outdoors for all to see.
How to Curate Your Own Bold Blend of Indoor & Outdoor
Pictured below: Weathered Teak® from the TimberTech AZEK Vintage Collection
Re-Create Your Interior Layout, Outdoors
Who says you can’t enjoy the comfort and functionality of the indoors, outdoors?
Expand your livable square footage by introducing historically indoor-only amenities like comfortable (but still outdoor-rated) furniture, electronics (under a protective overhang), and even interior décor.
Capture a Hardwood Floor Look
Capture the sophistication of interior hardwood floors with Multi-Width Decking. Narrow-width boards (3.5”) give you a classic hardwood floor look, while wide-width (7.25”) boards appear more contemporary. You can also use TimberTech Porch boards, which offer tongue-and-groove installation for tighter board spacing.
Embrace Both Open & Covered Spaces
Offering both covered and open areas on your deck makes for a fluid space where you can shift your experience from being out in the open to semi-protected.
Covered deck features also give your deck a sense of on-trend dimensionality by adding height and depth to your build.
Accessorize Your Space
Don’t forget about the details when thinking of outdoor living space ideas. Outdoor accessories like décor pieces, throw pillows, coffee tables, and more, all add character while giving your space a completed, polished look. Plus, accessorizing is another way to showcase your personal style.
How to Curate Your Own Accessorized Space
Pictured below: Ashwood from the TimberTech PRO® Legacy Collection
Enhance the Ambiance With Lighting
Built-in and temporary deck lights add ambiance to your space and increase visibility — so you can keep the conversation going well after sundown. Not sure where to add lighting? Center temporary lighting around gathering places and install built-in lighting at your deck perimeter to light up transition points like stairs.
Create a Focal Point & Add Visual Interest
A well-placed accessory or furniture piece creates a focal point that visually centers your outdoor living space. Play with color and materials in some of the details, like colorful patterned throw pillows, to add vibrancy and texture to the space.
Add Greenery for a Lush Look
Incorporating plants into outdoor living space ideas just feels natural. Not only do plants love the fresh air and sunshine, but you’ll enjoy the lush hues and textures they add to your space. Mix it up with different types of foliage and flowers in different containers for varying heights, shapes, and colors.
WANT EVEN MORE INSPIRING DECK IDEAS?
Explore our Deck Ideas Series for insight on design, layout, & more. EXPLORE THE SERIES
Start Your Journey
With plenty of outdoor living space ideas to consider and draw inspiration from, you’re ready to begin planning for your custom deck and backyard project.
Start by playing around with deck shape, size, and color in our 3D Deck Designer Tool to get a feel for what works in your space. You can even choose from certain add-ons like furniture and greenery.
Once you perfect your outdoor living space design, be sure to share it with a TimberTech-registered contractor who can help you ensure every detail gets the attention it deserves.
Turn your deck dream into design
Play with shapes, colors, lighting, and railing to bring your deck ideas to life with our custom Deck Designer tool.
