Outdoor Lounge Area Design Ideas

Outdoor lounge areas are a perfect choice for when you want to relax outside, but sitting under direct sunlight is too much for you. It’s also a good solution when you want your children to enjoy their summer without risking their health because, as much as getting some vitamin D into your system is good, excess of it can have the opposite effect.

It’s truly the best of both worlds - you get to relax without overdoing it. However, designing an outdoor lounge area can be quite challenging if you have no vision for it. That’s what we’re here for - while the final decision will, of course, depend on your personal preferences, with our guide on outdoor lounge design ideas, reaching the desired outcome might become at least a little bit easier.

Assessing Space and Purpose

Outdoor lounge areas come in various sizes, so before you start any sort of design, you should take a look at your own outdoor space to determine what kind of structure will be the best for it.

Are you limited in space? Then a small patio with umbrella or shade sails might be best. Do you have a big backyard to work with? Then you might want to consider a gazebo with a dedicated entertainment area and even a stove or a fireplace for late evenings.

One thing to consider here is the budget—would you like your project to be more affordable, or do you not mind spending a small fortune on it? That can also help you decide what kind of project this should be.

Another aspect to keep in mind is what you are planning on doing with the space—are you mainly creating it for your own enjoyment? Is it for your kids to enjoy hot summer days? Or maybe you’re looking for an additional space to entertain your guests during warmer evenings?

This will be detrimental to deciding the layout of your lounge seating area and what kind of furniture is most suitable for your outdoor space.

Design Styles and Themes

The outdoor lounge area design world is full of different styles and themes, ensuring that no matter what you or your customer wish to see, there will always be plenty of inspiration to base on. However, a few of them stand out more than others, and that includes:

Modern Minimalist

This is a very simplistic style. As you can guess, it preaches “less is more.” It’s a very clean and uncluttered style involving clean lines and geometric shapes. Usually using a neutral color palette, particularly blacks, whites, and greys, its focus lies on functionality and simplicity rather than showing off. You will typically find only essential items in a modern minimalist space of your lounge seating area, with little to no additional decor.

Bohemian Chic

Bohemian chic style is almost the complete opposite of minimalist. While the previous one was all about cleanness, this one welcomes chaos and different patterns, colors, and textures—the more, the merrier.

Some of the outdoor lounge area ideas in bohemian chic include plush cushions, rugs, and low-lying seating options are among the common sights in this type of outdoor lounge. Vibrant colors like blue, red, and jewel tones are also welcomed.

Most importantly, bohemian chic is all about expressing yourself—the focus here is on creating a space that reflects your personality rather than something like the others.

Rustic Charm

In a rustic charm style, the emphasis of your outdoor lounge setting is put on connection with nature, with simplicity and authenticity in mind. Using natural materials like wood and stone characterizes this type of decor, while the color palette involves earthy tones, particularly browns, greens and greys. Vintage and antique furniture often make an appearance in rustic charm spaces.

Mediterranean Oasis

When it comes to a Mediterranean oasis-inspired outdoor lounge, stone and wood are also used, along with terracotta in various forms, from pots and tiles to decorative elements. Earthy and warm shades, especially white, cream, and terracotta tones, make up the color scheme, while greenery adds a pop of color, creating a cozy space to spend your evenings.

Selecting Furniture and Materials

Once you have selected what kind of direction you want to go in with your outdoor lounge seating area, you can start looking for actual elements for it, starting with furniture. When picking the right furnishings for your space, you should take into consideration the following aspects:

Durable Materials

Your outdoor furniture will no doubt be exposed to a number of harsh weather conditions - from intense sun to rain and snow. That’s why durability is something you shouldn’t ignore. Of course, it also needs to look good, but what’s the use of pretty furniture if it’s going to be destroyed within days of you purchasing it?

Look for furniture made using weather-resistant materials, such as wood (but only specific kinds, like teak), aluminum, wicker, steel, or rattan.

Comfort and Ergonomics

Another thing to consider is comfort and ergonomics - regardless of their specific purpose, outdoor lounge areas are meant to be spaces where you can relax, and how can you let yourself unwind on uncomfortable furniture? Not to mention that poorly can actually have a negative effect on your health, making you feel back pain and neck strain.

Multi-Functional Pieces

This one is especially important if you’re limited on space or don’t want to invest in separate storage solutions. In those cases, investing in multipurpose furniture, like storage benches or expandable tables, can help you save both space and money for your lounge exterior design.

Incorporating Accessories and Decor

Once you have your furniture, you can focus on the fun part–the decor, including:

• Textiles - Incorporating textiles into your outdoor space is an affordable and simple way of adding warmth and comfort to it. Outdoor rugs, throw pillows and blankets are especially popular choices for outdoor area textiles.

• Lighting - Choosing the right lighting helps you create an inviting atmosphere in your outdoor lounge setting. Especially popular options here include string lights, lanterns, and built-in fixtures. While the former two give off a more delicate light, built-in fixtures provide you with almost the same amount of light as your indoor fixtures.

• Greenery - Adding plants to your outdoor space can immediately make it appear more lively while using tall planters to do so can help you increase privacy and prevent peeping toms. If you don’t have that much space, definitely consider creating a vertical garden–combining the best of both worlds, various greenery with smart space utilization, it is an ideal choice for those who are more space-restricted.

Functional Elements

The outdoor lounge area shouldn’t only be aesthetic–it also needs to be functional, as otherwise, what’s the use of it? That’s why the next factor you should consider is its functional aspect, consisting of three main elements–shading, heating, and entertainment.

Shade Solutions

There are plenty of options when it comes to shade, each with its pros and cons. Let’s explore some of them:

Heating Options

During late summer, evenings can get colder, so it’s a good idea to consider adding some heating options as well so that you can enjoy your outdoor space even when the temperatures drop.

Entertainment Features

Another thing to consider when it comes to the functionality of your outdoor lounge area is the entertainment, especially if you’re planning on spending a lot of time outdoors. Features like outdoor speakers, projector screens, and gaming areas are all bound to make the space more enjoyable. A dedicated play area with an array of outdoor toys, on the other hand, is bound to work great for younger users of the outdoor space.

Layout and Spacial Planning

The final thing to include when planning an outdoor space is the layout. While it technically impacts the space's functionality, this aspect is so important that it deserves a separate section.

Zoning

When creating an outdoor lounge space design, you might want to consider dividing it into different areas so that they don’t overlap each other–especially if the space you’re working with is quite substantial.

Using large and extra large planters to separate the distinct areas for lounging, dining, and recreation not only creates clear division but does it in a way that is not too out there.

Flow and Accessibility

Having easy access to your indoors is another thing to keep in mind. You never know when an emergency will happen, so designing your outdoor lounge setting in a way that offers a quick way to come back inside is priceless. Not to mention, it can make things easier when you’re hosting guests and need to bring dishes or drinks out of the indoor kitchen.

Clear pathways can also minimize the risks of someone tripping over and injuring themselves - and while at it, you shouldn’t forget about keeping them well-lit so that nothing happens even after the sun goes down.

Bonus: Sustainability

Since it’s not an essential requirement for designing an outdoor lounge seating area, we decided to include it as a bonus, as nowadays, more people are becoming environmentally conscious, and sustainability is an important aspect of that. So, here are some suggestions on how to make your outdoor space more sustainable:

• Use recycled materials and look for second-hand furniture.

• Choose energy-efficient appliances.

• Create habitats for wildlife by adding birdhouses, insect hotels, and brush piles in the vicinity.

• Try to minimize your light pollution.

• Opt for drought-resistant plants that won’t consume as much water.

• Collect rainwater to water your plants (e.g. by using rain barrels).

• Use organic fertilizers and natural pest control methods instead of chemical ones.

The Bottom Line

Creating an outdoor lounge area can be overwhelming if you have no experience in it, but it doesn’t have to be—with our tips, it should become an enjoyable activity that you’ll be able to see the results of.

Keep in mind that the aspects we mentioned above can easily be customized–you don’t have to include all of them. You might as well pick a few you like most and focus your design around them.

However, one thing’s for sure–when choosing the pieces that will become part of your outdoor lounge, look for high-quality. Otherwise, all of your hard work might go to waste, as they’ll need to be replaced soon after purchase.

Pots, Planters & More, for example, is a good place for long-lasting planters. Customizable and suitable for both commercial and residential spaces, our planters are the definition of quality.

BROWSE THROUGH OUR SELECTION TODAY AND FIND THE RIGHT PLANTERS FOR YOUR OUTDOOR LOUNGE AREA TODAY