Getting your outdoor seating area just right is notoriously challenging. You want it to be functional but also cozy and be able to survive outside long term. 

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The challenge, of course, is making all of that happen with the materials and designs that are available. The good news is that this guide is here to help you run through everything from planning your space to choosing the right furniture. Here’s what you need to know:

Plan your space

As with any home renovation, the first step is to plan your space. You’ll need to measure and define your purpose and what you intend to use the outdoor areas for. How you create them will be very different depending on whether you want family gatherings, outdoor dining, or just something for multi-use. Also think about the location where you’ll put the new outdoor area. You want to place seating near to places where people will gravitate naturally, like under trees or awnings, or near windows. Also placing it near doors can help. 

If you’re planning your outdoor space to be a larger area, then you’ll want to divide it into various zones. One place could be for dining, another for cooking, and then a third for lounging. Where possible, make use of your views and surrounding landscape to enhance the experience. 

Check you have all the elements for comfort and security

The next step is to check that you have everything you need to make your new outdoor area as comfortable and secure.

You want to start with the lighting. Bringing that outside can help make the area more appealing, especially during the winter months and when it’s dark in the evenings.

You also want to make sure you’re using weather-resistant materials throughout, like teak, cedar, and aluminium. If you can find rattan furniture in the Hartman furniture range that’s also useful. This type of furniture is designed to live outside in all seasons and won’t get damaged by wind, snow, rain, hail, or direct sunlight. 

Consider privacy

Another thing to consider is the level of privacy that your outdoor space offers. This is something that a lot of homeowners think about too late and only discover that their neighbors can see everything they’re doing once they’ve finished their expensive installations.

The good news is that you can achieve privacy through numerous methods. You could add hedges, fences or even pergolas with vines. If there are no options to use any of those systems, then you can also just go for curtains. A lot of decking now comes with curtain-based constructions that you can use to prevent people from watching you. 

Master the art of seating

The next step is to think about your seating. Usually, especially if you live in a cold part of the world, you’ll want to center it around some sort of fire pit or area for warmth. This can create a sense of ambience but also make the space more usable when temperatures drop.

Backyard retreats are a great option if you have a lot of guests to a family home. However, if you only have a small balcony or patio area, you might want to opt for a more compact and functional space.

Usually here you’d use foldable or even Adirondack chairs and perhaps wall-mounted tables. You can also cover the area more easily so you can include more soft furnishings that you wouldn’t usually be able to.

If you have an outdoor dining area, then center the seating around the table and make sure you use it for this purpose. Getting this right means you can enjoy more al fresco meals, and you can also add serving stations if you regularly host buffets. 

Accessorize properly

In 2025, how you accessorize your space is entirely up to you. However, most homeowners focus on things like materials and boosting comfort. For example, you could add more wicker, teak, and rattan materials to outdoor spaces to make them more durable during cold and wet weather. You could also use recycled plastics if you want your new renovation to be more sustainable. Many of these options combine style with durability because of the nature of outdoor furniture applications.

If you can improve the comfort of the space, that’s an even better idea. Adding an outdoor rug makes it feel more welcoming, and providing guests and yourself with blankets and throw pillows keeps everything feeling warm and pleasant even during colder months. 

Add multifunctional pieces

Another thing you might want to do is add multi-functional pieces to your exterior areas. For example, you could use extended tables or storage benches. Where possible, try to combine functional furniture with some sort of storage option. This means you can keep more of the items you need for your outdoor space outside without exposing them to the elements. If you can find modular sectionals in your region, that can also help you. These allow you to expand the functionality of the space depending on how many guests you have or people in your family. 

Start with budget-friendly options

Finally, you’ll want to start with as many options as you can. This way you can experiment more with the style and functionality that you want. For example, you can start your patio with something as simple as a gravel base. You could then move on to painting the furniture or finding second-hand finds and upcycling them. 

To look into making DIY benches, these are perfect if you want to invite a lot of people over to your property but don’t want to go through the hassle of buying multiple chairs. DIY benches are easy to make and something that you can find online. You could also add plants in pots for additional greenery and softness in the area, especially if you have a lot of hardscaping around your patio. These bring nature in and really make people feel like they’re outside. 

Hopefully you now have all the ideas you need to make your outdoor space a place where you can enjoy yourself, even during cold weather.