Photos from 10 gorgeous decks and porches offer inspiration for just about every region, style and mood!
1. Lovely by the Lake
This lakeside home has enough room to accommodate 16 guests, so a large outdoor entertaining area was key. Flexible seating lets the homeowner host large or small groups, while thoughtful details keep any size party hopping. “Texas summers are hot, so we wanted to help our client look like an incredible hostess by giving her guests easy-access areas for grab-and-go-drinks,” says designer Carolina Gentry. A trough sink built into the island can double as an ice trough for soda and beer. A fun coffee table also can house ice and beverages.
2. Blissful in Barcelona
You don’t need much for a successful lounge space. This Spanish home features a compact outdoor area with enough room for a couple of chairs, an outdoor rug and a hot tub, all encased in walls of green foliage.
3. Fabulous in Florida
A front porch on an island off the coast near Jacksonville, Florida, is done up right with wicker pieces and cushy pillows. The addition of side-table lamps and a fiddleleaf fig makes this outdoor space feel like an extension of the interiors.
4. Stylish in Sydney
There’s not much wrong with this Australian hangout, which incorporates palm tree trunks into the design. A steel cable rail keeps views open and air flowing no matter where you’re lounging, while a rich deck stain and a natural black bamboo fence add to the organic feel. Landscaper Ben Kingsworth, who designed this space, says he’s been seeing more clients “open to the idea of creating multiple, smaller linked entertaining areas rather than one large single area, such as a large level deck or patio.”
5. Awe-Inspiring in Austria
Plush cushions on wood-frame furniture, two large coffee tables and an old-world-style light fixture lend a homey vibe to an otherwise rustic outdoor space in the Austrian countryside.
6. Sunny in Sausalito
A colorful, graphic painted deck design energizes this lounge atop a houseboat on San Francisco Bay. A steel cable rail doesn’t disrupt the view, while string lights can quickly turn this spot into a late-night party perch.
7. Alluring in Austin
Modern white furnishings pop against a feature wall and a rich wood deck overlooking a hilly Texas landscape.
8. Laid-Back in Los Angeles
Wispy grasses in container boxes create a private hideaway at a beachside Los Angeles home. Cushioned furniture and a fire-feature coffee table complete the lounge vibe. “We decided to keep the furnishings neutral and allow the colors of nature to stand out, such as the blue of the ocean or sky, or the greenery in the landscaping,” says designer Megan Crane.
9. Majestic in Montana
This wood-wrapped outdoor lounge in the mountains of Whitefish, Montana, has just about everything you need — grill, fireplace, furniture and a marvelous view that makes the TV obsolete during the daytime. “When it is nice outside, the last place you want to be is inside,” says designer and builder David Brandt. “I feel like it’s the most important room in the house on those days, so we want to make it comfortable and enjoyable. We often design the deck to take in the best views and then design the house around the deck.”
10. Enchanting in England
It’s not just the comfy sectional and the leafy surroundings that make this a successful lounge. The subtle dollops of color bring vibrancy. The painted wood furniture base and the combo backrest-raised planter are particularly nice touches.