Few 'trends' have the power to endure through the years, but that is not the case with outdoor living rooms – a design movement that's only increased in prevalence over recent summers. Now, in 2024, these spaces are considered a modern home must-have (where space allows), allowing us to continue our interior style outside. However, no one has blurred the lines between their indoor/exterior spaces quite like Troian Bellisario and Patrick J. Adams.
Bellisario, best known for Pretty Little Liars, and Adams, famous for Suits, turned to Los Angeles-based Environmental Design Studio to design an outdoor living space that showcases rustic-chic quiet luxury (in the same way as the rooms inside their Los Angeles home).
Stand-out features include the wooden furnishings (including a beautiful circular table), a patterned rug (that zones the space, allowing it to feel separate from the rest of their open outdoor space), and an outdoor fireplace unlike any we've ever seen before.
Bellisario and Adams' outdoor living room may not be replicable on the exact same scale (we can't all decorate a Californian mansion, after all). However, design experts say we can all create an exterior space that mirrors our home's design choices – even if we're working with a smaller area.
'When planning the design of an outdoor space, try to take the same approach as you would with your interior, honing in on a clear color palette, consistent aesthetics, and decorative finishing touches that add that all-important pizzazz,' says Wayfair's resident style advisor Nadia McCowan Hill.
'Style your space for comfort as well as entertainment. A classic Adirondack chair adorned with a plush sheep skin throw will be oh-so-inviting from summer to fall, while cushions and garden rugs add tactility and help to create that indoor-outdoor vibe.
Plus, while outdoor fireplaces may seem like a big initial investment, McCowan Hill explains that it's worth the plunge.
'Who said fireplaces were just for interiors? Installing a mantelpiece alfresco is a great way to add a dash of quirk to your exterior,' she says. 'The best news is that it will make the perfect plinth for a stylish showcase of garden decor, from herb pots to miniature planters.'
Lastly, when it comes to outdoor lighting, Bellisario and Adams' circular hanging fixture makes an unrivaled statement (and complements the table perfectly). However, smaller alternatives, including lanterns, are similarly atmospheric.
'Think about the transition from daytime to darkening dusk and style your space accordingly. Lanterns, hurricane lamps, and candelabras will help to create that glimmering glow as the sun goes down,' McCowan Hill says. We've rounded up some of our favorite picks (versatile enough to work in yards of all sizes) below.
